Two Nice Girls | |
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 Two Nice Girls | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Austin, Texas |
| Genres | Country rock, folk rock |
| Years active | 1985–1992 |
| Labels | Rough Trade Records |
| Past members |
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Two Nice Girls were a self-styled "dyke rock" band from Austin, Texas, featuring singer-songwriter Gretchen Phillips. They were together from 1985 to 1992, releasing three albums on Rough Trade Records.
The group formed in 1985, originally the duo of Gretchen Phillips and Kathy Korniloff, who won the Austin "Sweet Jane" festival, their version of the Lou Reed song later combined with Joan Armatrading's "Love and Affection" for their single release "Sweet Jane (With Affection)" in 1989. [1]
Within a year, the lineup had expanded to comprise Phillips (guitar, bass, mandolin, and vocals), Korniloff (guitar, bass, violin, percussion, vocals), and Laurie Freelove (guitar, bass, percussion, and vocals). Members each wrote songs and took turns on different instruments. [2] The band's debut album, 2 Nice Girls , released in 1989 included "Sweet Jane" and a cover version of Jane Siberry's "Follow Me", as well as eight originals. [1] [3] Freelove left following completion of the band's first album in 1989 to pursue a solo career. [1] She was replaced by Meg Hentges. [1] Drummer Pam Barger was added to the band for a tour to promote the album. [1] [4] In 1990 they released the mostly covers mini-album Like a Version, [5] and followed this with Chloe Liked Olivia in 1991. [3] [6]
Common themes in their songs included lesbianism, often using satire and humour, with their music often described as folk rock. [2] [7]
Two Nice Girls won a GLAAD Media Award in 1991. The group broke up in 1992.
Hentges went on to release an EP and two full-length albums. [8] Phillips recorded several self-released albums and formed other bands. Korniloff moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in sound design and music for motion pictures. Barger moved to Seattle and joined The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet.
According to the band's website, Laurie Freelove died January 22, 2017.
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Gretchen Phillips is an American singer-songwriter known for her humorous and topical songs. Phillips has been openly gay throughout her life and her lesbianism has inspired much of her material.
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Like A Version is a 1990 EP from Two Nice Girls, the group's second release. The EP included a rerelease of the band's best-known song from its debut album, the satirical "I Spent My Last $10 ", and five covers. Joe Brown of The Washington Post praised the "quietly stunning, punningly titled EP," and Patty Gettelman of the Orlando Sentinel gave it a four-star review. Like a Version was named best Texas EP at the 1990-1991 Austin Music Awards.
Chloe Liked Olivia is the third and final album by Two Nice Girls, released on Rough Trade records in 1991. The label closed down and the band broke up shortly after this album was released. Chicago Tribune critic Dan Kening rated the album 3 stars for its "affecting, eye-opening music worth seeking out", while Mark Jenkins of The Washington Post thought it was "barely distinguishable from most other easy-listening adult-rock" and that the band had been "more fun when they're naughty."
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