the Ministry basement, pitchers and popcorn, Chopsticks, montecristos, the volcano down the street (aka Mt Tabor), the can-do machine, Fe-Fe, and the motorcycles that followed us from ohio to ny to pdx.
It will make you feel all itchy and wonderful. From Brooklyn to uptown to Portland, we are scattered coast to coast in the side project known as employment. Lucky Madison and the Roulettes were born together and may one day reunite. Fraternal, siamese, or long lost twins, call us whatever fits the sound.
"Clearly, they’re well-versed in the classics but they make it their own, sometimes even serenading their listeners in the style of the Supremes as they play a punk chord in the background. These girls are true innovators and even if they take inspiration from older styles, their music is far from an imitation."
- The Deli Magazine, 7/16/09
"There is something at the core of The Roulettes' debut album that hints at great things to come...these ladies could become this city's queens of rock."
- Alex Valdivieso, Willamette Week
"The Roulettes...will make you feel as happy as eating a bucket of fried chicken while listening to 'All Hands on the Bad One" for the very first time. That's pretty goddamn happy."
- Keith Wagstaff, Williamsburg is Dead
So What?
Born in an Oberlin, Ohio basement, the Roulettes practiced on borrowed equipment next to a leaky washer/dryer combo and grew up playing basement and living room parties. After moving to Portland, the Roulettes met up with label Lucky Madison to record the first ever LM release, their self-titled EP, at Portland's Jackpot! Studios with engineer Larry Crane (Sleater-Kinney, Stephen Malkmus, etc.).
Later, unreleased Roulettes tracks saw them moving into darker territory with songs like "2:1," "Do it Again," and “Snow Day 2004/Moon Over Miami” (their meditation on volcanoes and WMDs). But the band continued to pay tribute to nights at Chopsticks karaoke bar, the Fred Meyer Can-Do Machine, and the ever-popular montecristo sandwich.
Long ago and far away, the Roulettes played all over their beloved Portland, from Ash Street to Slabtown to the original Rock’n’ Roll Camp for Girls, and graced the cover of the Willamette Week Fashion Issue. They also played in New York at the long gone Meow Mix and Bowery Poetry Club. The Roulettes are back in NYC, where they've played Cakeshop, Union Pool (with Class Actress and Rebecca Schiffman), Headquarters Studio, etc.
Whats up! Just wanted to let you know that we are having an event on June 26th. For all my friends that would like to purchase tickets before hand, I can give you VIP enterance and a discount. Come before 12am for your chance to meet Heather Chadwell and an opportunity to win the raffle of Tony's Smoke Shop package.
Whats up! Just wanted to let you know that we are having an event on June 26th. For all my friends that would like to purchase tickets before hand, I can give you VIP enterance and a discount. Come before 12am for your chance to meet Heather Chadwell and an opportunity to win the raffle of Tony's Smoke Shop package.
