CityLife

Geek! Everything but the girls

PICK up the debut album by Manc riot punkers Geekgirl in any record store, and you'll be confronted by some rather unusual consumer advice.

On the front of the album sleeve reads the stern notice: "Warning - this album may contain traces of BOYS.''

Geekgirl had originally set out to be Manchester's first great all-girl guitar group. Only it didn't quite work out that way.

"When I came up with the name, Geekgirl, my main intention was to form an all-girl group,'' says the band's frontlady and mouthpiece, Fi Milone.

"I desperately wanted to form an all-girl rock group. But there just weren't any decent female musicians in Manchester! So I settled for male members instead. But I'd rather have decent male musicians in my band, rather than female ones just for the sake of it. That's why we named our album May Contain Traces Of Boys. It's a bit of a mickey-take of ourselves.''

That said, the two male members of Geekgirl more than compensate in the flamboyancy stakes.

Arriving to meet CityLife in the Briton's Protection pub, Geekgirl's boy rhythm section of Ted Moore (drums) and Joel (bass), provoke more than a few confused stares for their warpaint face make-up and garish mustard-coloured ties.

Attend any Geekgirl gig, and the band take a similarly outre approach to their wardrobe choices.

Performing on-stage, the band have been known to cross-dress, wear kilts and even sport industrial boiler suits.

"It's all about making an effort isn't it?'' insists Joel ``If you're in any band, you have a duty to put on a show, a real spectacle. Bands all look the same now, with their skinny jeans and multiple haircuts. There's no imagination. We like to dress up because it shows you care and don't take yourself too seriously.''

It's fair to say that an exhibitionist streak runs deep in Geekgirl's genetic make-up. Lead singer Fi and Ted were both promising drama graduates from Manchester University before they met.

Thespian

Ted speaks proudly of the time he starred as Poseidon at the Contact Theatre, while Fi's thespian high point was when she performed as Beatrix Potter in a national touring production.

But a combination of the drama world's "horrible pretentiousness'' (as Ted puts it) and the flourishing songwriting of Fi meant that soon they were hanging up their Equity cards in favour ofguitars and distortion pedals.

"I was getting totally disenchanted with acting,'' Fi recalls. ``Performing in a play, all you're doing is reciting other people's lines and dialogue. There's no real form of expressionism involved. You're just repeating lines.

"Whereas as a musician, you have full control over how you express yourself. It's full artistic freedom. I wanted to make my own choices. The worst thing was telling my mum, though. It was like, 'erm, mum ... I'm giving up one career to move into another, which is even less well paid'.''

Looking back now though, it turned out to be a smart career move.

Having recruited gentle-giant Joel in the post office ("he just looked like a bass player... so I asked him to join,'' smiles Fi), Geekgirl have grown from shy beginnings as an acoustic act into the band they are in 2007 - a true outsider punk outfit cherished by a generation of Manc music misfits.

Although Geekgirl didn't quite fulfil Fi's mission statement to form "Manchester's first great all-girl guitar group'', they have struck a firm chord with the militant Manc music underground - as proven by their aforementioned debut album. Released on their own record label, May Contain Traces Of Boys sounds like the most unhinged, electrifying thing to come out of the Manc underground scene for yonks. Thrashing with PJ Harvey-meets-Throwing Muses fire and purring with hectic pop, it's a breakneck crawl through messy relationships and modern Britain.

While not overtly political, Geekgirl have clearly summoned up their own cool rock 'n' roll iconoclasm - from starting their self-financed label to shunning Manc indie nights to play events like Gay Pride.

Elected

But openly lesbian Fi notes: "I'd hate to be elected as some spokeswoman for lesbian musicians. Because sexuality doesn't really come into it.

"It's music for anyone who connects with it. I hate the way when journalists write about The Gossip, they have to bring up 'Beth Ditto - the lesbian singer'. It's so irrelevant.''

What's much more relevant is the band's effusive relationship with their fans, most notably their Golden Ticket offer.

In true Willy Wonka fashion, if you purchase the band's album and discover one of these tickets (there's only 10 of them, however), you'll be treated to a once-in-a-lifetime Geekgirl treat.

"I think it's important to be approachable to your fans,'' insists Fi. "I mean, if people have paid good money to see you, musicians shouldn't come across as arrogant and think they're better than their fans. It's insulting.

"If anything, the band should be indebted to their support. That's why we treat our fans with things like the Golden Ticket. It shows we value them.''

And what does the Golden Ticket permit you?

Fi smiles: "You'll have to buy the album to find out, won't you?'' So there you have it, Manc music followers. Rush down to your local record store and find those elusive Geekgirl Golden Tickets before anyone else does.

And don't forget: boys (as well as girls) are very much welcome, too.

Geekgirl play Virgin Megastore on Saturday, July 14 (as part of Manchester International Festival , on-stage 4pm) and the Briton's Protection on Friday, July 20. For further info visit thegeekgirl.co.uk and myspace.com/geekgirltunes.