EL Paso Times 2 Live Reviews of Neon Desert Festival Say: Le Butcherettes Are Standouts

“…there were some notable exceptions. Mexico’s Teri “Gender Bender” Suarez, theatrical front woman of the tuneful power punk trio Le Butcherettes, gave the standout performance of the day. It’s not hard to see why audiences at this year’s Coachella and last year’s Lollapalooza festivals took a shine to her.

Backed by the steady drumming of Lia Braswell and strong, rhythmic bass work of the aforementioned Omar Rodriguez Lopez (looking and sounding better than he did when At the Drive-In) played here in April), Suarez spewed out personal cries for justice, respect, equality and dignity, be it from a lover or macho society.

Suarez, who performs in dresses symbolic of gender repression, looked like a young, female version of AC/DC’s Angus Young crossed with prototypical punker Iggy Pop. She stomped, prowled and lurked around the too-small Miller Lite stage during a hot, sweaty, hour-long set in 97-degree heat.

Spitting cathartic venom during “I’m Getting Sick of You,” she turned her back on the rowdy crowd in front of the stage and plunged fearlessly into their awaiting hands.

There is real content and talent behind what easily could be the fashionable rage of an angry young woman. “The Leibniz Language” is a surprisingly complex post-punk song, episodic in nature and one that really showcased Suarez’s powerful vocals as she turned the line “put me back together” from a howl to a plead in a matter of syllables. - Read Full Review by Doug Pullen / El Paso Times

A Second Live Review of Neon Desert Festival Said:
“You know a performance is impressive when you’re so immersed in it you do not realize your whole body is boiling. Such was the case with many performances that occurred during the middle of the day. Garage rock trio Le Butcherettes had listeners from beginning, to end. Front lady Teri Gender Bender was incredible. The musical beast she harbors serves as the antithesis to her shy and petite demeanor. As soon as a chord is struck, Bender becomes possessed, providing shrill screams that would leave even the most fearless, frightened for their safety.” Read Full Review by Elijiah Watson /El Paso Times