“Lady Slam”: Punk Empowers Women

By Brigitte Petras

Photo courtesy of Peter Kratcoski.

Five local bands — including Ride or Die, Cool Dads, The Language, ShiSho and Adventure Kids — performed at “Lady Slam” on April 24 at the Euro Gyro Venue in Kent, Ohio. The proceeds of the event went to local women’s shelters, such as Miller Community House and the Medina and Summit County Women’s Shelter.

Liz Price, who attends Kent State University, organized the event about a month ago with the help of a few performing band members. She has made multiple connections with many of the local music scenes in Northeast Ohio.

Price explained the reasoning behind the title “Lady Slam.”

“It was a funny twist from the word ‘bodyslam’ and it also had WWE themed decorations just for fun. I just thought it was a funny pun to add to the empowerment of women,” Price said.

The event raised about a couple hundred dollars from cash donations and local promoter Cameron Brown.

“I wanted to make it about something positive, so we can help others in any way that I could. The only way I knew how was through music and organizing an event,” Price said.

All the bands that performed are self-proclaimed feminists and avid supporters of women’s rights — several of the bands included female musicians.

“Giving women a platform to perform would be the best thing we could do,” Price said.

Ride or Die, one of the punk bands that performed, originated in Youngstown during the summer of 2014.

Scotty McMaster, who plays guitar and performs backing vocals for Ride or Die, described the event as inspiring.

“It was just this idea of everyone empowered and equal, and raising money for a good reason,” McMaster said.

McMaster and Peter Kratcoski, a member of the band Cool Dads, helped Price book and advertise the event.

“We are both very passionate about feminism and other political issues, along with punk rock,” McMaster said. “The event was Liz’s creative idea. I was simply helping her. She had this one idea where women were welcome to go come on stage [during the event] and talk about their personal experiences that belittled them, and we gave them a platform to empower themselves. There were many announcements enforced by Liz. The people who were there I think felt very safe.”

Kratcoski said his band’s music is meant to be inspiring for all people, which made the group perfect for the event.

“I’ll try to express negative feelings, such as anxiousness or fear, in a positive way,” Kratcoski said.

Price is planning on making this event annual. Currently, she is working with someone who has organized an event for the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network. Price plans to continue working with other charitable events.

“Everyone got super rowdy and danced and it was a super fun time [for a great cause],” McMaster said.