I'm not sure I've ever been this excited for a TBA opening night show—yes, even including that year everyone dressed in all-white and paraded across the Broadway Bridge (TBA!). Tonight, the festival kicks off with a free show from the Julie Ruin, the new project from Kathleen Hanna, frontwoman of Bikini Kill and Le Tigre and arguably the most influential figure of the riot grrrl era.

When I was in high school back in ye olde 1990s, it seemed like there was a show in Portland every weekend from some great feminist/queercore band: Sleater-Kinney, The Need, the Gossip, the Bangs, the Butchies, Bratmobile, Cadallaca, and plenty more I'm forgetting either because I'm old or they weren't that good. And while these days it's much more common to see women onstage (unless you're at Warped Tour), I do sometimes miss that sense of a highly engaged community around supporting female artists.

WHICH IS WHY I'M SUPER EXCITED TO SEE KATHLEEN HANNA TONIGHT! According to early reviews, the band is playing a mix of new songs and tracks from Hanna's great 1997 solo album Julie Ruin, which inspired the current tour. Hanna pulled together a full band to tour with, featuring Kathi Wilcox, Kenny Mellman, Carmine Covelli, and Sara Landeau. And the event listing also says "Featuring Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls and School of Rock"! So maybe something cute will happen.

The show is tonight at 10:30 pm at the Con-Way Warehouse (2170 NW Raleigh), which is where TBA is hosting all of their late-night programming this year. (The Washington High days are over, and it's about time—the limitations of that venue were really starting to show, as cool as it is.) And it's free and all ages. Which means it will be packed.

$20 to any man who pushes his way to the front to take pictures :D JUST KIDDING