In 1995, Seattle's Seal Press released an anthology called Listen Up: Voices from the Next Feminist Generation. Nomy Lamm, who then edited a size-pride zine entitled I'm So Fucking Beautiful contributed, as did New York writer and student Christine Doza. Ten years later, Doza dons makeup and Marilyn Monroe dresses to lead the electro-glam band W.I.T.; Lamm plays accordion and sings in Tricrotic, a band that describes itself as a hybrid of "punk, hip hop, blues, Klezmer, and traveling music." While Doza has become emblematic of fourth wave feminism, which embraces the sexual rather then the political, Lamm continues to ride the third wave, valuing the DIY spirit above all else.

While fourth wave feminism is more glamorous, Lamm's brand of third wave activism produces more results. A young women who looks at the "I can do this, and you can, too" ethic that infuses all of Lamm's projects is bound to be more inspired then a young woman observing the icy and gimmicky style of W.I.T. The influences of riot grrl are still being felt 10 years later, whereas people have already forgotten about the flash in the pan that was electroclash.

Lamm feels that the lack of connection with other communities is what sounded the death knell for riot grrl, a movement she was at the forefront of in the early '90s. "People find stuff that empowers them, but it becomes static, and it's hard to move it into other venues and communities. Once the media gets a hold of it, forget it. Riot grrl is still part of who I am, even though the label is not one I use very much any more."

As for Nomy Lamm herself, she might have found a way to live without sleep. She participates in endless projects, ranging from body positive camps to solo releases. When asked how she manages to do it all, Lamm replies "I just put all my effort into my projects. I want to create stuff that's empowering and can connect with other communities." The same energy flows within a Tricrotic live show. Though not entirely improvised, the band often delineates from their usual song structure to experiment with new ways of making accordion, drums, and a violin rock together. Their live shows are unlike anything most people have ever seen, with three very diverse musicians playing very diverse instrumentation, and managing to knit together a glorious sound.

Based in Chicago, Tricrotic's self-described "Grandma music" is composed by Lamm, drummer Marcus Rogers and violinist and vocalist Erin Daly. Rogers first played with Lamm in a band called the Golden Egg, and the pair met Daly through friends. All describe themselves as "self taught" musicians-- Lamm picked up an accordion one day and just started playing, learning as she went. Rogers cites hiphop bands like Dead Prez and the Roots as major influences--Daly merely explaining that she plays from "a soulful space." A ramshackle and fearless trio, Tricrotic simply got together one day and started playing. After all, who would ever think that a hiphop drummer, a punk rock accordionist, and a violinist who hasn't played since grade school could make such beautiful music.