Hey Girlyman! An Acoustic Band even the Terminator Could Love

Oct. 27, 2004

Girlyman? What kind of name is that, Arnold Schwartzenegger?
If you are from the east coast, Girlyman is a Brooklyn-based acoustic trio that has been on the past couple of months with the Indigo Girls. If you are from Arnold’s world Girlyman is... well lets not go there. After all, Arnold isn’t coming and the trio is.
Girylman will three-part harmonize their way around Northern Michigan beginning on Thursday October 28 at Union Street Station in Traverse City as part of the Connemara Concerts Early Show Series. Other shows include a Friday appearance at Rhonda’s Wharfside in Frankfort and Saturday in Lake Leelanau at Kejara’s Bridge.

SWING STATES
After a couple of months of playing to large sold -ut auditoriums, Girlyman will venture on a solo journey taking them through swing voter states and much smaller venues; but for the band it is all the same it is about the music.
“It is pretty wild to see all of these political commercials and billboards. We don’t have all of this in New York,” said Nate Borosfky singer/guitarist. “The first thing we saw when we came through Michigan was a Bush/Cheney billboard that said ‘One Nation Under God,’ with the word ‘under’ underlined. I was wondering if they underlined the wrong preposition -- what are people supposed to think -- that we are one nation next to God?”
So what about going from playing in front of 5,000 people to 50 people?
“It feels like it’s a cliché to say it; when we get on stage no matter the size of the audience we always find a way to put on a Girlyman show,” said Borosfky. “We just be ourselves and we hope that it is something that the audience will take to.”
Define a Girlyman man show.
“We are low key. It is the kind of show where we perform our songs and are passionate about our music,” said Borosfky. “We try to be intimate with the audience. We talk to them in between songs, not to the detriment of the music. But it is important for us to talk to the audience unless it is a roomful of drunk people who are talking over us.”
The group primarily performs originals from their 2004 debut release, “Remember Who I Am.” Their music has a rootsy, intimate sound and attracted the attention of the Indigo Girls, who signed the band to the group’s non-profit label. Girlyman will throw some covers into the live mix as the did in their album where they nailed George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord.”

NO FREEBIRD
“We do some covers just as long as it isn’t ‘Mustang Sally’ or ‘Freebird,’ said Borosfky. “As for ‘My Sweet Lord,’ that song means a lot to us, it was the first song we did as band live. It was at the Harrison Tribute Concert a few years back.”
So the name Girlyman where did it come from?
“The actual story was that we had had a difficult time with one man in particular in the music business, so we pledged to only work with women or girlymen,” said Borosfky. “Then we said, hey, that it is a great name. We were shocked that no one had taken the name before us. As for Arnold’s statement, we couldn’t have scripted better publicity.”
So the group is also ready to enter in to the musical debate when they come to Northern Michigan. What debate is that? The debate over attending the rock servings of Uncle Kracker versus the acoustic offerings of the Girlyman show on Friday night.
“Who is Uncle Kracker? I guess we don’t get out much,” said Borosfky. “Look, if you attend our show we will end exporting of American jobs overseas. I bet this Kracker can’t top that.”
No need to debate, the Girlyman shows are early, allowing those in conflict to get to both shows, unlike the upcoming election where choosing both is not allowed. For dates and times of shows visit www.connemaraconcerts.com or contact Seamus Shinners at (231) 941-8667. For a taste of Girlyman visit their website at www.girlyman.com