Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026

 I don't remember how I stumbled upon discovering Girl Tones last year but I'm stoked that I did. It was their single "Again" that got me with that gritty, grungy, garage rock sound that I love.  As I typed up a short review of that song for my 2025 Playlist blog post last month, I just so happened to look up if they were playing any upcoming shows that I might be able to squeeze in before my work schedule takes off. Low and behold, Girl Tones  are on tour and had a show at Cornerstone in Berkeley on January 29th. I was in the Bay Area for work but of course I couldn't make it to the show because of work. I could however, make it to their show a week later at Pappy and Harriet's in Pioneertown which is such a cool venue to see these girls play. This is where the review really begins. 

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Opening for up and coming post-punk rockers, Dexter and the Moonrocks rendered Girl Tones a decent sized crowd for their 9 pm set. Starting right on time, the sister duo from Kentucky situated themselves on the small, cluttered stage quickly with Laila on the drum kit stage left and Kenzie behind the mic off centered to the right. They might be new but for a band that has yet to release their debut album but Girl Tones having been on tour for the better part of last year and then some. They've opened for bands like Cage the Elephant and playing festivals like Lollapalooza so they know what's up and they wasted no time showing us what they're made of at Pappy & Harriet's. 

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Decked out in vintage thrift store attire, they started their set with "Got It", an up tempo garage rock track that had front woman Kenzie shredding and belting. Right out of the gate she showed us that she does not take the role of front woman lightly with enthusiastic playing and palpable crowd engagement. With her blonde locks  shrouding about freely and her sister's curls bouncing to the beat of the drums I was reminded of another, similair sounding female rock duo, Deap Vally. 

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Introducing themselves as sisters after the first song, founder/singer/electric guitar player, went on to tell us that they themselves drove all the way from Kentucky to be on this tour which started in Washington State. Their appetite to connect with the crowd and turn show goers there to see the headliners into fans of their own is infallibly insatiable and their ability to deliver a solid rock show is admirably sensational. 

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Their second song of the night "Burnout" followed by their latest single "Volcano" kept the grunge vibes climbing higher. By now the small venue was packed to see the rocking opening act. Kenzie's personable interactions with the crowd between songs didn't alter as she whole heartedly tried to wake the crowd up and get them moving. I'm not too sure about show goers in other states, but the ones in Califonia tend to be a little stagnant so I commend her for her efforts. Here is a two lady band without a full length album, opening a show, full on rocking it and full on yelling at people to move. Not only was I impressed by the guts that takes and the show they were putting on, I was also compelled to rock out more than I already had been. 

Their 2025 EP Blame features a cover of Radiohead's "High and Dry" but on Thursday night Girl Tones covered The Vines' "Get Free", a smart move on their behalf being that the energy in the room was rising. While their "High and Dry" cover rocks harder than the original it might have put a slump in their set. The stratigic playing as well as the placement of this song in the set list worked to their advantage as more and more people sang along to the early 2000's hit. The crowd was locked in for Girl Tones now and the band was more than ready and willing to give it to them. 

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Focused on delivering solid drum fills and grooves, we saw the demure Laila on back up vocals more and more while her sister continued to command the stag. Stomping side to side, making wide eyed eye contact and other animated theatrics, the singer even went into the crowd, shredding from the floor and throwing people into a frenzy. By the time they played the song that got my attention last year, "Again" near the end of the set, Girl Tones had proven that they got it. They have what it takes. They're going after it and there's no stopping them. 

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Girl Tones rock and they know how to put on a show. The noise the two of them make is remarkable. That noise, that reverb, that grittiness made me think of the great White Stripes the more I watched them. It wasn't surprising in the least to learn that The White Stripes are Girl Tones' biggest influence. The Whites Stripes and the Riot Grrrl movement, of course. And no, they are not on Jack White's label, Third Man Records. When their album does drop, which is rumored to be some time this year, it will be on Parallel Vision founded by Cage the Elephant's Brad Schultz who also happens to be from Kentucky. 

Kenzie directed everyone to jump with her during the last song of their set. Of course I obliged, making me too preoccupied to take notes on what song it was they played. They ended their set on a high note to a roar of applause and cheers as they took a bow together before exiting the stage. 

Dexter and the Moonrocks had fans give it up for Girl Tones a couple songs into their own set and fans showed the openers a little more love. 

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Both bands went on to play The House of Blues in San Diego and LA's iconic Troubadour to round out their tour together. Girl Tones hop back on the road with Peter McPoland in March before jumping on the festival circuit for Bottlerock Napa and Bonnaroo stints. If you're heading to a show or a festival that they're playing don't miss your chance to see them!

Keep your eyes on Girl Tones. I have a feeling they'll be headlining their own tour soon, possibly on the heels of their debut album release. I cannot wait! Don't stop rocking, Girl Tones. 

Girl Tones @ Pappy & Harriet's 2/5/2026 
photo by Nikki DeMartini