NFV Song Spotlight: Madam Bombs' Girl with a Fuse

I first came across Madam Bombs at The Redwood Bar in 2022 when they played alongside Speed of Light and The Pumps. At the time, I was unfamiliar with the band. I had gone there specifically to catch Speed of Light and The Pumps. Speed of Light used play in the short lived, but memorable DIY punk scene Bands In A Barbershop. I was familiar with The Pumps via Rio Infante who played in the band Strawberry Army.

Madam Bombs at The Escondite

Well, three years passed. As I was putting together one of my Show Alert blog posts, I went to The Escondite's Instagram page. I happened to notice that the Madam Bombs were playing a set. I immediately recalled that 2022 afternoon (admittedly, I didn't recall the exact date and year) at The Redwood Bar. I decided to circle the date. It was time to catch back up with the band.

Madam Bombs at The Escondite

The band is a trio that describes their music as "from straight up punk & pop-rock to more alternative, grunge and indie flavors." The band includes Claire FitzGerald (guitar / vocals), Jaden Cordova (bass / vocals -- recently took over for the original bassist Marlowe Shachory who moved to Chicago), and Samara Ellis (drums / backing vocals). 

The band didn't wait until their set to join the fun at The Escondite. I'm speculating that the band has been mentored by the opening band Lava Diva to some degree. While setting up their set, the lead singer of Lava Diva noticed FitzGerald exiting from her car that had just rolled up into the parking lot and yelled out, "Claire!" (I should mention that the line-up performed on the outdoor stage of the venue.) Lava Diva than asked the band to join them for the song "Backyard Bbq." The Madam Bombs trio had fun dancing and providing background vocals to the song from the base of the stage. (You can catch another collaboration that the two bands did together at The Whiskey a Go Go in 2023 here.)   

Madam Bombs at The Escondite

The first thing I noticed is that the band has a real joy in performing live. FitzGerald and Cordova share the vocal duties with energy and throw in some guitar and bass thrill rides. Ellis spikes the sticks on the drum kit. She spiked them with such power that by the end of their song "Melt" she had destroyed her snare drum. The drummer from Lava Diva came to the rescue with his snare drum. 

This being an early evening show and it being outdoors, the sun was bright. It specifically hit Ellis particularly hard. Luckily she worse sunglasses until the rays of the sun dimmed. She was wearing a Lava Diva t-shirt, as well. FitzGerald was showing some grudge creed with scuffed up knees. At first, I just figured she had taken a knee on the ground while getting her gear ready and just didn't notice the dirt. I switched my mind and decided it was all done with purpose as I noticed her high tops were also scuffed. Cordova gives the band a quiet enthusiasm; often lifting her bass just slightly with her left hip to give it a photogenic angle.

Madam Bombs at The Escondite

Their song "Girl with a Fuse" is their title track of their EP that was released this year. The music video (you can watch it here) has the band walking with a couple bats and what looks like a croquet mallet (a shout out to Heathers?). A friendship that has gone sour?

Disregard my satisfaction
But I can’t stand the “you and I”
Save my name that you won’t call

Setlist: (Not) With Me, Compliment, Melt, Spiral, Lunatic, Mr. Popp, This Makes Sense, Brain Dead, Walkie Talkie, Get Me Out, Liar Liar, Girl with a Fuse.

The band will be playing Saint Rocke on June 12th and the Rock & Roll Pizza Bar June 13th.