Rock Pianists Who Are Women

October 29, 2019 9:24 AM

Who are your favorite rock pianists who are women - especially on the less melodic, more pounding end of the spectrum?

I know about Tori Amos and Laura Nyro; I'm thinking more of the Carole King and Sara Bareilles side of things, a little more percussive - more of the Ben Folds or "Crocodile Rock" sound.

Recommendations?

Thanks!

Kristi

posted by kristi to Media & Arts (19 answers total)

Diamanda Galás
posted by Candleman at 9:27 AM on October 29, 2019 [4 favorites]

My favorite currently is Eliza Rickman, especially if you count toy piano.
posted by jzb at 9:39 AM on October 29, 2019 [2 favorites]

Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac)
posted by sallybrown at 9:41 AM on October 29, 2019 [9 favorites]

Not remotely all super percussive but you may like Vienna Teng. If you’re willing to branch out to contemporary classical stuff I love Lisa Moore; try her rendition of Donnacha Dennehy’s “Stainless Staining.”
posted by ferret branca at 9:51 AM on October 29, 2019

Regina Spektor
posted by galvanized unicorn at 9:58 AM on October 29, 2019 [9 favorites]

Xenia Rubinos (sometimes piano, sometimes distorted electric piano, sometimes both)
posted by nebulawindphone at 10:08 AM on October 29, 2019

Dresden Dolls - Missed Me, etc
posted by sacrifix at 10:21 AM on October 29, 2019 [5 favorites]

Best answer: Check out the band Fanny.
posted by jonathanhughes at 10:22 AM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]

Marcia Ball.
posted by davcoo at 10:23 AM on October 29, 2019 [5 favorites]

I always dug Charlotte Caffey's keyboard work with the Go Gos. Nothing extravagant, just straightforward rock.
posted by JoeZydeco at 11:09 AM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]

Amy Lee (Evanescence)
posted by porpoise at 11:50 AM on October 29, 2019

Amanda Palmer
posted by theRussian at 12:25 PM on October 29, 2019 [3 favorites]

Fiona
posted by Lanark at 1:20 PM on October 29, 2019 [2 favorites]

Beth Hart
posted by fourpotatoes at 2:09 PM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]

Best answer: How famous do they have to be? Viktoriya Yermolyeva does piano covers of rock and metal songs. They're her own arrangements, tho I don't know if she writes her own material, too.
posted by ClarissaWAM at 2:39 PM on October 29, 2019

Viktoriya Yermolyeva Is amazing. Her rendition of Shine on You Crazy Diamond emulating guitar reverb with a piano is astonishing. She does tour and play in bands and orchestras. Don’t know how much is originals versus classical or covers. But always recommend getting lost on her channel for hours.
posted by Crystalinne at 4:09 PM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]

Amanda Palmer is the rockin'est rocker of them all!! Awesome powerful slamming on the keys. New work, also check out older Dresden Dolls stuff as mentioned previously.
posted by SinAesthetic at 10:18 AM on October 30, 2019

Best answer: Tracy Bonham plays the piano, although she's better known for violin (and her vocals, of course). She definitely rocks.
posted by DrAstroZoom at 11:35 AM on October 30, 2019

Response by poster: These are all great.

I'll try to come back and mark some more best answers once I've had a chance to listen to some more of these fine women.

Thank you ALL for all your helpful answers!
posted by kristi at 11:01 AM on November 1, 2019 [1 favorite]