'Funky folk' arrives on campus as Raining Jane performs

On Wednesday the four-woman band Raining Jane performed in the Crosby Student Center as part of Gonzaga Activity Board's Coffeehouse series.

Originally called Chrysalis, the Los Angeles band was formed at UCLA and has been together for more than five years. Raining Jane has grown considerably since its formation, and their development as an all-female music group has certainly not gone unnoticed.

"Raining Jane, the band that started off as a cute college-girl group with a few groovy songs here and there, has become a full-fledged touring machine that can churn out engaging roots-rock numbers and command residency appointments at such upscale venues as the Temple Bar in Santa Monica," Daniel Siwek and Mike Moore of Music Connection Magazine said.

Their self-titled first album was released in January 2001. Later, Raining Jane won third place at Westwood Brewing Company's "Acoustic Live." The band was then listed as one of the "Hot 100 Unsigned Artists" in Music Connection Magazine.

It was not until last October that Raining Jane's second album, "Diamond Lane," was released. The members of the band wrote most of the songs on the album.

However, "Diamond Lane" also includes a cover of "Turn Your Lights Down Low," by Bob Marley. Samples of the album can be heard at their Web site, www.rainingjane.com. These days, Raining Jane is touring throughout the United States at universities and clubs, and Gonzaga is only one of their many stops along the way.

The members of Raining Jane - Mai Bloomfield, Chaska Potter, Mona Tavakoli, and Becky Gebhardt - pride themselves on their ability to cooperate as an artistic group. "Mai, Becky, Chaska and Mona function as a complete democratic unit," their web site says, "with each woman contributing equally to both the art and business of the band." Each member certainly has many responsibilities on stage - they all play multiple instruments, with Bloomfield responsible for vocals, guitar, and cello; Potter for vocals and guita; Tavakoli for drums, percussion, and vocals and Gebhardt for bass, guitar and sitar.

Along with their many musical talents, the members of Raining Jane have numerous and varying interests. Bloomfield received a degree in Psychology and women's studies, while Gebhardt pursued a degree in English at UCLA, supplemented by a minor in music history. Potter, on the other hand, came to UCLA on a full volleyball scholarship. Currently, Tavakoli works as an assistant speech coach.

Described by Laura Ritter of the Great Falls Tribune as "folky, funky, and known for its haunting three-part harmony," Raining Jane claims Ani DiFranco, The Fugees, Sleater-Kinney, and Fleetwood Mac as influences on its music. Describing the band's fundamental musical character, Raining Jane's web site says, "An overall message of positivity is carried throughout the music." While Raining Jane's Website says their "lyrical content is both comedic and serious," essentially, optimism seems to be what inspires this band overall. As their Web site claims, "Raining Jane's goal is to continue their musical development while inspiring, empowering and entertaining as many people as possible."