played first show as a two-woman act

Neuman’s and Wolfe’s friend Calvin Johnson , an indie musician in the Olympia scene in The Go Team and Beat Happening who also co-owned K Records , asked them to play a show in Olympia on Valentine’s Day in 1991 with Bikini Kill and Some Velvet Sidewalk . At first, Wolfe admitted that they were “a fake band” because they did not play instruments, but they had written some songs which they performed a cappella . After an attempt to get out of the gig, they agreed and sought the help of Some Velvet Sidewalk member Robert Christie. Christie let Bratmobile borrow rehearsal space and equipment and advised them to listen to the Ramones for inspiration. In response to that advice, Wolfe said, “Something in me clicked. Like, okay, if most boy punk rock bands just listen to the Ramones and that’s how they write their songs, then we’ll do the opposite and I won’t listen to any Ramones and that way we’ll sound different.” With five original songs, the band played its first show as a two-woman act at Olympia’s North Shore Surf Club on February 14, 1991, with Neuman and Wolfe sharing duties on guitar, drums, and vocals. They recorded the next day for the first Kill Rock Stars compilation, which was released later that year. Briefly, they were joined by a bass player Michelle Noel . They played only a couple shows with this line-up, including one with The Melvins and Beat Happening, also at the Surf Club on May 16, 1991.