L7 frontwoman Donita Sparks called it a “victory lap around the sun.” The plan in 2015, when the band decided to release a documentary on their career, was a few reunion shows and a clean exit. “Instead,” Sparks said when the Last Hurrah Tour was announced, “that lap turned into eleven more years of touring, sweat, new music, and reconnecting with the fans who made this all possible.” Now it’s actually ending. The 27-date North American farewell run comes to Dallas on Tuesday, October 13.
About the Show
L7 (Donita Sparks and Suzi Gardner on guitars and vocals, Jennifer Finch on bass and vocals, Dee Plakas on drums) formed in Los Angeles in 1985, signing first to Epitaph, then Sub Pop, before their mainstream breakthrough with Bricks Are Heavy in 1992. Their own artist site describes the band’s approach as a “heavy, catchy, mixture of punk, metal, noise and pop,” and that third album made the case: “Pretend We’re Dead” hit No. 8 on the Alternative Airplay chart, with “Shitlist,” “Everglade,” and “Monster” filling out the singles run. Music from the catalog appeared on the Natural Born Killers and Tank Girl soundtracks. The band also founded Rock for Choice in 1991, a pro-choice benefit concert series organized with the Feminist Majority Foundation — a political commitment that ran alongside the music for their entire active run.
The band went on hiatus in 2001, reunited in 2015, released the documentary L7: Pretend We’re Dead in 2016, and put out Scatter the Rats on Blackheart Records in May 2019, their first studio album in roughly two decades, extending what Sparks herself had described as an intended “victory lap” into a full second chapter. They’ve continued releasing music since, including new singles on Don Giovanni Records. The Last Hurrah tour runs October 9 through November 14, closing at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. Sparks says the band is ready to deliver “one last, loud, fun, and hopefully unforgettable night of rock and roll.” No support act is listed for the Dallas date.
Venue & Logistics
The Echo Lounge & Music Hall, a 1,000-capacity room on North Stemmons Freeway, is the midpoint of a three-night Texas run: Emo’s Austin on October 12, The Echo on October 13, House of Blues Houston on October 14. Show time is 7 p.m. More DFW concerts are on the regional calendar.
Tickets
Tickets went on sale May 11 via Ticketmaster. No ticket price was available at press time. Buy tickets