The Aquadolls’ Sisterhood Charms Audiences at Chicago’s Spring Fling Tour

Femme punk band The Aquadolls, consisting of Melissa Brooks (guitar, vocals), Keilah Nina (bass) and Jacqueline Proctor (drums), play an intimate show at Chicago’s alternative venue Subterranean on Friday, May 19 to celebrate their Spring Fling tour. The band is on the road ahead of their third studio album release Charmed – named after the popular 90s show on magic and the occult that follows three sisters throughout their supernatural adventures.

Love comes in many beautiful shapes and forms, but for the self-coined “mermaid rock n’ roll” band, the trio lean into the magic of platonic love and sisterhood – or what they call soulmate love that they’ve reached with each other – and the power of sustaining self-love and healthy coping mechanisms throughout chaotic times in Charmed.

Charmed interlaces the band’s signature 60s surf-punk influences, grunge soundscaping and tongue-in-cheek lyricism to encompass messages of their undying love for their sisterhood. Bassist Keilah previously said in an interview with Unpublished that Charmed is “super duper lovey dovey.” It’s about love in all aspects and having gratitude for pulling themselves out of tough situations.

Hanging out with the band backstage was equally as rewarding when makeup hacks, astrology and relationships were discussed, as well as the girls’ most coveted brown lip liners and behind the scenes of Shaky Knees Festival stories were revealed – also notable was Keilah sharing pictures of her gorgeous wedding dress. They share positive affirmations to themselves and later to their fans. Being in their presence truly felt like you were at a sleepover with your best friends, and that rich, heartfelt energy is reflected directly onto their female-dominated audiences.

Keilah says the key to the band’s sustaining friendship is upliftment because The Aquadolls make music for hot girls – it’s their driving force.

With no opener needed, The Aquadolls dance their way onto the stage underneath hot pink lights to Aqua’s iconic “Barbie Doll” song, encouraging fans to do the same. The opener “Burn Baby Burn” is a glimpse into the whimsical world of Charmed. “Burn Baby Burn” starts off high-energy with fuzzed-out guitars and powerhouse vocals begging to be shouted back by a crowd. The song is the ultimate girl gang anthem that serves as a declaration of power to demand what you deserve. The Aquadolls shred on stage and let their inner fire roar to the newly released fan-favorite track.

Following the high-kicks and headbanging, The Aquadolls dive straight into their Riot Grrrl influences in “Sick Sad Motherfuck” and “Runaway” off their The Dream and the Deception album. Reminiscent of L7’s early hardcore merged with the commanding, in-your-face approaches of Babes in Toyland, the performances are infused with 90s driven grunginess and bad-ass energy that makes The Aquadolls the fierce force to be reckoned with that gets the fans jumping and screaming at the top of their lungs, “Come on let me burn you.” The Aquadolls are a lot louder since their The Dream and the Deception era, but they remain aggressively – and charmingly – themselves.

Staying true to their alternative foundation, the band debuts “Far Far Away,” another single off of Charmed. Melissa’s surf-inspired guitar has everyone in the audience clapping to the self-love fantasy as she sings a tale of working all day and tackling challenges that come her way. Keilah delivers punchy bass lines and upbeat melodies that seamlessly blend both pop and surf-punk in a way that’s true to the band’s vision.

Don’t let the relatable tales focused on love and longing for more fool you, The Aquadolls are having fun throughout the concert and showcase playful humor through noteworthy early 2000s references in their songs. As the band conveys a strong evolution of their artistic maturity, it is clear that the band is in tune with each other – both energetically and sonically. It’s refreshing to see the band’s sisterhood come to full fruition as they play off each other’s energy and are running around and laughing on stage. The Aquadolls throw it back by covering the 2003 film Freaky Friday’s “Take Me Away” that had everyone singing, “Don’t wanna grow up / I wanna get out / Hey, take me away / I want to shout out take me away, away, away …”

Fans of The Aquadolls were attentive and bursting with energy – moshing to “Take Me Away” and excitedly jumping up and down during “Guys Who Sk8” and “Rich Boyz.” Among the fans starting a mosh pit were members of PINKSQUEEZE – a local indie punk band.

The mermaid rock n’ rollers follow with a glistening, sensual pop anthem “Spotlight” which they call a “sapphic love song” that earned a huge roar of cheers from the crowd. It’s irresistible to imagine being in their shoes wearing silk lingerie and fishnets and being surrounded by lit candles and roses. The atmosphere takes on a more amorous feeling as Melissa romanticizes dancing with a lover and watching their hips swing before the night ends. “Hey pretty baby won't you come my way / Do you wanna kick it back at my place / We can watch the sunset then I’ll sit on your face.” The band revels in excess and a playful seductiveness, perfectly paired with the creeping sexiness of the track.

“Communicationissexy/Idkhow2communicate” chronicles the hardships of dating, but also striving for balance and needing to be alone to show love and attention towards yourself. It’s the ultimate tale of acceptance. The song serves as validation that everyone has flaws and it’s okay to be imperfect. Melissa’s 60s-reminiscent harmonies and Jackie’s intoxicating, 90s-driven beats serve as a strong representation of their powerhouse performances. The distressed vocals add a layer of depth to the self-validation Melissa faced as she questions who the person she was dealing with really was.

With a knack for relatability for every twenty-something feeling, “Sneaky” is the continuing story of relationship conflicts, healing and self-love breakthroughs. Before introducing “Sneaky” Melissa invites a more spirited energy as she opens up to the crowd saying how the song was inspired by the angst surrounding the uncertainty of a fling becoming something more. Daydreams about tender nights tangled under sheets must cease – there is only room for anxiety-ridden intrusive thoughts. “Am I just your late night sneaky little thing?” Melissa questions. The performance is fueled by a gritty sound that juxtaposes the heaviness of bands like The Breeders and Veruca Salt, and the hopeful dreaminess of shoegaze bands like Cocteau Twins and The Jesus and Mary Chain.

Closing the night with a throwback track “Wander,” The Aquadolls return to their beachy, reverb-saturated California roots with their signature line, “My heart is saying yes, but my mind says no.” Melissa sets the scene by inviting the audience to smile and let their minds wander around and to be present in the dreamy air. The California surf-pop ballad fills the venue with catchy choruses and a laid-back sassiness – a perfect way to end the night.

The Aquadolls’ performance at Subterranean was nothing short of a sparkly, memorable experience. Armed with a continued desire to amplify their messages of self-love and sisterhood, Charmed is the perfect era for the trio to step into. As they spread their magic across the country on their Spring Fling tour, The Aquadolls are very grounded in their sisterhood and the energy of their self-love rituals both radiate and resonate deeply with every audience member they reach.