MUSIC REVIEW OF THE DAY: ROSIE & the RIVETERS - MS. BEHAVE

Mix the Andrews Sisters with Amy Winehouse and you'll get the sound of Rosie and the Riveters, a trio of strong women letting loose. Their retro/modern mix includes vintage clothes, hair, look but voices very much from today. They rip apart mansplaining on Ask A Man, singing "I Need a man to explain things to me/the space in my head is quite small you see/I am uncertain, what are my concerns/Can you spell them out in more simpler terms?" Point made.

The title cut says it's nobody's business how a woman acts, demanding an end to the old cliche of lady-like behaviour. Gotta Get Paid is about the most soulful way of campaigning for pay equity you can imagine. They aren't bashing anyone with these message songs, it's just plain, and they do it with good humour, stating the obvious while entertaining at the same time. Great harmonies, jazzy and groovy arrangements, and a positive way to get women's voices in the mix of crud that's slammed at us daily. The biggest point to take away is that these issues and societal changes should have been over with back in the '40's, but 70 years later we still need Rosie and the Riveters fighting the fight.

The group is bringing its dynamic live show to the East Coast to launch the new album. They'll be performing Saturday, Apr. 7 at the Kings Theatre in Annapolis Royal, NS, Sunday at Le Richelieu in Metaghan, NS, Wednesday, Apr. 11 at the Playhouse in Fredericton, Friday the 13th at the Harbourfront Theatre in Summerside, PEI, and Saturday the 14th at the Mermaid Imperial Performing Arts centre in Windsor, N.S.