After a night of rock and roll to benefit the Neo-Political Cowgirls, a band called the Fistys (a name shortened from a word that cannot be printed in newspapers) walked away as the overall judges' winner of the 2024 Battle of the Fantasy Girl Bands at the Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett on Saturday.
Two other musical groups, the L.I.EZ's and Sex Wax Seven, shared the audience award, chosen by QR-code voting by the people who attended the sold-out show. There were six bands in competition in all, some of whom brought original songs to the show. An overflow crowd watched via online livestream at the nearby Rowdy Hall.
"Over the years the content of the songs has really changed and people's investment in the making of music has changed, but there are still lots of women who are making music for the first time," said Christine Sciulli, a co-founder, with Holly Li, of the Battle, a tradition since it was established in 2016.
Perhaps the real winner of the night was the Neo-Political Cowgirls, for which the Battle raised over $10,000 to support year-round programming and performances in art and individual empowerment.
