Au Pairs
A nostalgic, queer post-punk artist.
Blasting into the post-punk consciousness with a tremendous debut album, the Au Pairs, fronted by lesbian-feminist Lesley Woods, played brittle, dissonant, guitar-based rock that shared political and musical kinship with the Mekons and (especially) the Gang of Four. The music was danceable, imbued with an almost petulant irony, and for a while, very hip and well-liked by critics. Unlike many bands of the day, however, the Au Pairs (at least initially) backed it up with searing, confrontational songs celebrating sexuality from a woman's perspective. Also, they took swipes at the conservative political climate sweeping England after Margaret Thatcher's election as Prime Minister. Occasionally, Woods' commitments to sexual and social politics made her sound inflexible, doctrinaire, and hectoring (especially on their OK second album). But, at first blush, the Au Pairs were a mighty intimidating proposition, able to take on so much and deliver great music in the process. After a desultory live album in 1983 (Live in Berlin), the band split up, and Woods and her bandmates have maintained a low profile. ~ John Dougan, Rovi
Upcoming Events
Get notified when Au Pairs announces a show
Be the first to know.
Venues where Au Pairs plays
What kind of music does Au Pairs play?+
Au Pairs played a distinctive style of post-punk, characterized by brittle guitars, funky rhythms, and politically charged lyrics, exemplified by their debut album "Playing with a Different Sex."
How can I find out when Au Pairs is playing?+
Follow Au Pairs on Mood.
Who were the members of Au Pairs?+
The core members of Au Pairs included Lesley Woods on vocals and guitar, Paul Foad on guitar, and Jane Munro on bass.
- au pairs concerts
- au pairs tour dates
- au pairs music
- artists like au pairs
- au pairs band
- au pairs playing with a different sex
