The First Ladies

These guys have been performing live in the Boise, Idaho area and writing songs under the name “First ladies” for two years. The core of the band is three members Micah Smith, Joel Smith, and Jojo Hopewell. They also play with stage musicians including Kellen Blackman and Eric Eldridge. They started out playing shows for their supportive friends at house parties and barns in early 2008. The crowds started growing as they performed in local Boise venues like The Neurolux, Flying M Coffeegarage, and The Boise Venue. Heidi Kraay from The Boise Picayune, who reviewed the band’s last concert, wrote “As promised, the energy and noise picks up to a rockin’ second half at Neurolux, beginning with The First Ladies. This fun four-set on guitar, drums, bass and keys put together lively, danceable beats, progressive chords and plenty of potential.” In May 2008 they released an EP with 6 songs including the upbeat crowd-pleaser “Heart Beat.” The First Ladies are currently finishing up their next EP to be released in May 2009 and are very excited to see their fan’s response. Brothers, Joel and Micah, spent years listening to favorite northwest rockers like Death Cab for Cutie and Modest Mouse. They also look across the pond to British rock influences like Bloc Party, Arctic Monkeys, The Cure and Radiohead who have had a fresh impact on the songwriting styles of The First Ladies. These influences give them a more original sound that sets them apart from the sounds of the Boise music scene. Joel and Micah are the main songwriters of the band, writing both lyrics and musical arrangements. Micah also plays guitar, Jojo plays bass, and Joel is on drums. They all sing and can be seen behind the microphone at shows. Micah has worked as a producer for local underground Boise hip-hop and electronic artists for years and is the sole producer and engineer for The First Ladies. The band is known for setting their sights high; they are currently moving to Seattle in search of a more active music scene and are aiming for many shows across the northwest in 2009. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.