 "Photo: photo courtesy of tippy Canoe")
Before Tippy Canoe was headlining as a ukulele player and fronting a band, she went by her real name, Michele Kappel, and played as part of an all-female group called The Kirby Grips.
In the late ’90s, Kappel and the other members of The Kirby Grips were helping set the stage for female musicians breaking onto the music scene.
Now Kappel is making a name for herself as Tippy Canoe with her blend of genre-jumping ukulele riffs.
Kappel will be performing 8 p.m. Saturday at Cafe Coda.
She and her band The Paddlemen will be performing music from their debut album, “Parasols & Pekingese.”
Originally a drummer for The Kirby Grips, Kappel made the switch to ukulele in 2003 and left the rock genre for a more independent sound, she said.
With a voice that echoes the likes of Debbie Harry and Patsy Cline, Kappel adds a strong female voice in a male dominated industry.
Historically, women were pretty much invisible in any musical genre, said Katherine Feller, a music major who enjoys opera and musical theater. Today, women such as Kappel exude a good sense of empowerment.
Feller is reminded of her favorite female singers, Kristin Chenoweth and Natalie Dessay, when listening to Kappel, she said. These women stand out in their genres without compromising their individuality and Kappel is doing the same with her music.
Tegan Silva, who works for Wild Oak Music Group, agrees with Feller.
Men dominate the music world and a lot of women feel intimidated to enter any aspect of the business, Silva said.
“I don’t want to say that it’s a ‘boy’s club’, but it is,” Silva said. “But there are always these breakout artists and female leads in bands that do so well.”
Kappel’s switch from mainstream music to a more independent sound was a brave move that sets her apart from a lot of female musicians, Silva said.
“I think it’s more difficult, especially for a female, to do something different and still gain respect,” she said.
Silva’s favorite female musicians include Joan Jett and Kathleen Hanna, who used to sing for punk group Bikini Kill.
Women such as Jett, Hanna and Kappel are inspiring to young girls, Silva said.
“They show that women don’t have to stand in the background,” she said. “It helps girls to see that they don’t have to be quiet. They can be loud and take center stage.”
Kappel is doing more than just taking center stage in her shows; she completely dominates, even when there’s a blackout.
“What’s really fun is when there’s no electricity,” Kappel said. “I can go on playing. The ukulele is not reliant on the other people or electricity.”
For Kappel, playing her ukulele on stage is about having fun.
“I just want to make people feel something and be a part of the show,” she said. “People can expect to stomp their feet, clap their hands and have fun.”
Angela Perez can be reached at
aperez@theorion.com
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