kzsu fm (stanford university) review of "contrary sanctuary"
"East-bay punk/popsters at times reminiscent of the Pixies/Breeders or PJ Harvey. Catchy guitar riffs, power bass lines, slight surf-rock influences. Quite varied and good - songs range from folky slow ballads, punky power pop to covers of children's songs. Fronted by Valerie Esway, whose vocal range is quite impressive, from dark angst to a singsong quality."
review of our Bottom of the Hill record release party (with 20 Minute Loop and Ultralash):
I've written before about the execrable state of San Francisco's local music
scene, so I'm pleased to say that I went to a show of all-local bands that
was well-attended and had an enthusiastic audience. It was a lot of fun, too.
All of these artists sound distinctly local - Ramona the Pest, in particular,
have the kind of eclectic sound I associate with some of the quirkier San
Francisco bands that formed in the early 90s (Ovarian Trolley is the first
name that springs to mind). All of these artists have been around for a while,
so they were playing for a crowd that already knew and appreciated them, which
is the kind of warm and fuzzy vibe that's supposed to make local shows special.
It's a pleasant departure from the haughty New-York-in-San-Francisco vibe
that weighs down shows by some of San Francisco's hipper bands.
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pushby.com February
2003
The new 4 song EP from the San Francisco bay area three-piece outfit Ramona
the Pest, Birds, Bugs, Bones, offers a sharply jagged slice of alt-rock songcraft
in the tradition of Patti Smith, PJ Harvey, and 11th Dream Day. Guitarist
Lucio Menegon uses his gift to lay down some truly inspired six-string mayhem.
The guitars range from chunky slabs of metallic riffing to wailing whammy-bar
manipulation. The band uses dynamics to the extreme, as vocalist Valerie
Esway's voice floats under, above, and completely within the audio mix. The
opening track "15 Yeah" is a rowdy rocker that screams for college
radio airplay with its thunderous guitars and chorus of "yea yea yea's."
At this time in history, female-fronted rock bands aren't getting the attention
they rightfully deserve. It's time for a new band to take the lead and
breathe fresh air into the genre. With a bit of luck, Ramona the Pest will
be that band.
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Hitsessions.com
April 2002
Ramona The Pest -- Birds, Bugs, Bones (self-released): Quirky guitar-pop
band fronted by talented singer-songwriter Valerie Esway. The band owes a
debt to alt-rock gods like Pixies and PJ Harvey, marrying some distinctive
melodies to some jarring-yet-appealing guitar chords. "Itsy Bitsy Spider"
is a great showcase for Esway's vocal acumen - she's sassy, she's powerful,
she's sexy, she's simply pretty damn cool, as the song whispers and screams
in different spots. "Skeleton Woman" is OK, but has a great instrumental
break, with Esway's backing harmonies layered in the background. The EP opener,
"15 Yeah", is a great rocker - it has a slight surf-cum-punk feel
that may remind some of Aquanettas or Slant 6. More than four songs next time,
please.
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Fufkin.com March2002
"This four-song EP makes for a practiced “how-to” treatise
on the art of writing really neat songs. Loaded with crisp, succinct and catchy
pop tunes, Birds, Bugs, Bones is sprinkled with just enough atmospheric indie
rock to keep it interesting. “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “15 Yeah”
combine the upbeat coolness of the ‘60s with the modern edge of the ‘90s,
while disc closers “Skeleton Woman” and “Lullabye for a Sad
Day” deliver up a calming, easy feeling effect by showcasing the melodious
singing of lead vocalist Valerie Esway..."
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Music-reviewer.com
February 2002
"RAMONA THE PEST play hard hitting and airtight pop. RTP demonstrates
that a veteran unit with top notch song writing skills and loads of talent
is a band that you can trust to deliver the goods time and time again. This
band is so damn good that radio is never going to discover them in spite of
their being perfect for the airwaves."
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The Crass Menagerie Issue
#99 (Part One) January 2002
Assessing a band based on four songs is always a challenge. In the case of
Birds, Bugs, Bones, the listener's task is interesting, fun and rewarding.
Ramona The Pest is an indie Bay area trio that has been around for a while
- certainly long enough for their originality to shine through numerous influences
and long enough to master the ability to craft tight, catchy songs. "15
Yeah" opens the EP with a 60s retro-rock tune that is quite reminiscent
of the Plimsouls; "Itsy Bitsy Spider" is an edgy alt-pop version
of a childhood song. "Skeleton Woman" is a laid back ballad, and
"Lullabye" closes things with some very nice vocal harmony. While
the band gives nods to the Pixies, PJ Harvey and Patti Smith, there's an appealing
similarity to the work of New York's Lauren Agnelli and Dave Rave.
__________
Eric Sorensen
Amplifier Magazine Issue No.
28 (Jan/Feb 2002)
"Berkeley's Ramona the Pest have been crafting brilliant pop songs tempered with dark lyrics about frustration and lost love for the past several years. Charismatic frontwoman Val Esway's vocals can be both powerful and beautiful." - Synthesis 9/10/01
"They always come back. You can't keep them away even with a sharp stick and scary grimaces. But Ramona the Pest is different, more deserving of open arms than the unwashed, untalented masses. The band left earlier this year for Arizona -- a spring raining of sorts -- and here they are again, bringing their darkly atmospheric pop back to the Starry Plough. Frontwoman Val Esway says that she can't wait to get back. They've been working on a new release, Birds, Bugs, Bones, and it will no doubt be saturated by the southwestern sun and dusted with red rock sand -- advance word is that toy pianos are involved. Carmaig de Forest and Hoarhound open." - Urban View 9/5/01
East Bay Express cover article 4/20/01
"a razor sharp alt-folk mainstay on the local club scene" EB Express 3/30/01
"You remind me of Patti Smith" - Penelope Houston after RTP's set 3/23/01
"Over the course of five years and six albums, Berkeley California's Ramona the Pest has quietly become one of the more intriguing developments in the Bay Area. Led by indie chanteuse Valerie Esway, and frequently accompanied by a collective of musicians including guitarist Lucio Menegon, the group has been earning raves for its dark and atmospheric pop. RTP's latest effort, the self-released Little Knives, combines the best elements of its more obvious influences - Cowboy Junkies, Lisa Germano, Geraldine Fibbers - into an intriguing 12-song platter". - Phoenix NewTimes - Jan 25, 2001