Roller Girls Play Dirty

At the height of professional roller derby, San Francisco’s own Ann “Banana-Nose” Calvello was known for outlandish makeup, unnatural hair color, and a ferocious temper an obvious role model for the fierce, independent women who now rule the track. Today, the world of roller derby is dominated by all-female teams with an appreciation for DIY ethics and postpunk nomenclature. They drink bad beer and wear good lipstick, earning names such as Taxi Scab, Liza Machete, Kit Turbo, and Demanda Riot while pounding their opponents into submission. The Bay Area boasts three teams: The Oakland Outlaws, S.F. ShEvil Dead, and the Richmond Wrecking Belles, all of whom belong to a skater-owned and -operated league, Bay Area Derby Girls. The B.A.D. Girls are ranked ninth in the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, but it ain’t cheap. Tonight, they will doff their skates and get down in the muck for B.A.D. Girls Mud Wrestling. Beyond raising money to kick some ass at the WFTDA Regional in Houston, the B.A.D. Girls need to find a permanent location to hold bouts (their June 14 event was cancelled due to code violations at Dry Ice) and they are launching a charitable initiative to provide skates for low-income children.
Fri., June 27, 9 p.m., 2008