Here are four things to know about this local band on the rise prior to their unanticipated notoriety.
TRIO OF SISTERS
Good English is comprised of three sisters – Elizabeth (vocals, guitar), Celia (bass, vocals) and Leslie (drums) – based out of Oakwood.
Elizabeth attended the University of Dayton, Celia attended Wright State University, and Leslie has deferred attending college to concentrate on the band.
The Gem City Podcast listed the band as having "built its unique sound on a bedrock of indie, roots, and punk-influenced rock and roll … with vocal and instrumental comparisons spanning an enormous spectrum… part Nancy Sinatra, part Karen O, part Sleater-Kinney part Black Sabbath, the dark rich vibe the band is channeling is a haunting and engaging revitalization of post nineties rock and roll."
EST. 2005
The two older Rasmussen girls began playing piano prior to their split into other instruments, with the younger performing percussion in the Oakwood High School band. For Christmas in 2005, Leslie received an acoustic guitar, Celia (who also played cello) a bass, and Leslie a drum kit. The name for the band was born around the family table in a conversation with their mother about one of Elizabeth’s former English teachers. A band camp the girls attended at Hauer music sealed the deal, and they cut their chops covering Green Day.
TRULY INDEPENDENT MUSIC
Unsigned to a label, Good English has put out two full-length albums; 2013's 'Radio Wires' and 2016's self-titled album. The girls have worked with local studios and producers and a PR team out of New York to schedule their extensive national tour dates over the last couple of years. They often travel with their father to shows and load-in and tear down their own equipment. Their very first show was at Canal Street Tavern and they've performed locally at a variety of venues including South Park Tavern, Brixx, DVAC, Flanagan's, Omega Records, The "Old" Yellow Cab Building and the Victoria Theatre. Nationally, they've performed at various festivals, theaters and charity events stretching from New York to Seattle to Austin.
DAYTON'S GIRL BAND GEM
The quick rise of the Rasmussen sisters' group made the name Good English nearly synonymous with the Dayton music scene. Crowds loved the gritty, darker sound of their second album and their stage presence couldn't be denied – reminiscent of the mid-nineties girl-band Lilith Fair vibe, once the lights went up on the trio, each show was guaranteed to be a straight up rockin' good time. The band prided themselves on being able to connect to their audiences no matter the venue size, and the momentum of their second album appeared to be the foundation upon which true stardom was about to be built.
Who’s to say what’s in store for Good English from this point forward, but one thing was for sure – they have been a Dayton-fueled powerhouse in the making.
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