JOAN JETT

All right, yours truly has finally decided to incorporate a little order in these hapless, structure-rebellious posts. Which, in other words, means that I accidentally found a common thread between my three picks this week and am now JUMPING on this similarity, making a theme and presenting it to you as if I had this organization planned all along. Which, I guess, is a complete fail because I basically just told you otherwise. So enough of that noise - this week's post is all about female lead singers. What's that you say? Last week's unthemed post had all male lead singers and I didn't say a damn thing? Mind your own business, okay? This my thing, not yours. The Sounds - Rock 'n Roll Once upon a time, Alyssa was obsessed with the television show Viva La Bam - you know, that obnoxious MTV "reality" show spin-off of Jackass? The one with a handful of late-twenty-early-thirty year olds running around, pulling pranks on each other in addition to unassuming family members? Yes, that one! As a sophomore in high school, that malarkey amused me (and, no way, I don't have the first three season on DVD or anything...nope, not me...uhn-uh). I was particularly amused with Bam Margera, "star" of the show. His endless stream of ideas for even higher-than-high high jinks, charmingly dreamy dark-hair-blue-eyes combo and compulsively skater brand-clad wardrobe of hoodies, tees and kicks all plummeted me into a semi-obsession. And, for anyone of you who read my column regularly, you know that these little obsessions of mine are abundant, yet short-lived. Eventually I threw Bam out, along with Derek Jeter, Colin Ellis and Mr. Berger, but not before, like the rest, he was able to turn me on to some artist I had never heard of or been interested in prior. During my stint with Bam, I purchased the soundtrack to the television series because, you know, I had to be all up in everything Bam-related. Viva La Bands, as it was called, featured mostly European artists that were not familiar to American audiences, including myself. One band in particular - The Sounds - found a spot in my taste and has nestled nicely there ever since. The song of theirs on the soundtrack that hooked me was this hip-hypnotizing, neck-bobbing tune called "Rock 'n Roll." The Sweden-born lead singer, Maja Ivarsson, mesmerized me with her voice - this loud, yet thin and raspy, high-pitched powerhouse of sound. It's the perfect topping to this sundae of a song, layered deliciously with feisty guitar riffs, steady bass strums and infatuation-filled lyrics about a girl who's given up on love, as the only true desire she's ever known is that of the begging beat of rock and roll. Uh Huh Her - Not a Love Song I have been meaning to throw this Uh Huh Her song into the mix for weeks, but I've just never been able to fit it in properly. But then, the other day, I was watching The L Word, like I do, and I was reminded via Alice Pieszecki (a.k.a. Leisha Hailey a.k.a. co-founder of this band) that I need to feature this song because it's just too damn good not to. It's probably the new wave sound of this band that gets me, but on the other hand, the video is such a visual meal of glossy make-up, sequined outfits, cutesy comic drawings, wispy hair, high-heeled shoes and, wait for it, rope-led UNICORNS (just watch) that I'm pretty sure their music could be country and I'd still be into it. PS: UNICORNS. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - Do You Wanna Touch I can't take any credit for knowing this song or even this woman on my own accord, as it kind of all happened against my will. You see, growing up with a mother who spent the first decade of her adult life in and out of local clubs, dancing and partying the night away to hair bands and chicks in leather and heavy eyeliner, you're probably bound to hear a few of those throwback songs while you're helplessly strapped in an Evenflo car seat in the back of your mom's blue Neon. And, oh boy, did I ever! My sisters and I were raised on Joan Jett, Def Leppard, Pat Benatar, Bon Jovi and the like. Whether my mom blasted it in her car ("Come on, guys! I clubbed to this music!") or had Vh1 playing nonstop ("A Bon Jovi video marathon, you guys! Look at his hair! Oh, dreaaaamy"), slowly these songs became our songs. We became less interested in the Barney sing-along cassette tapes and more interested in hearing Joan Jett sing about putting another dime in the "juice-box, baby" (as I, at whatever young age, mistakenly thought the lyrics were). Now, I'm old enough to realize how lucky I was to have a mother that would share her music with her young daughters. I wonder if she had not done so, if I would have grown up with any sort of appreciation, curiosity or inclination towards the music of that time. When I think of, now at 21, how much of my favorite music is from the period of time that my mother unveiled to us, I realize how thankful I am to her for forcing the music of her glory days on our young and impressionable minds. Thanks, mom! Xoxo. So how's that for a girl power post? Start with Sweden exports and end with mommy dearest. All in a week's worth, my dears, all in a week's worth. So tell me, what kind of women rule your playlists?

Here’s a rundown of next week’s shows.

August 8

• Blondie @ Pacific Amphitheatre – 7:30 pm
• Mickey Avalon @ The Galaxy – 8 pm

August 11

• Lady Gaga @ Staples Center – 7 pm
• Rush @ Gibson Amphitheatre – 7:30 pm
• Joan Jett & Blackhearts @ Pacific Amphitheatre – 8 pm
• B.B. King & Buddy Guy @ Hollywood Bowl – 8 pm

August 12

• Coheed and Cambria @ The Wiltern – 6 pm
• Lady Gaga @ Staples Center – 7 pm

• Limp Bizkit @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater – 7 pm
• Meat Loaf @ Gibson Amphitheatre – 7:15 pm
• Queens of the Stone Age @ Club Nokia – 7:30 pm
• My Morning Jacket @ The Greek Theater – 8 pm
• Tokyo Police Club @ El Rey Theatre – 8 pm
• Leann Rimes @ Pacific Amphitheatre – 8:15 pm

Detailing the ups and downs during the brief success of an all-girl rock band in the 1970s, The Runaways offers a look into the ambition, hardships and volatility of being a female rocker in time when men ruled the stage.

The movie zooms in on the behind-the-scenes drama that both propelled and destroyed the band's short-lived celebrity. Pair lead singer Cherie Currie's (Dakota Fanning) broken home upbringing with Joan Jett's (Kristen Stewart) tough-as-leather demeanor, add three precocious California girls - Lita Ford (Scout Taylor-Compton), Sandy West (Stella Maeve), and Jackie Fox (who did not lend her name to the script, but who Alia Shawkat's character is based on) - and sprinkle it with a dose of overbearing crazy from their over-the-top manager, Kim Fowley (Michael Shannon) and what do we get? A pack of eager, under-aged, parentless vixens out to devour fame, experiment with drugs and alcohol, blur the lines of sexuality, and bask in warmth of their rise to the top. And for a while, the girls succeed in their dream of being the first alleged all-girl rock band - garnering press, fans, and record deals and following in the footsteps of their idols. But excess and greed prove to be the accelerants for their cherry bomb as fighting, drug abuse, and exploitive tactics from their manager eventually result in The Runaways' fall from rock and roll grace. Based on the book by Currie, the movie (produced by Jett and directed by Floria Sigismondi) is a history-rich, fast-paced glimpse into the lives of the women that paved the way for future female rockers.

• 3/15 - "Get me Demarchelier!" Interested in Victor Demarchelier - the son of famed Patrick Dermachelier? Clic Galleries is presenting Victor Demarchelier's first solo show in New York through April 5th, with an opening reception tonight. The event will show stellar black and white photographs from the Vogue-published photographer, capturing his work reminiscent of Irving Penn, personal projects, fashion shoots and work with famed model (and girlfriend), Caroline Trentini; Clic Galleries, 424 Broome Street; (6-9pm opening reception, 3/15).

• 3/15 - Miuccia Prada was rumored to only want to have to work with models during her fittings for Attila - now the designer will join Jacques Herzog and Pierre De Meuron for the Attila performance tonight at the Metropolitan of Opera. Invite Only; The Metropolitan Opera; (8-10p)

• 3/17 - Tommy Hilfiger will partner up with Quintessentially to host the premiere of The Runaways starring Joan Jett, Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning. Invite Only; (6:30-10p)

• 3/18 - Derek Lam store visit - Come and meet the mastermind and famed young designer. Invite Only; 10-12 Crosby (6:30-8p)

• 3/18 - Popular retail store, New York & Company, will host its first ever Fall 2010 presentation at The Glass House this Thursday for editors. Invite Only; 5454 West 25th street; (6-9p)

• 3/18 - Learn about the history of sunglasses from the roots of Italy and the trends that are to come at the Vanderbilt Hall; Grand Central Terminal, NYC; rsvp required.

• Through 3/21 - Come and witness a bevy of Giorgio Armani's red carpet looks worn by celebrites such as: Lady Gaga, Anne Hathaway, Penelope Cruz and more, at the Fifth Avenus flagship store. Wait, Lady Gaga has worn Armani? ; 717 Fifth Ave, (212-207-1902); M–Sa (10–8), Su (12p–6).

The Twilight mania might be cooling down ever so slightly, but things are still red hot for the two leads in the film. We all know how Kristin Stewart, a.k.a. “Bella Sawn,” feels about a certain gorgeous vampire in Ray-Ban sunglasses, but she’s also a rock ‘n’ roller set to play Joan Jett in the biopic The Runaways about the 1970s all-girl rock band responsible for hits such as “I love Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Have no fear die hard Twilight fans, Stewart will start filming The Runaways in 2009 around her New Moon schedule.