“I’m so sorry!”
The Canadian rock goddess Bif Naked profusely apologized to me as I stepped inside her plush tour bus. After a few postponements from management, I was finally able to get a few words with the loudest, heaviest and hottest rocker that most Americans do not even know about.
But what the hell did I care? I had already been waiting nine years for the chance to see her live show. What was a few more hours?
Hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada, Bif Naked began her career skipping classes to attend band practices. After cycling through a handful of bands, she released her debut album in 1995 on her own label, Her Royal Majesty’s Records. Free from limitations and rules, the self-titled album contained gritty, grunge rock with personal, in-your-face lyrics.
Bif Naked broke through the American mainstream with the release of “I Bificus” in 1998. The album’s first single, “Moment of Weakness” received play by Much Music, MTV and alternative rock stations around the country.
During the same year, Bif played with the Lilith Fair and also with rock all-stars such as Green Day, Foo Fighters and Creed. An appearance on the cult fan favorite “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” also helped promote her as “I Bificus” tracks “Moment,” “Lucky” and “Anything” all appeared on the show.
The sophomore album was a crazed blend of catchy rock-pop lyrics, heavy guitars and highly revealing and confrontational lyricism. Mix that with her old-school punk attitude and there she is, essentially naked, pun intended.
Two albums later and on the road to support her latest release, “Superbeautifulmonster,” Bif Naked opened for Default and Hinder at the Webster Theatre in Hartford, on Nov. 29.
With a set comprised mostly of the newer “Superbeautiful” tracks, Bif roared onstage opening with the electric “Yeah You.”
Her stage presence was phenomenal. Clad in a short, black and blue plaid skirt and a black V-neck tank top exposing her tattoo-painted arms, Bif ran across the stage provocatively rocking out to the song with her band. Working both sides of the stage, Bif then thrashed to “I Want” bringing new life into the vintage headbang.
Sadly, the Tuesday night show did not bring in nearly enough spectators, as anyone could have walked directly up to the barricades. Not exactly a promoter’s dream, but the set received a good amount of head bobbers and singing fans out of the people that were there, especially given that Bif Naked was the opener.
The set had its ups and its downs, with the highlights being the first two singles off the latest CD. The cover of Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” was perhaps the most surprising for the crowd and received the most feedback from new listeners. Just as heavy as James Hetfield and his crew of 80s metal gods, Bif Naked and her band matched both the gentle acoustics of the track, while also nailing the earsplitting guitar riffs as well.
“Let Down” immediately followed, with electronic moog sounds interspersed between the solid rock of the song. A song about living at home while she was 27, “Let Down” gave the set a vivacious kick and was perhaps the best song performed that night.
The set was not perfect, however. Having arrived late to the venue, the band did not have time for a sound check before the show, which significantly altered the sound quality of the first two tracks. It was quite obvious that the sound was being modified as Bif performed.
At times, the music was too prominent over her voice while at other times it seemed to be the opposite. Lyrics were especially hard to hear throughout “Yeah You” and “I Want” and had I not known them already, I would not have had the slightest idea of what Bif was singing.
After she left the stage and did a autograph session, I was able to ask Bif about her experiences on the road, traveling the world and her greatest influences.
Bif said there really was not any differences between touring in her homeland of Canada and the United States.
“The fans are awesome everywhere we go,” she said. “If we go someplace far from Vancouver, it’s always surprising how many people come, whether it’s Montreal or Alabama. It’s just so exciting because you can’t believe that they’ve heard of you so far away.”
Having been around the world, Italy, France and Germany to name a few, the band likes touring North America best. Speaking fluent French and Hindi, Bif noted that she can get by in Europe, but her band struggles with the language differences.
On recording a cover of Metallica, Bif said it was always in her mind because they are her favorite band.
“‘Nothing Else Matters’ is my favorite song by them. I’ve always wanted to do it,” she said.
The video has just recently been released in Canada and should be seen in America within a few weeks.
While discussing the length of her career and the albums she has made since going solo, Bif said that “Superbeautifulmonster” was her favorite.
“I’m closest to it because I’ve been through a lot in the last four years and it’s a very heartfelt record,” she said.
Although she listens to a wide variety of music, most of it does not inspire the music heard on her albums.
“I mostly enjoy things rather than have them influence me, because most of the stuff I listen to is hard music,” she said. She listed many bands such as Suicidal Tendencies, Hank Williams III, Patsy Cline, Mastodon and Mariah Carey as being some of her favorites.
“I love her!” said Bif about Mariah Carey. “I have every record she’s ever made. She’s such a good singer!”
Bif’s genuinely caring attitude toward music and touring makes for great conversation and shines through in her interactions with fans and the press. Regardless of her obnoxious band, Bif remained focused, seemingly grateful for my interest and questions.
With a tough exterior, a punk-rock persona and bad-ass attitude, Bif Naked proved to be much more than any stereotype the media tries to place her in.
And a Mariah Carey fan? Didn’t see that one coming.
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