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“Gossip Girl” Taylor Momsen Debuts Band, The Pretty Reckless

5/6/09, 3:07 pm EST

Gossip Girl’s Taylor Momsen and her band, the Pretty Reckless, made their live debut at New York club the Annex last night, reports Guest of a Guest. Channeling her inner Courtney Love, 15-year-old Momsen (who was luckily not carded, evidently) belted out the band’s tunes in a raspy growl while strutting around in a beige slip and lace-up black boots.

Momsen’s Gossip Girl alter-ego would approve: Jenny Humphrey (Momsen’s character on the CW show) is an aspiring fashion designer whose DIY styling, raccoon eyeliner and punky hairdo make her a rebellious standout at her prim and proper Upper East Side private school. In true punk spirit, Little J even went so far as to stage a renegade fashion show earlier this season, appropriately soundtracked by Sonic Youth’s “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker” (check out the scene and more of Gossip Girl music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas’ favorite soundtrack moments). Humphrey’s father, Rufus, was also the frontman of fictional one-hit-wonders Lincoln Hawk, who were named on Gossip Girl as one of Rolling Stone’s Top 10 Forgotten Bands of the ’90s.

The Pretty Reckless are signed to Interscope Records and the band’s debut — on which Momsen shares co-writing credits — is due this fall, confirms a press release. As Rock Daily reported, the band will open for Australian sister duo the Veronicas at U.S. gigs this Spring/Summer.

Momsen isn’t the only Gossip Girl star with a burgeoning music career. Fellow cast member Leighton Meester (queen bee Blair Waldorf) has plans to release her debut album this fall after Meester inked a deal with Universal Republic last month, and she will appear on the first single from Cobra Starship’s forthcoming record, while Ed Westwick (the alternately smarmy and charming Chuck Bass) fronts Brit-pop act the Filthy Youth.

For more on the cast of Gossip Girl, including photos of their steamy Rolling Stone photo shoot and juicy stories from the set, check out our Gossip Girl hub.


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Comments

Hole | 5/6/2009, 3:39 pm EST

First off….this is horrible

Second: You can see right through the tortured artist BS she is exuding.

Kids want to bang her…not listen to her crappy music.
next stop….playboy

jebeal | 5/6/2009, 3:39 pm EST

Courtney Love looks GREAT but her songs are still shit.

Samson | 5/6/2009, 4:15 pm EST

Why do actors do this to themselves? Are the ego’s so large that they think they are so great?
Where are their friends telling them to stop doing this?

LEFASHION | 5/6/2009, 4:56 pm EST

I LOVE IT.

PEOPLE SHE’S WHAT LIKE 16. GIVE HER SOME CREDIT.

jebeal | 5/6/2009, 5:26 pm EST

Give her credit for what? When Stevie Wonder was 16 he was recording some genius stuff. She’s a rich kid with an inexplicably popular television show who can afford to put on pet projects in front of twelve drooling sycophants. Good job, full credit due. She gets the Don Johnson award for Great Achievement in Television Idiots.

chris | 5/6/2009, 5:29 pm EST

Some of these comments are a bit harsh. Aside from her being only 15 years old, she exudes the rock star persona on stage. As for the music itself, she has a strong, rasphy voice that shows just how mature this young woman is. She definitely has a courtney love/stevie nicks thing going for her. Basically she and her band are pretty good and it will be interesting to see how they grow in the next few years.

chris | 5/6/2009, 5:33 pm EST

Some of these comments are a bit harsh. Aside from her being only 15 years old, she exudes the rock star persona on stage. As for the music itself, she has a strong, rasphy voice that shows just how mature this young woman is. She definitely has a courtney love/stevie nicks thing going for her. Basically she and her band are pretty good and it will be interesting to see how they grow in the next few years. BTW people criticism can be a wonderful thing, but cynicism and hating get us no where.

Patricia | 5/6/2009, 9:48 pm EST

I think she sounded good personally!! no lie, I was feeling those songs!! I will definitely buy her cd!!!

Stone | 5/7/2009, 6:15 am EST

I don’t give her any credit for being young. That’s like giving Chad Kroeger credit for being a horrible singer. If you suck, you suck. No excuses.

But this girl doesn’t suck. Solid vocals, good music, decent stage presence. I’m not sure what more the haters are looking for. It’s much better than I’m likely to hear if I turn on the radio right now or go to a random local concert. Most importantly, I enjoyed it.

Bianca | 5/7/2009, 7:33 am EST

i dont really like her but shes got cool hair, confidence, and a cacthy tune!

totally channeling courtney love lol

Brian | 5/7/2009, 10:05 am EST

Props to this kid,she’s totally got the goods.

James | 5/7/2009, 10:45 am EST

Why is Rolling Stone covering this? Co-writing credits? Give me a break. There are actually TALENTED musicians that don’t have TV fame to brace their suck-ass music career. If I want to read about Gossip Girl I’ll pick up a copy of Tiger Beat or OK! Magazine. Wait, that’s right! This rag had that trash on the cover. I’m waisting my breath much like RS is waisting it’s time and credibility.

carolyn | 5/7/2009, 12:00 pm EST

this is really not good at all. i live for courtney love, she’s my favorite artist.

so i was super excited to read about taylor momsen because she seems cool and rock n roll, but this is way too poppy.

Laura | 5/8/2009, 1:28 am EST

Ok, so she’s not amazing, but this was her first show, and her raspy voice (and lyrics) have an edge to it. I like it, and her.

We shouldn’t bash her just yet, give her a break.
Actors love music as well.

emgdon | 5/8/2009, 8:27 pm EST

It’s interesting all the haters who have discounted her without even giving her a chance. I know because I tried to do the same thing. But this girl totally surprised me.

I listened to everything I could find on the web and in my opinion, she will be a LIGITIMATE star one day if she doesn’t crash and burn first.

Don’t forget you’re hearing demo tapes and seeing 1st time on stage videos. Comparing anyone to Stevie Wonder is ludicrous.

Like most people here, I’m fed up with the low/no talent actors trying to hawk a cd based on marginal talent. But it’s easy, using an openmind and a critical ear, to identify talent when you hear it. This kid has IT.

Black Hole Sun | 5/9/2009, 1:18 am EST

Not bad at all. I was expecting her to suck, but she doesn’t. And yeah, she totally gives off a Courtney Love vibe with the hair and her nightgown as her choice of stage garb. I hope her band makes great music though, and I hope she knows well enough to keep herself out of the tabloids so she can be taken seriously. At least she’s not making an ass of herself like Joaquin Phoenix.

Mandel | 5/20/2009, 12:29 am EST

This is absolutely horrible. Enough.

Brie | 5/25/2009, 12:52 pm EST

I like it. I thought it was going to suck, but it’s pretty good. Needs a little work, but it’s okay.

Bitch im me 3@yahoo.com | 5/28/2009, 6:25 pm EST

First of all this girl is incredible and whoever thinks she isnt is either jealous or just a douchebag. But taylor keep doing what u love ur gud at it.

Kailey | 5/29/2009, 12:35 am EST

I saw them live in Nashville and it was their second show I believe and I thought they did amazing. Especially for just starting out too. My little sister (not really little she’s 16) wanted me to take her to see the veronicas and when I found out Taylors band was going to be opening for them I was really excited…I’m a huge gossip girl fan and before the concert I got on youtube to hear some of their stuff and it made me even more excited because I really wasn’t expecting much, but I was honestly shocked. I can’t wait for their album in the fall :]

noodle | 6/3/2009, 4:37 am EST

i love her. her music is amazing. cant wait for the album!!

neworleans | 6/13/2009, 10:08 am EST

Just watched her drop the micwhile lip synching at House of Blues. Real talent there.

Next!

new orleans! | 6/17/2009, 9:19 pm EST

man, i didnt know she was playing at the house of blues last saturday! i would have went to see her!

:) | 6/25/2009, 8:40 pm EST

Don’t like her. She was better off beign “little J” from Gossip Girl.

Lauren | 7/1/2009, 2:46 am EST

Saw her live with the V-rons a couple days ago and fell in love with it. I of all people would have thought it to be trash as I HATE it when television stars try to cross the path into music when they just don’t have the pipes; however,Taylor really does. I was left speechless and tried to buy the album right away, but unfortunately they don’t have one yet. I expect this kid to go places; she’s got the chops and the look. She needs to work on her stage presence a bit more, but what can you expect when she is so new to it? And no one knows who they are at 16…Hell, I still don’t know who I am and I’m definitely not 16 anymore. She was very nice too and I hope fame doesn’t change that. Got a picture with her and she actually tried to talk to me which was an unexpected treat. Wow…I sound like I have a lady crush…anyway, it’s golden.

LaL | 7/28/2009, 6:09 am EST

Nope. NEXT!

lOl | 10/10/2009, 6:04 am EST

i lOve readingg cOmments about ppl whuu cnt siing .. ( sure shee can act but siing ) && its truee mostt ppl. thiink they can siing. where aree thee trustwOrthy ppl.in her lifeee.?

Bex | 10/20/2009, 2:34 pm EST

Ok, there are several things wrong with this.

One, she can’t sing.
Two, it looks like she’s dry heaving in these videos.
Three, the songs are obnoxious.

Honestly, this band is an assault to the senses.

You don’t get credit for being young.

N | 10/26/2009, 9:36 am EST

I think it’s amazing. I love TPR. And i’m definitley goin to buy the CD.

T | 11/4/2009, 12:25 pm EST

Basically, she’s good and she has made it at such a young age. I think most of you are just…. Jealous?

k | 11/14/2009, 11:52 am EST

i love da songs…it jus kinda sounds weird hearing them live. anyways,
why does she look like Courtney Love?

ithailand | 11/18/2009, 7:03 am EST

i love this song ‘n love her too!

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