The Nevada Sagebrush

Love Grenades frontwoman Elizabeth Wight recalls her grandmother telling her she could either make music or raise a family. After making her singing debut at five years old on the “Teen Witch” soundtrack and fronting a punk band, she is the now the lyricist, composer and singer in Love Grenades, making it clear that Wight, 25, is not taking the homemaker route.

Elizabeth Wight fronts Love Grenades, a rock band who will be performing at Tonic Lounge on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Modus Vivendi Music.

Much different from Wight’s punk band roots, her brainchild Love Grenades holds a disco and pop sound influenced by German electro.

“I miss the spontaneity of a punk band,” Wight said of her former band. “But my taste changed and grew. Everyone starts off either listening to heavy metal or punk, but then it progresses.”

Although the band’s musicians are ever-changing, Love Grenades is basically all Wight’s own concept.

“It’s much better that way,” Wight said. “I have complete control. I’m always challenging myself and I’m never quite satisfied.”

Not to say that there is not a connection between Wight and her bandmates. Wight insists that she is friends with all of the people in her band. Carson City native and current Love Grenades guitarist Jim Bowers met Wight when his roommate featured her in a music video outside of their Los Angeles apartment.

“I was wearing my My Bloody Valentine T-shirt and we just started talking about music and hanging out,” Bowers recalls. “[Playing in the band] just kind of worked out.”

A non-constant band in addition to a slew of collaborators helps to further enhance the band’s sound. German DJ Sam Sparro and his producer Jesse Rogg helped to create the Love Grenades’ first album “Tigers in the Fire.” The band is also produced by Dave Darling of Tom Waits and Stray Cats fame.

“He’s like an adoptive uncle,” Wight said of Darling. “He’s worked with me since I was 18 in my old band. He’s been kind of an inspiration. I can tell him anything I want and he can do it. He’s an amazing musician.”

Underlying the Love Grenades’ sensual disco are Wight’s feminist-inspired lyrics. Having explored women’s studies at Long Beach State, Wight sets out to relate to young women through her lyrics.

“Being in your 20s is crazy,” Wight said. “You keep hoping that being in your 30s will be better. It’s good for someone to see that other girls are going through the same thing.”

Of course, Wight insists that she is not a stereotypical feminist, with her next most prominent inspiration being men.

“I’m totally not anti-male,” Wight said. “Past relationships and boys are inspiring because everything’s so complex when you’re so young.”

The Love Grenades’ first album “Tigers in the Fire” is due out in June shortly before the group kicks off an international tour. The band will play at Tonic Lounge Saturday at 8 p.m.

Sam DiSalvo can be reached at arts-entertainment@nevadasagebrush.com.

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