When The Blind Dates formed in 1986, making connections was harder than it is today. Those were the days of cutting cassette mock ups out of yellow construction paper and drawing doodles by hand.

 

One of the greatest differences is how songs are crafted.  Deanna, Gina and Penneye spent hours in Deanna's basement inventing the sounds they wanted. Sometimes they found it in a trash can lid -- sometimes in a McDonald's drive-through.  

 

When the songs were good enough, the Teac Reel-to-Reel 4 track captured essences of emotion and musical subtlety.

 

Though they were only together a little over 3 years, The Blind Dates produced some of the most vibrant inventive pop to ever come from this region. Many of their best-loved tunes are on the one recording to be released to the public: The Yellow Tape.  Songs like Life in the Underground, Miles in My Shoes, I'll Wait and Movie Theatre sound as fresh today as they did twenty years ago.

 

All of the members of The Blind Dates stayed active in the music business. Gina formed the oft-heralded Doubting Thomas and Volatile Baby. Deanna went on to much acclaim as half of the spirited duo 2nd Skin, which later became Violet Strange. Penneye became the owner/operator of Tremont Music Hall, bringing to the Charlotte area everyone from Iggy Pop to Paula Cole. She now owns the eclectic eatery Dish, located in the heart of Plaza Midwood.

 

These women formed a bond anchored in music in a time some say was more innocent: a time in which we were less connected by cell phones, computers and social media and more connected by the trials and triumphs of human nature.