Just Getting Started

Axi Nue of Red Skate Red won't let chemo stop her.

With intense riffs, dancey grooves and a rebellious attitude, Red Skate Red rocked the Rotunda last month. The band (bassist Karen Horner, keyboardist Stephanie Nelson and drummer Emil Weintraub) had only been playing together a few months, but came off like old pros. And the positive energy exuded by smoky-voiced lead singer Axi Nue was palpable.

You'd never know that night was the band's first gig. You'd also never guess Nue was playing her own benefit. Nue — who also performs with The Dumpsta Players and The Broken Hipsters, and who helped organize Ladyfest — is fighting B-cell lymphoma. Her friends in the arts/music community put the benefit together under the banner "Fuck Chemo," a slogan as defiantly punk rock as Red Skate Red's sound. The band plays Sugar Town this Saturday.

City Paper: What is the sound of Red Skate Red?

Axi Nue: Elastic-synth-resist-rock. Grit-tingly-swank-scream-scatter-beat-drum-and-bass-drive-synth-stretch.

CP: How do you think that first show went?

AN: Pretty well, considering we had a six-week hiatus thrown in the mix, when I was laid up in the hospital and Emil hurt her shoulder.

CP: Where does "Fuck Chemo" come from?

AN: My friend Sharon Wasko — who, along with Rich Wexler was one of the organizers of that event — did some research online for me while I was in the hospital and came across some pretty interesting blogs. One of her favorites is one written by a dude who is now in remission called "Fuck Cancer." According to that blog, chemo has made that man very tall and blond.

CP: Tell me about chemo.

AN: I was already very tall before I started treatment, and now I'm bald instead of blond. Maybe it's different chemo.

CP: Describe your attitude toward your illness.

AN: Fuck cancer. It's not easy, but the people in my life, my amazing friends and compatriots and my family, have offered so much support that the only thing I have to concern myself with is healing. The night of the benefit I looked around the Rotunda and saw a big room full of awesomely talented and dedicated individuals. There are a lot of beautiful people in Philly, making good things happen. I'm glad to call it home.

Red Skate Red plays Sugar Town, with Rifle Nice, The Reflectors and Frostiva, Thu., Sept. 9, 9 p.m., $7, Pontiac Grille, 304 South St., 215-925-4053.

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