The Eyeliners: The Story of Albuquerque's All-Female Pop Punk Powerhouse
Few bands in the pop punk world can claim a origin story as compelling as that of The Eyeliners. Formed in 1995 by three sisters — guitarist Angela "Gel" Baca, bassist Lisa Baca, and singer Laura Baca — the band initially took shape under the name Psychodrama in the sun-baked city of Albuquerque, New Mexico. What began as a straightforward search for the right drummer quickly evolved into something far more extraordinary.
When the sisters struggled to find a drummer who matched their musical vision after auditioning both male and female candidates, Laura decided to take matters into her own hands. Sitting behind the drum kit they had been using for auditions, she began experimenting and, remarkably, found her rhythm almost immediately. Even more astonishing was the moment she began singing along mid-song, revealing a rare dual talent that would become one of the band's most defining characteristics. From that moment forward, The Eyeliners had their drummer and lead vocalist wrapped into one unstoppable force.
The band released their first single, Vivid, under the Psychodrama name before a pivotal west coast tour in 1996 prompted a rebrand. Recognizing that their evolving sound and image called for something sharper and more distinctive, the sisters adopted the name The Eyeliners — a name that perfectly captured their attitude and aesthetic. It was around this time that a fateful show alongside the Red Aunts changed the trajectory of their career. Red Aunts frontwoman Terri Wahl introduced them to Long Gone John, owner of Sympathy for the Record Industry, and the doors to the broader punk world swung wide open.
Their debut CD and a series of seven-inch singles followed on Sympathy for the Record Industry, including the fan favorites Do The Zombie and Rock N Roll, Baby!. These releases helped cement their reputation as a ferocious and fun live act, blending the infectious energy of classic pop punk with a raw, unpolished edge that resonated deeply with underground audiences. Their 1997 debut album, Confidential, laid the groundwork for what was to come, showcasing a band hungry to prove themselves on every level.
The early 2000s saw The Eyeliners reach new heights of visibility. Moving to Lookout Records, they released Here Comes Trouble in 2000 and Sealed with a Kiss in 2001, both of which expanded their fanbase significantly. Their presence on the Vans Warped Tour brought their high-energy performances to massive audiences across the country, and appearances on numerous compilation albums kept their name circulating throughout the punk and alternative rock communities. Their contribution to the Plea For Peace Take Action compilation and the PETA benefit album Liberation also demonstrated a band with a conscience as sharp as their guitar riffs.
Their final studio album, No Apologies, released on Blackheart Records in 2005, served as a bold and fitting farewell statement. The record featured a memorable cover of When in Rome's 1988 hit The Promise, a choice that highlighted the band's versatility and their love for melody beneath all the punk energy. Though The Eyeliners disbanded that same year after a decade of relentless touring and recording, their legacy endured. Their song The Promise even found new life on the soundtrack for the 2009 film Endless Bummer, introducing the band to a fresh generation of listeners.
In a music scene that often overlooked all-female bands, The Eyeliners stood their ground with talent, tenacity, and an undeniable chemistry that only sisters could produce. Their decade-long run left behind a catalog of music that continues to resonate with pop punk fans, and their story remains one of the most uniquely American rock narratives of their era — three sisters from New Mexico who simply refused to settle for anything less than everything.