Tammy Ealom knows who she is, never mind what anyone else says. “I’m not trying to be a rock star,” said Ealom, the fiery singer-guitarist who founded Denver indie rock band Dressy Bessy. “I already am.” That was immediately clear as the buoyant guitar-pop of Dressy Bessy — named after t he 1970s doll covered in zippers and clasps — made its way onto the scene after forming in 1997. The band followed soundtrack appearances in the 1999 movie “But I’m a Cheerleader” with late-night TV talk shows and new-artist compilations that introduced them to national DJs and tastemakers. That also helped Dressy Bessy songs get licensed for films “She’s the Man” and “Picture Day,” and TV series such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Felicity” and “Californication.” But Ealom and her hyper-melodic act have also at times lain low, allowing her to focus on photography and parenting. And anyway, her music has always existed as an artistic concern outside the mainstream music industry, where platinum-selling Denver groups such as National Rateliff the Night Sweats and The Lumineers have lived over the last ten years. Ealom calls her lifestyle (and music) clutter-punk, although critics have also dubbed it jangle-pop, twee, bubblegum and indie pop. It’s more intense than those would imply, considering Ealom’s wild energy on stage. Now she’s stepping out from behind the Dressy Bessy name, which for 30 years has been synonymous with straightforward, punk-indebted guitar work and salty-sweet snarl. It’s a risk having to start over from scratch, publicity-wise, in the age of algorithms. That’s because Dressy Bessy has long been an underground fixture, but also a role model for women rockers in Colorado. That was particularly true when sexism ruled the roost in the 1990s and 2000s, and bands such as Dressy Bessy were often the only female-fronted group on a bill (or even an entire local music festival). Dressy Bessy also carries DNA from the Elephant 6 recording collective, a celebrated group of indie bands that spanned Athens, Ga., to Denver. Elephant 6 brought global attention to the Mile High City in the late 1990s and early 2000s. That included acclaimed acts such as Apples in Stereo, for which Ealom’s partner John Hill plays guitar, and Neutral Milk Hotel, some of them living and/or recording classic albums here. Even with some advice from studio pro Hill, however, Ealom’s new project is all hers. “OK Shine OK,” credited to The Tammy Shine, finds her writing every song, performing every instrument, and recording, producing and mixing every moment of the 12-track album, which will be released Feb. 20 on streaming and in physical formats. She also has tour dates booked through May with shows in Denver, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and at Kindercore Records’ 30th birthday festival in Athens, Ga., with more on the way. Athens in particular is home to her current label, Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records, a respected imprint that counts Fred Schneider (The B-52s), Throwing Muses and The Wedding Present among its artists. In Denver, she’s playing a Saturday, Feb. 21, release show at the Hi-Dive top-lined by Dressy Bessy, with support from The Tammy Shine, Hotel Wifi and Cribbo. But The Tammy Shine will undoubtedly steer the night as Ealom pulls double-duty on stage. DENVER , CO - FEBRUARY 2: Tammy Ealom flexes her biceps at her home in Denver, Colorado on Monday, February 2, 2026. Ealom, who performs with the indie rock band Dressy Bessy, is releasing her first solo album, "OK Shine OK," under the name The Tammy Shine. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) The Tammy Shine’s effervescent power-pop singles, “Junk Mail,” “Speed Date,” and “So Very Little,” have already been circulating on Indie 102.3 FM, YouTube, and social media since December. And Ealom has been playing solo and with a band under The Tammy Shine name at shows and festivals for longer than that, inspired by a solo 2017 concert she delivered at Athens Popfest. With her dad in the U.S. Army, Ealom’s childhood found her moving from the U.S. to Germany, then to Hawaii, before ending up back in Colorado. In Hawaii, she had to learn to local culture, instilling in her a grit and determination that has never faded. “I was trying to forge my own identity, and being a military kid, you have to do that every three years,” she said. “OK Shine OK” brings that tension and Ealom’s gritty sparkle to life in a way Dressy Bessy cannot. It’s not simply an overview of her songwriting and sonic know-how. It’s an updated feminist-punk statement dripping with textured guitars, layered harmonies, talk-sung interludes, and cracking rhythms. Tracks such as “Baby I’ll B There” are alternately withering and funny, and whether singing smoothly, belting out ragers, or going falsetto, Ealom’s voice latches onto the tightly packed arrangements like a pirate’s hook. “I’m just putting myself out there and saying, ‘Look, I can do this,’ ” Ealom said. “I’m proud of it and these days, it’s empowering me. … In the age of social media, everybody’s always looking at you and criticizing you for your body as a woman, your status, your level of rock stardom, whatever. Tammy Ealom, here mingling with a lamp at her home in Denver, has led the band Dressy Bessy since 1996. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) “And I’m just like, ‘All of that (stuff) doesn’t matter. You know?’ ” she added. “Your perceived politics and values. How you look. It’s not about that. It’s about this record.” Even disdaining the popularity contest of local scenes — she’s never really fit in with Denver’s, she said — Ealom has learned over the years to accept the hustle of self-promotion. Constant social media posts and new, vibrant photos of her vamping and posing with instruments (she’s a longtime, professional photographer) project an upbeat tone amid all the behind-the-scenes work she does with her label, booking agents and venues. How does she stay so energetic and overall sunny in the face of so many demands? For one, she’s not trying to be the next big thing, she said. Time can whittle down one’s punk rock ideals, if not their underground cred, but Ealom’s restless mind keeps her sharp — and away from thoughts of legacy, influence or competition with other artists. She channels her energy with discipline. Like her own mother, she was young when she had a daughter, and in some ways grew up alongside her. Her record-collector dad had ingrained in her a love of music — she came of age with Prince and British Invasion rock and RB in equal measures — and her family still owns Earth Pig Music in Colorado Springs, which sells records and cannabis paraphernalia. One trick to Ealom’s longevity: she absorbs daily energy from visiting Mount Falcon in Morrison, exploring its trails solo. She’s worn out three pairs of hiking boots over the last four years, she said, and has become addicted to the fresh air and forest surroundings. “I get up at about 7:30 every morning, have a couple eggs and a banana, head for the hills, and go for an 8 to 10-mile hike,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s snowing or raining, or whatever it’s doing. I’m there every day.” Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, In The Know, to get entertainment news sent straight to your inbox. ...read more read less