Vivian Girls

Vivian Girls

Brooklyn Bop

A blog buzz, backlash and three drummers all in the space of three years, Brooklyn’s Vivian Girls have had a rough ride on the wrong side of the indie tracks.

Cassie Ramone (vocals/guitar) and Kickball Katy (bass) released their self-titled debut back in 2007 – a chaotic mix of Phil Spector harmonies tumbling down the stairs with Replacement riffs. Selling out the initial press of the record, the band won overwhelming critical praise and support slot with Sonic Youth.

However, the girls’ overnight success lead to them falling victim to the build them up knock them down mentality as the blogs branded them, like they so often unfairly do with girl bands, all style no substance. But, they’ve bounced back to release their triumphant second album, Everything Must Go, a fierce kick in the shins of 3 minute fast and furious punk to their critics.

Currently out on a European tour, the girls are due to hit the London town this weekend with new drummer, Fiona Campbell. We caught up with Cassie to find more about their sophomore album, surviving being a buzz band, and where to grab a good Margarita in NYC.

You’ve released your second album, Everything Goes Wrong, last year. Who produced the album and where did you record it?

We recorded the album at the Distillery in Costa Mesa, California. The
studio is really special because it doesn’t have any new equipment -
it’s all analog and the only computer in there is a PC from ten years
ago or something. We co-produced the album ourselves with Mike McHugh,
the engineer at the Distillery. He’s been recording garage bands for
years, so it was right up our alley!

What were you listening to when you were recording the album?

Neil Young, Ariel Pink, America, the Wipers, Nodzzz, Steely Dan.

You sold out your debut single in 10 days, supported Sonic Youth and generally had the blogs buzzing about you and then there was reallynasty backlash. How did you handle that?
All of us were made fun of in school, so it wasn’t as shocking to us
as one might think since we’ve been used to dealing with people
talking shit on us our entire lives. However it obviously was a
terrible feeling watching your life’s work get totally demoralised. In
the end, it made us stronger people.

You toured the UK earlier this year and you’re coming back in July. How was the tour?
One of the best we’ve ever been on.  We met a lot of amazing people
and played with great bands. The crowd reaction was overwhelmingly
positive and I feel as though we were really in our element.

You seem to tour non-stop.  What’s your weirdest tour story?
One time we were driving back into America from Canada and the bridge
was closed and there was dead stop traffic on the highway for miles
and miles. It was taking people over 8 hours to get across the border;
they had to get on a ferry! But, we took all these back roads and
somehow we got to this other entrance to the bridge and they waved us
through, and we got over no problem and they didn’t even ask to see our
passports.

You’ve toured a lot with Male Bonding and you made a guest appearanceon their debut album. How did you two get to know each other?
On our first trip to England, we needed a place to stay, because we
knew we’d be in London for almost half the trip and we couldn’t afford
to stay in a hotel that many nights. Katy had been emailing with Simon
from the Rough Trade Shops and he told us we could stay with John
Webb (Male Bonding vocalist/guitarist), who worked there. As soon as we got to his house and met him we knew we’d be friends forever. And then we met the other guys in the band and we all fell in love (platonically). We had a great night
watching this Nirvana documentary and listening to the Wipers. It was
meant to be.

You also did a cover of ‘Perfect Day’ with Male Bonding. How
did that come about?
We just did a tour with Male Bonding – and we had this one day which
was hands down the best day of tour any of us have ever had. We saw
four juggalos fixing an overheated car, went to the Heidelberg art
project in Detroit, Ali got this ingrown toenail removed, and then we
played at the Magic Stick, which might be the best venue ever. It
might not sound all that incredible, but our spirits were all so high
all day that we decided it was a perfect day and then we decided to
cover ‘Perfect Day’ in commemoration. I figured out the guitar chords
during soundcheck and taught it to Katy real quick and that was that.
We didn’t even listen to the song or look up the chords to prepare,
all we looked up were the lyrics. After that we decided that every day
of that tour was a perfect day and we covered it every night.

If you could cover another song with another band, what would the song be and who would the band be?
‘Walk On By’ with Steely Dan.

You posted a clip on your facebook of the fourth member of
Vivian girls – Maru your tambourine playing cat. What other
instruments can Maru play?
Melodica, theremin, kazoo…

You’re from Brooklyn – how do you feel about the local music scene getting so much press attention lately?
It is what it is. It’s kinda funny to me, because the scene from which
Vivian Girls was born wasn’t really getting any attention at all in
the mid-2000s. Bands like Bent Outta Shape, the Good Good, Dynamite
Arrows, Meneguar, several others… they wove this cultural tapestry
which is completely ignored in the press’s perception of our band and
several of our friends’ bands. Matt and Kim are the one exception of a
band from this scene that broke out, but I bet no one would think that
Vivian Girls and Matt and Kim are related at all.

What new Brooklyn bands would you recommend?
Coasting, the Surprisers, Roman Candles.

We’ve got a day in Brooklyn and you’re our tour guide. Where would you take us?
Cho’s Variety Cafe for coffee, the taco truck on Bedford, Academy
Records, Turkey’s Nest Tavern to get margaritas to go, and then to
McCarren Park to drink them.

What was the last record you downloaded?
The new Ariel Pink album. It rules! ‘Bright Lit Blue Skies’ is the
best song ever.

Are you going to record a third album soon?
We’re working on it. We’ve already recorded a bunch of stuff for it
but we’re going to record more at some point in the future.

Who are you going to record it with?
We’ve already recorded songs with Jarvis Taveniere of Woods, and we
want to try recording with some other people as well.

What other plans do you have for the future?
Right now, we’re focusing more on other projects. I’m doing a solo
record and playing with the Babies and Katy has a new project called All
Saints Day.

- Marie Wood

Watch Vivian Girls ‘When I’m Gone’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8RHDgFYxY4

www.myspace.com/viviangirlsnyc

Everything Goes Wrong – Out Now

24 July, 1234 Shoreditch Festival, London

25 July, Islington Academy, London