Today I’m going to be telling you about are Artist of the Week:
Punk rock band The Negative Nancys!
Here’s their story in their own words! Enjoy!!
The Negative Nancys are:
Kate (Vocals, Guitar)
Kelley (Vocals, Guitar)
Mike (Drums)
Olivia (Bass)
VMS: “When did you start writing and performing your music. What’s your backstory and current lineup.”
Kate: “Current line up is Kate, Kelley, Mike, and Olivia. Olivia has been the most amazing addition to the band. I can’t remember when this band formed. It came out of the ashes of my old band, The Seriouslys.”
Kelley: “2013 right? Kate wanted to make an all girl punk/power pop band. I (Kelley) was here for it because it gave me an opportunity to do something a little different (previous stuff was pop punk, shoegaze.) We had all been in other local bands and this sounded like a good time.”
Mike: “I was once accused of musicianship. I’m still sort of recovering from that.”
VMS: “What artist or bands inspire you and your sound.”
Kelley: “Me personally, Jimmy Eat World.”
Kate: “I’m inspired by such a diverse selection of music. As I get older, my inspirations come from punk less and less. I’m a huge Doris Day and Dean Martin fan. I love the music my Dad listened to that I was exposed to as a kid. I’ll always love the 13th Floor Elevators and Iron Butterfly for this reason. My mom loved a lot of Motown. I have a lot of special music memories from my parents that are an influence.”
Mike: “Quentin Terrentino, Emilia Earhart, Chuck Palahniuk, Vincent Price, Salvador Dali, Mary Shelley’s tragic and sympathetic protagonist.”
VMS: “What’s your writing process and inspiration for your lyrics.”
Kelley: “Grab a guitar and see what happens. Sometimes a lyric will come first or a melody. Build on it.”
Kate: “Sometimes I write a riff first, other times lyrics, and other times I hear the whole song in my head first. It just depends on the day. However, Kelley always takes my songs to the next level. She pushes me to be better and helps me to be a better song writer.”
Mike: “The art is imperative, independence of the moment, and the narrative continually developing. Also, Smut is gratuitous, and I want the whole buffet.”
VMS: “I love your songs “Gossip”, “Sorry not Sorry”, “Mitchell Indiana ” and “Cupcake”. What is the story behind these songs.”
Mike: “Social experiments and historical inspirations.”
Kate: ” “Gossip” is simply about people that get their rocks off by talking about other people and being a total jerk to other people in the internet. Aren’t we all too old for keyboard bullies? It is unacceptable.
“Sorry, Not Sorry” is about losing yourself and your joy in life by working so much and being a workaholic. I’m bad about that. It’s a bad coping mechanism for me to throw myself into work or achieving the things society tells me I should to have value as a human. It’s in total bullshit, the pressures and expectations to achieve and be successful.
“Mitchell, IN” is a song I wrote about one of my heroes, Gus Grissom, who was as astronaut that died in the Apollo 1 accident.
“Cupcake” wow. That was actually the first Nancys song and I originally wrote it when I was still in The Seriouslys. It’s about shitty people that use other people to get to where they want to be. It’s about women that hate other women and do not support other women.”
Listen to The Negative Nancys on Spotify:
VMS: “Tell me about your EP ” Punk Rock Double Feature 1 (Side A)” What was the inspiration behind that Album.”
Mike: “The album, the label, the philosophy- supporting and participating in something bigger than yourself.”
Kate: “Well, that split 7” was the first record I put out on my label Split Personalities Records. I woke up one day and said “I want to support other people in n ways I never felt supported by putting out split 7” records.” I wanted to do splits to have bands see each other as community vs. competition.
When I first started approaching bands, nobody took me serious. Not sure if it was because it was a new thing or because I was female. Anyway, I talked to Cody from Asteroid M, who has been a huge help and support with this dream of mine. So I put The Nancys in the first one to get it rolling and Cody thought Desert Island Boys would be a good fit, and they were. Rad dudes 100%. I want to build community with people that also want to support others.”
Listen to “Punk Rock Double Feature 1 (Side A)” on Spotify:
VMS: “Which local artist would you like to work with and why.”
Mike: “Franks and Deans and Nickole Muse.”
Kate: “There are a lot of great bands in Vegas. I love this music scene for how supportive it has been of me since I moved here in 2008. I’d love to get the Dollheads on a 7”. The Implosions are fantastic. I love Va Voom. I’m really into the sound Dana Plato has.”
VMS: “What’s your overall theme or message of your music.”
Kate: “I write songs about things I need to work through for the most part. It’s therapeutic for me. I don’t think there is really a theme. Lately, I guess the theme has been heartbreak for my song writing.”
Kelley: “A lot of it is a mirror of the unwritten rules for existing as a female or even person in the world.”
Mike: “It won’t dim your candle to light the flame of another.”
VMS: “Do you have any crazy or interesting stories from working in the music scene.”
Mike: “Fajita salad.”
Kelley: “Playing Penn’s house.”
Kate: “I had a man shove one dollar bills down my shirt once when we were playing a show. That was fun. Don’t get me started on the fucked up shit that happens to women in the music scene.”
VMS: “What do you want your audience to feel and experience at one of your live shows.”
Mike: “Included and inspired.”
Kelley: “Something.”
Kate: “I just want everyone to feel safe, supported, and loved.”
VMS: “What does the future hold for The Negative Nancys.”
Mike: “Lots of travel.”
Kelley: “New music.”
Kate: “New album soon! Also, catch us at Punk Rock Bowling this year. We play on Monday on the second stage. I’m think we are the first band that day.”
I absolutely love that The Negative Nancys have married a wonderful throwback sound but spun it in a modern punk edge vibe that still remains fun but you also don’t wanna fuck with them in the same breath.
With playful vocals that jump from growls to screams and lyrics that touch on hypocrisy, female empowerment, heartback and everything in between, and their intense guitars and drums which compliment the raw energy beautifully, I truly can feel the passion that goes into everything they create. They have figured out that perfect “lighting in a bottle” formula, which is not easy to accomplish.
They feel this music and these songs at their core, pumping that electricity into their live shows as well, Which creates a one of a kind sonic-ally explosive punk rock experience and It’s hard not to want to dance or set the world on fire, and there truly is no in-between, and I love them for that!
This industry is so incredibly hard on our female musicians, and I’m so happy that you can tell that no matter what bullshit has been thrown their way they have always stayed true to who they are as a band and as artists, They are badasses who are an unapologetic force to be reckoned with and I feel the possibilities are truly endless for them.
I’m excited to see what the future holds for The Negative Nancys, I know for one I’m definitely sticking around for the long haul. And this is why they are my Artist of the Week!!
For more information about The Negative Nancys, please visit their Instagram: