With a name taken from the title of a work by outsider artist Henry Darger, The Vivian Girls are, from the outset more than just another hyped Brooklyn band. In their 22 minute self-titled album they serve up a hefty hunk of heartfelt surf punk that recalls the great days of female rock in the mid nineties, full of vocal harmonies and endearing lyrics as well as addictive thumping jangly melodies that makes this is THE album to lock yourself in your bedroom when you're having 'one of those days'. The tracks 'Damaged' and 'No' especially stick in one’s mind. 

Cassie, Ali and Katy who make up the Vivian Girls weren't always planning to be rockstars. In fact, the band actually came about during a mid morning snack- 'Me [Cassie] and Frankie [the original drummer] were at brunch with a bunch of other people and that's where she asked me if I wanted to start a band. We practiced a few times but still needed a bass player, so that's where Katy came into the equation.' They are all college graduates of esteemed universities, Cassie graduating with an illustration degree from the Pratt Institute and Ali and Katy from Rutgers with degrees in German and Physics respectively. However Cassie insists that their skills are not ideal for everyday employment- 'I don't really have any skills that are applicable to the job market. Maybe I could work somewhere doing Photoshop retouching or designing maps. I think Katy would be either a physics teacher or a booking agent and Ali could be a German teacher'. Music, then, was a really good way to go.

D.I.Y since that fateful brunch these lately ladies have been embodying everything that can be great about contemporary alternative rock. Cassie has been putting her art skills to use illustrating for their seven inches which they have been putting out on a company, Wild World, they started themselves just to put out their own records. So what could they advice would they give to girls who are looking to do it themselves? ‘I say just go for it and work your butt off. What you might not have in virtuosity, make up for it with feeling and attitude.’ The girls cite a wide range of influences. Cassie explains she started playing guitar because of Courtney Love and that ‘Bikini Kill was also a huge inspiration to all of [the band]’. The girls are also fans of and influenced by many more great girl bands, ‘Mika Miko is our favorite current girl band. Babes in Toyland is our favorite girl band from years gone. The Shangri-las and the Shirelles are our favorite girl groups.’

Jersey girls that are now based in Brooklyn, which has a vibrant and creative music scene with bands such as Dirty Projectors, Grizzly Bear and High Places it could either be intimidating or inspirational to live in such a community. Cassie explains, ‘I'd say it's definitely a help rather than a hindrance. Sometimes I feel stifled if I go a long while without a lot of human interaction and mental stimulation. For example, whenever I visit my parents in the suburbs, it's quiet there and I have a lot of sad thoughts and mental debates about the meaning of my life. But when I go back to the city I realize that I've found it there.’ Just getting back from their second European tour, if you missed them the last two times I would highly recommend seeing them on their third. Smart and very funny onstage as well as passionate musicians they are truly a great band to watch, as well as one to watch out but whilst we're waiting the best thing we can do with the Vivian girls is turn them up- loud. 

FLORA WATTERS

PHOTOS: 
Main image: Austin Warnock
Polaroid 1: Noah Kalina
Polaroid 2: Arnaud Bianquis

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