First/Last-Violent Mae

 

"VIOLENT MAE (Becky Kessler & Floyd Kellogg) was never intended to be a band. Becky asked Floyd to record and produce her first solo album, and as soon as they hit the studio, chemistry and dynamics between the two sparked the evolution of an artistic partnership, VIOLENT MAE. Their self-titled, full-length debut record was released in November 2013. Becky, singer and guitar player, calls the Outer Banks of North Carolina home, where she finally settled as a teenager after moving every year or so, mostly around the Southeast U.S., to 11 different places. It was in North Carolina where she honed her songwriting. A friend invited her to live and work on an organic farm in Connecticut, where she met Floyd, a multi-instrumentalist, engineer and producer. The two began recording at Casa de Warrenton Recording Studio in Hartford, expanding Becky’s songs with Floyd’s arrangements and parts. Together, they ultimately formed VIOLENT MAE after making a record, playing all the instruments on it and opening for Nels Cline and Julian Lage at one of their first live performances. VIOLENT MAE won Best New Band at the 2013 Connecticut Music Awards and has shared the stage with Bronze Radio Return, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Brad Corrigan of Dispatch and The London Souls."

The Connecticut 'alt-rock' duo was recently featured on the Paste 50 States Project. They have a self-tiled debut from 2013 and are working on new music as I write this. I want to thank Becky Kessler (Guitar/Vocals) and Floyd Kellogg (Drums.Vocals) for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Becky Kessler: Either the B-52’s “Cosmic Thing” or Milli Vanilli “Girl You Know It’s True”.
Floyd Kellogg: Guns N Roses, “Appetite for Destruction”.

Your last album bought?
Becky: Lucius “Wildewoman”, I love Lucius!
Floyd: Pissed Jeans, “Honey”.

Favorite album of all time?
Becky: Pixies “Doolittle”, never get sick of it. Also, Morphine “Cure for Pain”.
Floyd: “Dark Side of the Moon”, I can’t seem to think of another one that’s been with me longer.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Becky: Milli Vanilli “Girl You Know It’s True”.

First concert attended?
Becky: I saw Nine Inch Nails in the 7th grade at the Hampton Coliseum in Norfolk, VA. It was the ‘Further Down the Spiral’ tour with Marilyn Manson and Jim Rose Circus opening.
Floyd: Not totally sure, my old bass teacher played guitar in Ace Frehley’s band and I was pretty frightened when the crowd started swirling around with me in it. That was Toads in New Haven, CT. Then I think my mom took me to see The Bangles.

Last concert?
Becky: The last big concert I went to was The Rolling Stones in Newark, NJ last year. Lady Gaga came out to sing ‘Gimme Shelter’ with them… people seemed to love or hate it; I was in the love it camp.
Floyd: “Concert”?... Pissed Jeans.

Favorite concert ever?
Becky: Moon Hooch at Fauxchella fest 2013 in the Spaceland Ballroom. They totally blew me away.
Floyd: Pissed Jeans.

Least favorite concert?
Floyd: Pissed Jeans.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Becky: I heard an amazing jazz trio at the Holiday Inn about 10 years ago. They were unique and edgy in the same way Medeski Martin and Wood is. I wish I could remember the name.
Floyd: My girlfriend grew up in Cleveland and her mom used to travel to Pittsburgh a bunch to go see the Browns play, she didn’t care about getting beat up she’d just march herself right into Pittsburgh with all her Browns shit on.

Thanks, Becky and Floyd. I wanted to bypass the obvious, Floyd but DSotM? That is quite awesome!

Violent Mae Website




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