In today’s A-Z challenge, we asked Virginity to take on our A-Z challenge and tell us all about themselves!
A song that made you want to make music?
The song Man Overboard by Blink 182 was the first song I ever heard where I was like “whoa, I gotta learn how to do that!” Blink isn’t a band that probably shines through a lot in our sound but they were definitely foundational to almost everyone in this band.
Best rider you have had?
Never had one.
Craziest moment in the band?
Probably when I (Casey) severely displaced and fractured my right knee five and a half songs into our Fest set in 2022. It was truly an insane night. I had to be gurneyed out and the streets were littered with drunk college kids because it was Halloween in Gainesville during Fest.
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
I don’t know that we ever have terribly deep lyrics. I’m pretty heart-on-my-sleeve as a lyricist. There’s a line in a song on our new record, Bad Jazz, called 2 Sad 2 get Stoned that goes “I tried the fake it till you make it approach. I kept an open mind at the whipping post.” Meaning, even when something bad was happening to me I was actively trying to figure out what I should be trying to learn from it, I guess.
Easiest song you wrote?
Definitely Any Good Thing. Came together in minutes.
Favourite song in your set?
It’s an absolute blast to play Oh See See. It’s evolved as a song over the last 5 years and it’s just so fun to play live.
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
I’d love Jeff Tweedy or Bob Pollard.
Hardest thing about being in a band?
Time! There’s never enough.
Interesting fact about one of your members?
Our bass player Jordan briefly worked for Oprah and got to meet her!
Jokes you have in the band?
I mean, nearly everything in this band starts as a bit. Our name is Virginity lol.
Key to writing a song?
Taking your time. Playing it as many times as it takes till you’ve got it right. But also, being open to trying something that initially might sound wrong or uninteresting to you. You never know what you might think in practice rather than theory.
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
We flew to Montreal for Pouzza Fest. That’s probably the farthest.
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
Ben Kweller. I’ve seen him live twice and both times I felt like I wanted to go write songs as soon as the show was over. He’s so effortlessly rock’n’roll.
New band you’d recommend?
Heavenly Sweetheart, Ethan Beck & the Charlie Browns and No Good With Secrets
Opening for this band would be ideal?
Pup or Jeff Rosenstock would be cool.
Place you’d most like to tour?
Japan!
Quote that you’d like to pass on to our readers?
Our new record Bad Jazz is Virginity finding an identity as a band. I know for myself it’s as close to true collaboration as I’ve ever gotten. It took all four of us to make this thing, and if someone had been absent it simply wouldn’t be the same. We pushed ourselves really hard to make the best songs we possibly could on every front. More than anything we wanted this record to have a beating heart. We wanted it to be wholly organic in nature and I think that’s why it was so important to us to track it live and to keep the songs alive and malleable all the way up to the moment they were being tracked. It’s not a perfect record, but rather a snapshot of us right now. A byproduct of keeping things real and trying to sort of consciously stay in a mindset of creativity is that we had an absolute blast making it. I never had more fun making music than the days we spent writing and tracking this record. When people listen to Bad Jazz I really hope that’s what comes through the most.
Reason for the title of your forthcoming release?
An inside joke about the movie That Thing You Do.
See us live at?
The Fest in Gainesville this October!
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
Not necessarily, however music didn’t used to be quite so disposable back in the day it seems like.
Unusual merchandise?
None yet.
Variations you’d like to do on one of your songs?
I’d love to record the way we play Oh See See now as opposed to how it is on the record. We also have a variation on one of our new songs called Nashville Hot Chicken. It’s like a slower 50’s love song pastiche.
What do your fans mean to you?
Anyone that gives us the time of day is so, so appreciated. We don’t have the biggest fan base but our few are mighty!
X-rays or any other treatments needed for band injuries?
See broken knee story above lol
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
Probably Jordan hahaha
Zoo animal that best describes the personality of your band?
Kangaroos because I’m always talking in an Australian accent and we jump around a bit.