A Dirty Dozen with ELIZABETH from VIXEN77 – October 2023

According to a recent press release: “A bona fide punch in the face, Vixen77 channels influences such as The Stooges, The Runaways, and Johnny Thunders into a snarling brand of Philadelphia punk rock ‘n’ roll. The band is the brainchild of guitarist Caitlin D’Agostino, who dreamt of playing in an all-women rock band since she was in high school. First playing in the Philly punk scene for a few years, she decided to put her dream in motion in late 2018 and formed Vixen77, the name a reference to woman energy and the musical influence of late-seventies punk.” We get guitarist Elizabeth to discuss new music, influences, and more.

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

The latest release is “Fast Lane” and a little easter egg in there is that I say “Hi Clare!” Which is a shout out to my mom. She’s in a song now. She’s big time.  Sam sings the verses and the chorus, while I sing the bridge.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I was raised in a house that loved music. My parents love of music definitely influenced me, I was singing Fleetwood Mac karaoke as an elementary school kid. I guess I always wanted to a musician. I idolized them. Their posters were on my wall—I would write entire musicals in my head to greatest hits albums  I used to drape my blankets around me like Stevie Nicks instead of going to bed. I really didn’t see any reason to not be a musician. I wanted the sex, drugs and rock n roll at a very young age.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

I grew up loving Fleetwood Mac, Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival. But really hearing a Little Stevens Underground Garage show summer before sixth grade changed my life completely. I heard garage rock, frat rock, powerpop. My brain exploded. And I’ve been listening to that music ever since that night.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Nick Lowe. He’s an absolute powerhouse and I love his sound. Sonically and lyrically, I would give anything to do something.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?

I play ice hockey for the Rusty Wolves in Voorhees, New Jersey. If you want a positive channel for getting stress and anger out I promise you hockey is it.  I wake up thinking about hockey and music. Every day.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I like to say it’s rock n roll but that’s been subgenered to death. So many types. To me it’s a heavier rock n roll, power pop situation. I guess this doesn’t help if you don’t know genres. It’s fast and fun, but catchy. That’s important. I hate when reviews bring us being an all girl band into it. I get that that’s a part of it but stop concentrating on that and just review the fucking music.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

I would quit the band if someone repeatedly got drunk and whipped out an acoustic guitar for a singalong.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I don’t get starstruck they’re just people who had the same dream as me.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Having an outlet for the constant shit show in my brain. If I didn’t have music I don’t know what i would do. If I wasn’t a musician I’d be a mailman.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I don’t have a question I want you to ask. But stop asking if being in an all girl band is hard or has more drama than a coed band.  Being in a band in itself is like being in a marriage with multiple people no matter the gender.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

I regret nothing.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Bad Reputation by Thin Lizzy. If I could be anywhere where Phil Lynott was recording or writing. His music means everything to me.

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Category: Interviews