Meet THICK: The New Fun Riot Grrls of Brooklyn

THICK, a Brooklyn-based self-described “Girlwave” band is clearly inspired by the raw powered noise of the Riot Grrrl movement and the fun pop-punk style of the ‘90s. Jams like “Be Myself” will make you wanna jump into the mosh pit and have some fun while celebrating you for you. These badass ladies took some time to talk to us recently about their band and what’s coming soon. They have a clear message: “Gonna be myself – and you can’t stop me!”

People say I sound like…

The girl version of Blink 182.

Tell us about the scene in Brooklyn….

There are a lot of leather and jean jackets in the music venues lost and founds. There’s an amazing camaraderie right now in the Brooklyn scene, of bands befriending each other, and helping each other out. I’ve been playing music in NYC for almost ten years, and I’ve seen girl bands take over a very male dominated scene. It’s amazing to see the scene get diversified.

What music has influenced your sound?

We grew up in the era of emo pop punk, like Taking Back Sunday, Brand New, Blink 182, and Allister. We all totally went to Warped Tour. It’s kind of embarrassing, but we own it and add our own style to it. Half the reason why I think THICK is so different is because, to be honest, my musical library is limited; every day I  feel like I’m learning of a cool “new band” that has actually been around for years. It’s almost like the less we know the better, so we write songs based off of how we feel, rather than how we want to sound.

Tell us about your live show…

Shari: I can probably fill a cup with the amount of beer that gets spit into my hair.

Nikki: There is always at least one of our friends’ head banging, spitting beer and attempting to crowd surf somebody, which means they just lift someone up and carry them around. Pretty much our shows are fun as hell, probably sloppy, but fun. Even if you’re not into our sound, the genuine energy we bring to the stage is something that you don’t see every day. We have fun playing shows and playing shows together. People can feel it when they watch us.

What influences you lyrically?

Nikki: Our songs are so simple, instrumentally and lyrically. That’s how I view the whole point of early punk. Honest and Simple. I think almost all of our songs are about boys who don’t like us or getting too drunk and fucking stuff up. Sometimes I wish our lyrics were more political or meaningful, but the truth is they mean something to us, so the energy we display on stage when we play the songs is our message to the crowd: girls having fun, being pissed off, being fucked over and embracing the importance of friendship.

Shari: A quintessential night out in Brooklyn. Being able to just capture certain vibes of partying with friends, getting broken up with, and owing friends money. I think all of our songs have some funny story behind it. Nicole writes some captivating poetry when she’s mad at a someone.

Best concert I’ve ever seen…

Shari: Radiohead, and Sigur Ros. Sigur Ros has this crazy spiritual emotional vibe live. I had to listen to two hours of dubstep before seeing Radiohead, but it was worth it. They are so insane live.

Nikki: Saw the Mean Jeans last year they were kickass.

If you could travel back in time for music, what year would you go to and who would you see?

Nikki: I would travel back to the 90’s in Olympia and see Bikini Kill. They are so awesome and I love how they didn’t really know what they were doing — they just did it and supported other girls to do the same. When I first started playing music, a lot of people judged me for not being able to play the guitar that well. It’s like, what the fuck? I’m still playing the guitar and saying something — isn’t that enough? Bikini Kill was all about that.

Shari: I would travel back to the 1970’s and see a bunch of classic rock bands: The Doors, Led Zeppelin, or Pink Floyd would be killer. It would be sick to see bands that heavily influenced most of the bands that we are hearing today. There was a special vibe about hanging out with friends in a parking lot in the 70’s, before seeing a rock band with a bunch of friends.

What are you listening to today?

Shari: I’ve been listening to a lot of Honeyblood, Guantanamo Baywatch, Warpaint, and our homies Diet Cig.

Nikki: I’ve been listening to a lot of local bands lately. I saw that band LVL up and they were so rad. I went home and wrote a new riff because of that show. Also the old school Julie Ruin album. That whole album was practically made in Kathleen Hanna’s bedroom — again so simple and easy and awesome, which is the main goal of THICK.

If you could open for any band or artist today, who would it be and why?

Blink 182 — but it would have to be the original line up — no Tom Delonge leaving that band bullshit. They’ve been our biggest influence for sure. We are all Pop-Punk junkies. Our practice space has a Mark Hoppus poster in it from ten years ago. It’s our shrine.

If you could bring only one album on a tour/bus/plane, what would it be?

Shari: I would listen to an album of rain noise, so I could sleep!

Nikki: I would listen to Japandroids — Post Nothing Album. And then I would play it on repeat really loud with all the windows down so Shari couldn’t fall asleep.

When you’re not playing and have some time off, where would we find you?

Nikki: Dardy Bar. It’s in South Williamsburg. Our homeboys own it and it’s always a good time. One of us is always there, probably drunk or bartending or both.

Shari: The gym, or in a mosh pit.

What do you have coming up in 2015/2016?

We want to set up a tour for next year, and just keep playing fun shows.

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Steph

My love for music is all over the place. Punk, hip hop and rap, electro, heavy metal, country - ANYTHING GOES!

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