Punk trio Thelma and the Sleaze promises rock lashing
The Nashville, Tenn.-based power trio Thelma and the Sleaze plans to bring the dirtiest Southern punk Lafayette’s seen in ages.
The group — consisting of guitarist and vocalist L.G., drummer Chase and bassist Baby Angel — channels a heavy, distorted blend of sludge metal, psychobilly and Southern rock, which comes to life in songs like “High Class Woman,” from the band’s 2013 EP “These Boots Won’t Lick Themselves.” Thelma and the Sleaze’s motto is to live and die on the road, and their interests, as their Facebook page indicates, include “daisy dukes and knife fights.” The band plays at the Spot Tavern Sunday.
L.G. and Chase caught up with the Journal & Courier over email and discussed antics on the road, musical inspirations and the fact that they are not affiliated with an adult film star of the same name.
Question: You guys are stopping by Indiana after a show in Chicago. What’s traveling on the road like for you guys?
L.G.: The best. We love touring in our Ivy Memorial Baptist Church Van, “Snow Leopard.” We bought her from a preacher that sold it before he ran outta town, and never bothered to take the information off the side of the van — the Craigslist ad said “AS-IS.” We get really cool threats sometimes because the church is just around the corner from our practice space. We love being on the road. We get to meet awesome bands and other crazies. Performing is definitely when we feel the most connected to our creepers, so we love it. This trip is especially special because Chase hasn’t been back to Purdue since she graduated from the flight program a couple years ago. [L.G.]
Q: Some of your music can get dark and dirty. Where does that come from/where do you find your musical inspiration?
Chase: Visual artists use different textures and mediums to express the dark, we use our heavy tones and our performance. We’re drawn to old lady blues and heavy rock ‘n’ roll bands because it makes sense in terms of content. Memphis Minnie, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Judas Priest, Sabbath.
Q: Tell me about your adult film project, “Kinky Queers,” a documentary-style film for a queer audience.
L.G.: We’re not affiliated with Thelma Sleaze. She’s a porn star in Los Angeles. There’s no hard feelings about our name sharing, though, because we love porn and admire her focus. She’s contacted us and we’ve let her use our music. It’s mutual.
Q: You guys have pretty streetwise personas in the music video for “High Class Woman.” How did you create those characters?
Chase: Memphis. It’s an incredible place that cultivates and personifies itself by the music that moves within it. It’s hard to tell where the music ends and the personalities begin there, but it affects the undertones of the entire city. You can publicly get away with a lot s--- in Memphis, I think, because the people that live there have a deeper value for living. The personas in the video were developed as we were filming it, just walking around that city unhindered.
Q: What kind of hijinks should audiences expect on Sunday?
L.G.: They should expect to have a thorough roc k‘n’ roll lashing. Don’t get too close to the cage and make sure you wear something you don’t mind messing in. Can’t wait to see y’all at the Spot.
If you go
What: Thelma and the Sleaze
When: 10 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Spot Tavern, 409 S. Fourth St.
How much: Free; ages 21 and older