Young New York-based band The Virgins, who presumably picked their name with the untapped jihadist demographic in mind, play sweaty yet tightly-coiled garage rock that recalls a dirtier, pre-Interpol era. They've been generating buzz through relentless touring in the U.S. and Europe, and the single off their self-titled debut album, "Rich Girls," has been on Gossip Girl and a bunch of other shows we won't cop to watching. (Hear it on their MySpace page.) Frontman Donald Cumming, who became widely known as a teenager through his association with artist/photographer Ryan McGinley, responded to our questions via email in the wake of the band's well-received performance at All Points West. The Virgins give it up tonight at Santos Party House at 9 p.m.
So things seem to be happening pretty fast for you. How are you handling the accelerated success? For us success is having shows to play. We've been fortunate this past year! We did a lot of touring. Hoping we can continue that through 2009. The first time we sold out Mercury Lounge was a great feeling. There must have been a dozen people there that we didn't know!
You’re probably tired of this one but I’ve got to ask for the lady readers: How did the band name originate? Doesn't it sound like fun? We wanted our name to reflect our musical ambitions: Keep it sexy and not too pretentious. Or you could say "young and dumb."
The press release says you “lived on NYC's streets since the age of 16.” Did you literally live on the streets? Please tell us about all that. I left home when I was almost 16. Lived many places. To say I lived on the streets is a bit much because my friends took me in right away and I've been bouncing around ever since. We all have nights where we've come up short on a place to stay. It still happens to me sometimes, but now I get a hotel room.
I like that song Rich Girls. Does that come from personal experience? You don’t have to name names. Growing up in the city gives you a unique opportunity to rub shoulders with people from radically different backgrounds. You've got to make your own way and money's never come between any friends of mine. The song is about people from different backgrounds sharing the same perspective.
You seemed to be very well received by the audience at All Points West. How did you feel about that gig? Thanks! I had a fun show. It was cool to play outdoors and to see the city from the stage.
Any good interactions with other musicians backstage you can tell us about? I had a couple of beers after and did some less than coherent interviews. We hung with John Norris! That was pretty surreal. I cruised around some, saw a few good looking women.
Did you check out any other bands? I watched the Kings of Leon play on the big stage and they were great.
I was impressed by how well rehearsed and professional you guys were, because you all look so young and young people these days tend to be sloppy with their blue jeans and their tattoos. Do you have a rehearsal regimen? What’s your secret? Thanks. We all love what we do. If we're writing or just hanging out we'll be watching old concert tapes or just blasting music. We rehearse every day when we aren't on the road but nothing beats playing every night. We didn't know shit before that. Now I can say at least we know that we don't know shit.
What bands or musical genres are you crazy about these days? I've been listening to records I've had since I was a kid. Chuck Berry. Buddy Holly. Mostly American music. I broke out the Hank Williams and Jim Reeves records the other day. I just got a Ry Cooder album that has some cool stuff on it.
You guys tour a lot now. How do you keep centered on the road so much? As long as we've got a gig or rehearsal wherever we are I feel good. We'd all be hanging out together anyway so at least if we're on tour we've got a good excuse.
What are your favorite NYC watering holes at the moment? I Haven't been going out that much ;). I always laugh when someone says that to me. I say it all the time too. It's the line I hear people say the most in Manhattan and it's usually delivered over vodkas and blasting music. I like the Bowery Hotel, the Beatrice Inn, and Lit.
Okay, favorite places to eat in New York City? The Pakastani Tea House. Haven't been there since last summer. It's on Church and Chambers and it's the best! I want to get over there before we leave again but I doubt I'm gonna make it. It's so far west!
Favorite place to perform? Webster Hall, Irving Plaza, Bowery.
Please share one of your favorite “New York stories”; an experience or something you’ve witnessed in public or private in this city. Everyday there's something. Yesterday I saw a street pimp looking Mickey Mouse up in Times Square. He had on a filthy tuxedo jacket - real down on his luck - posing for pictures with tourists and their kids. He's holding a ratty sack that had "Tips" scrawled on it. Weirdly, his sidekick was a junkie Elmo. Those two must have been on a maintenance program and popped some benzos cause Elmo was standing doubled over completely with his red arms dangling down and his tip sack dragging on the sidewalk.
Lastly, had any memorable fan interactions yet? If so, what happened? My favorite was on our first tour these awesome kids came to a show in North Carolina and took us back to a party in an empty warehouse where they had like a hundred kids waiting for us. We were so new it didn't make any sense they had even heard of us! We've got a fan out in sunny California who is very sweet and has made us all gift bags that she gives us before the shows. They have toys and funny costumes in them and personalized mix CDs. Very cool.
Photo courtesy Cass Bird.
