Black Lipstick

Black Lipstick explores experimental rock by fusing unexpected yet memorable melodies with targeted sonic experiments that emphasize tuneful discovery. The project began when Travis Higdon and Phillip Niemeyer joined forces to split guitar and vocal responsibilities. Both musicians arrived with prior experience in several Texas outfits, among them the Kiss Offs and the Nigh Vandals. In the late '90s in Austin, TX, the pair invited Leslie Sisson to cover bass and piano while Elizabeth Nottingham handled drums and vocals, thereby rounding out the lineup. Once intact, the group performed regularly across local clubs and appeared at the South by Southwest festival in 2001. Their first release, the EP The Four Kingdoms of Black Lipstick, arrived that same year and underscored the band's skill at probing rock's outer edges.