Biography
Emerging from the late-2000s lo-fi indie scene, the Brooklyn trio Vivian Girls stood among its most exciting and accessible acts. The band took its name from the doomed figures that populated writer and illustrator Henry Darger's work, then merged girl group melancholy with punk nihilism across reverb-heavy songs whose raw, grainy beauty echoed lesser-known 1990s independents such as Black Tambourine, Talulah Gosh, and Tiger Trap. During an initial seven-year span the group circled the globe and issued fresh material at a steady clip, with the economic hooks and fuzzy urgency of its 2008 self-titled debut album exerting influence in turn.
Vivian Girls came together in 2007 when guitarist and vocalist Cassie Ramone (Grzymkowski), bassist and vocalist Kickball Katy (Goodman), and drummer and vocalist Frankie Rose joined forces. The trio cut a quick demo and performed frequently in New York. Its gritty yet melodic approach spread rapidly, so within months the band was supporting national acts like Sonic Youth and topping bills at Brooklyn clubs. Across 2008 it placed several 7-inch singles on assorted small labels, among them "Wild Eyes" on Plays with Dolls Records, "Orphanage" on Woodsist Records, and "I Can't Stay" on In the Red Records. Rose departed in July 2008 yet had already tracked the songs that formed the first album. Issued that September on Mauled by Tigers, the self-titled debut sold its entire pressing of 500 vinyl copies inside ten days. In the Red reissued the record for broader reach, after which the trio—now featuring new drummer Ali Koehler—spent the year touring internationally and building an audience.
The follow-up album, Everything Goes Wrong, arrived in late summer 2009 after another swift recording session. Koehler joined Best Coast in summer 2010 and was replaced by Fiona Campbell, Coasting's drummer; Ramone launched Babies with Woods bassist Kevin Morby while Goodman started La Sera with Brady Hall. The band reconvened in the studio late that year to cut a third album, Share the Joy, released in April 2011 on Polyvinyl.
The group disbanded in 2014 as members turned to solo endeavors, yet stayed close. In 2018 Ramone, Goodman, and Koehler convened privately to record a new album with producer Rob Barbato. The sessions yielded Memory, issued by Polyvinyl in September 2019.
Vivian Girls came together in 2007 when guitarist and vocalist Cassie Ramone (Grzymkowski), bassist and vocalist Kickball Katy (Goodman), and drummer and vocalist Frankie Rose joined forces. The trio cut a quick demo and performed frequently in New York. Its gritty yet melodic approach spread rapidly, so within months the band was supporting national acts like Sonic Youth and topping bills at Brooklyn clubs. Across 2008 it placed several 7-inch singles on assorted small labels, among them "Wild Eyes" on Plays with Dolls Records, "Orphanage" on Woodsist Records, and "I Can't Stay" on In the Red Records. Rose departed in July 2008 yet had already tracked the songs that formed the first album. Issued that September on Mauled by Tigers, the self-titled debut sold its entire pressing of 500 vinyl copies inside ten days. In the Red reissued the record for broader reach, after which the trio—now featuring new drummer Ali Koehler—spent the year touring internationally and building an audience.
The follow-up album, Everything Goes Wrong, arrived in late summer 2009 after another swift recording session. Koehler joined Best Coast in summer 2010 and was replaced by Fiona Campbell, Coasting's drummer; Ramone launched Babies with Woods bassist Kevin Morby while Goodman started La Sera with Brady Hall. The band reconvened in the studio late that year to cut a third album, Share the Joy, released in April 2011 on Polyvinyl.
The group disbanded in 2014 as members turned to solo endeavors, yet stayed close. In 2018 Ramone, Goodman, and Koehler convened privately to record a new album with producer Rob Barbato. The sessions yielded Memory, issued by Polyvinyl in September 2019.
Singles
