If the '60s were now, and the Beach Boys and the Kinks shared members, and they had a girl for a lead singer, they'd be Dressy Bessy, of the Athens, Ga. Kindercore label. Based in Denver, Co., Dressy Bessy (songwriter, lead singer and guitarist Tammy Ealom; guitarist John Hill, also of the Apples in Stereo; and drummer Darren Albert and bassist Rob Greene, both transplanted New Yorkers) can be considered a true rock band. Though this appellation could easily be modified by retro, effervescent or sunny, according to Rob Greene, whom I interviewed after the show at the Khyber on March 26, they're sheer "rock... pop music, maybe." Instead of being caught up with labels or rock-snobbery, his easygoing and good-natured style almost made me forget about his talent. And that's a positive thing: Rob's both a super-skilled bassist and a really good guy. Quite refreshing, indeedÿ
So you guys played at Pi Lam [at Penn] last year. What'd you think about playing in a frat house?
It was a lot of fun... I wasn't in a frat, so it was real different -- but they're actually a really laid-back frat... They were kind of proud of the fact that they're kind of making fun of being a frat. Actually, that's what's so cool about it. They were a lot of fun, they have funny pictures of stuff. I don't know, you had to be there to appreciate it. They were awesome, though.
Did you guys want to be a retro-pop band or did you sort of just become that when you guys got together... Did just everything come together or did you all have the same goal?
No, I never had really an image... I played a lot of punk music and stuff. I think Tammy [Ealom] brought the retro-pop to it. I don't think it was ever thought out, it just kind of happened. Is that what we sound like? Retro-pop?
I think so.
Are there any other elements in it?
Yeah... all your designs and graphics and stuff... not exactly kitschy, but...
Yeah, right, right. Tammy's the main songwriter so she's bringing that element to it, and I think the rest of us, especially Darren and I, are bringing something completely different, because that wasn't the music we grew up on. I didn't really listen to the Beatles that much.
What's your favorite cereal?
Lucky Charms, and not because of the name of the album [Pink Hearts, Yellow Moon] -- that's just coincidence.
What's your favorite shape?
What was the new shape they came out with? The horseshoes are the best.
If you weren't a musician, what would you be?
John, frontman for opening band The Deathray Davies, walks in and joins conversation: Rob the Bad Ass!
Rob: Yeah, Rob the Bad Ass.
[Laughter]
What would that entail?
I'd be a karate expert... I was a black belt when I was a kid, so I'd probably just continue that.
Your new album Sound go Round and '99 release Pink Hearts, Yellow Moon are both really sunny and effervescent -- but the words aren't all just happy. Do you think people don't notice this because they're so caught up with catchy lyrics and stuff like that?
Definitely... I don't even know what the songs are about most of the time, but I know Tammy... Most of the time, unless it's about her boyfriend, occasionally somebody pissed her off or something. She hides it really well -- people might think they're happy and simple lyrics, but there are a lot of different meanings, and they're a lot deeper than that. I can't imagine anyone really knowing what they're about, actually -- even I barely know what they're about a lot of the time. There's definitely a deeper meaning to it.
What's your favorite album?
The Bee Gees. And everyone yells at me because they're like, "The Bee Gees: 'Staying Alive?'" And I love Prince, too. I just bought Purple Rain, the DVD. [The other band members] like The Kinks. I love all that music, too. But definitely I listen to a lot of crazy, cheesy music.
What do you think of music now and mainstream hits and "really cool bands"?
I actually figured out how people like it -- it's kind of catchy, so I definitely understand why. Like *NSYNC or something: all that stuff is catchy, like "Bye, bye, bye", but I kind of like it if I hear it... I can't imagine that music lasting very long, like the Beatles or The Kinks.
Your visuals, like Web site [www.dressybessy.com], album art, video, match your music perfectly. It's really seamless, kind of a visual manifestation of your sound. What are your influences with that? Who decides that?
Actually Tammy designs a lot of the artwork. The video was actually done by something called Mighty Fudge. We didn't have that much input in it -- it was amazing that we loved it so much. [The designer] did such a great job with barely any input at all. He just met us all and took it from there. We were almost crying when we saw it, because it's everyone's dream to be a cartoon.
Did you have any weird fashion phases when you were younger?
Just a dirt bag phase, maybe... I liked Iron Maiden, so you know. Ripped jeans and a black Iron Maiden T-shirt. I didn't have much fashion. And I even dyed this part of my hair blonde once [holding up a piece from underneath].
The bottom?
Yeah, the bottom.
The bottom, right? That's risky.
[Laughter]
My parents almost passed out. I don't know what I was thinking. I still have no fashion.
What's one thing that each member of the band brings personality-wise?
I think John, Tammy and Darren are all Type A personalities. I'm kind of more laid-back than them, it's kind of funny. John's got a good sense of direction when we're on tour. We all get along well... It just all works out well; we kind of got lucky.
Do you think that you're a rock star?
I want to be a rock star. Yes, I'm a rock star. Do you think I'm a rock star?
Yeah.
