Any public figure runs the risk of being forever cast in a certain light. The beam that shines on Nashville Pussy, for example, shines a murky amber, reminiscent of beer-bottle glass and bong water. Are they concerned about being typecast as a rambunctious, ostensibly redneck party band? “Don’t take anything we do seriously, man,” says lead guitarist Ruyter Suys. “The only things we do seriously are rock hard and party hard.”
When City Weekly shined our fluorescent black light on The Pussy—as the band is known to its fans—we found a few surprises glowing in the gloom.
The Pussy Is Not To Be Trifled With
“Every time we play Salt Lake City, it’s usually pretty chaotic,” Suys says. “It’s to make up for all the damn LDS runnin’ around that place pretendin’ they’re running the show.” Sometimes, though, they have to use their power to render a fan inert. One SLC audience member was “such a complete jackass” that Suys “had to resort to using my beautiful guitar as a weapon” by smacking his head into this giant pillar “just so he would fuckin’ leave me alone. Salt Lake City ain’t what you think it is. Goddamn!”
The Pussy Is Purple
Although their name comes from a Nuge song and they use a Confederate flag in their imagery, The Pussy’s politics ain’t God, guns and gay-bashin’—they run both red and blue. On the band’s fifth album, From Hell to Texas, they assail religion on “Lazy Jesus” and bash “The Late, Great USA.” “We walk the line,” Suys says. “The party we vote for is the Party party.”
The Pussy Gets Along Famously with Willie
From Hell to Texas was recorded at Willie Nelson’s Pedernales Studio, using the same 2-inch tape machine used to track all of Willie’s classic mid-’70s albums. “He’s got fuckin’ great weed,” gushes Suys, “and he also has this awesome vaporizer called the Silver Surfer.” Even the band members that don’t indulge partook when Willie passed around the Surfer. “It was like being blessed. We were all beside ourselves. He was swiggin’ from our bottle of tequila at the same time.”
The Pussy Gets the Blues
“Like Motorhead, like AC/DC, like Aerosmith,” Suys says, “We’re aficionados of the blues.” Case in point: “Stone Cold Down.” The song began as a jam between Suys and drummer Jeremy Thompson. “We were just fuckin’ around; it was one of those cool little riffs you can just repeat ad nauseum.”
The Pussy Has A Love-Hate Relationship with Larry the Cable Guy
If you call Blaine Cartwright’s cell phone, you’ll be treated to the nasally twang and anal eructation of America’s best-worst comedian. It gets fewer complaints from Pussy pal and Larry nemesis David Cross and the band’s Adult Swim buds than Cartwright’s last greeting: “While you’re waiting, enjoy a Bible verse.” Says Suys, “People were like, ‘What the fuck, man?’ So we changed it to Larry the Cable Guy farting.”
The Pussy Digs Chicks (As Bass Players)
Lest they upset the delicate pH balance in The Pussy, as each of their former bass players departed, they replaced her with other hers. Currently, Karen Cuda (of Hemi Cuda) holds down the bottom end. “Karen is the ultimate chick bass player,” says Suys. “When we first hired her, we thought we’d test her out by seein’ if we could drink her under the table, and by the end of the night, she was sitting on top of our kitchen counter, farting. Me and Blaine were on the floor—she literally floored us!”
NASHVILLE PUSSY
With Green Jelly, Psychostick, Thunderfist
Club Vegas
445 S. 400 West
Saturday, May 8
8 p.m., $15 advance/$20 day of show
ClubVegas.org
