Chicago – Every so often a band comes along that just melts your mind, blows you out of the water, and plenty more idioms that I’m too lazy to google. Bully is one of those bands. In just a short amount of time, the Nashville rockers have built a strong fan base and developed a reputation for strong performances, filled with fervent lyrics and raw vocals, thanks mainly in part to front woman Alicia Bognanno. She can’t get all the credit, of course. The guitarist is joined by her main squeeze and drummer Stewart Copeland, bassist Reece Lazarus, and guitarist Clayton Parker. This talented four-piece created what many – including myself – are calling one of the best albums of the year: Feels Like (Columbia Records). Bognanno engineered and produced the album, having honed her skills in Chicago, studying under Steve Albini. The album and the band’s grunge-like style has landed Bully at the top of the list when it comes to the current 90s revival, but Bully is more than a rejuvenation of 90s spirit. In fact, the band would be the first to tell you that wasn’t a goal or an intention. Frankly, all the attention surrounding affiliated 90s sounds has taken away from some wicked song writing and a band that is on to something special; a band that has the potential to be one of the best rock bands of our time.
Best New Bands caught up with Bully at Pitchfork Music Festival. We hid deep in the press tent as rain came pelting down, to talk Feels Like, first albums, and Chicago. We also had a little too much fun playing a 90s themed game of This or That.
First of all, everything I’ve read about the band talks mostly about you, Alicia, and not the rest of the band. Will you tell me about how you guys met and came to be Bully?
Stewart Copeland: We all met in Nashville. Well, I met Alicia in Murfreesboro, and then we moved to Nashville and played in different bands. Clay moved down [to Nashville] from Saint Louis. I’ve known him for ten years… Alicia met Reece at the Stone Fox, where she was running sound and he was booking shows. We all became great friends and started this band.
I first saw you guys open for Drowners, at the Beat Kitchen here in Chicago, and honestly, you stole the show!
SC: Oh, thank you!
I remember googling you that night and not finding much online. You hadn’t even released an EP yet, but then like two weeks later, you seemed to be everywhere and every mainstream music outlet was talking about your brilliance. Were you shocked by that, excited, what?
Alicia Bognanno: That was like our first big tour. It was great and felt awesome.
Reece Lazarus: It was cool because we got to be the support band still, so you could tell there were people coming, who knew who we were, but it wasn’t all the way on us yet.
Let’s talk about Feels Like. My favorite song is “Too Tough.” What inspired this song?
AB: “Too Tough” is just about forgiving but not necessarily forgetting, and people that you’re forced to keep relationships with, even though you’re still holding a grudge.
I also really love “Trash.”
AB: That’s my favorite song on the record!
Nice! [we high-five] What is it about?
AB: Feeling like trash.
Is it about a certain person making you feel trashy or just feeling like trash in general?
No, I wrote it about a friend…yeah. [chuckles]
I remember hearing you perform “Trying” before it was released, and the lyrics had my jaw to the floor. Do you ever catch yourself saying, “That’s too candid or I shouldn’t put that in a song,” or are you all for brutal honesty and letting the truth flow?
AB: No, no I mean, that’s the way I write music and it feels good, so we can all get behind it. It makes it easy to show energy and emotion during a live set because it’s not bullshit.
Alicia, I read that you stole an Ace of Base album from your parents, as a kid.
AB: I definitely did, yeah.
That made me laugh double time because Ace of Base was my first CD and I remember stealing True Blue by Madonna from my dad.
AB: Yes!
I think most music lovers have done thieving of that sort. Did the rest of you guys steal any albums from your folks? Or if not, what were your firsts?
RL: I don’t think I stole one. But I remember when I was in seventh grade, I did an extra science fair project, and as a reward, my dad let me buy the album that I had asked him about, which was Zebrahead Playmate Of The Year.
SC: My first record my dad bought for me, which was a cassette tape, a Yes tape, The Very Best of Yes.
Clayton Parker: The first CD I ever bought was Aerosmith’s Get a Grip.
RL: But did you ever steal anything?
CP: Did I steal a record from my dad? Yeah, a Led Zeppelin one.
Alicia, you spent some time in Chicago, interning at Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio Studios. By the way, have to give you props for your mention of Logan Square in “Milkman!” During your time here, what local artists did you find yourself falling for?
AB: Yeah! Silk Worm. I liked them before [I moved to Chicago], and now I like them even more since I found out the history of them. Fake Limbs, I love Fake Limbs. Umm, just revisiting Shellac and Big Black…
Also must ask: Chicago style hot dog or Chicago deep dish?
AB: Hot dog. No deep dish! New York style.
SC: Not deep dish. Deep dish is not pizza. Sorry Chicago. [rest of the band nods heads]
AB: Okay, that’s them, not me! [points to the guys] When this comes out in Chicago! [shakes head]
You guys have been compared to pretty much every 90s band, and I’ve read you guys aren’t too into that.
AB: Oh, yeah.
Bet you’re so sick of it.
AB: Yes! [everyone laughs]
So as a bit of a joke, we’re going to end this with a 90s version of This or That.
AB: Oh, this is fun! This is like the best way to get to know Bully.
Pop Rocks or Airheads?
AB: Oh, shit!
SC: Airheads!
CP: Airheads.
RL: Airheads.
AB: Airheads for taste. Pop Rocks for entertainment.
Nintendo or Sega?
CP: Nintendo.
AB: Nintendo.
SC: Nintendo.
RL: Nintendo.
AB: I don’t really know what Sega is.
Shut up!
AB: I mean, I know what it is, but I never played it.
Skip-It or Bop-It?
AB: Oh, that’s really, really difficult!
SC: Skip-It, that’s the one with the ball?
AB: Yeah.
RL: I had Bop-It and Bop-It Extreme.
CP: My sister owned a Skip-It, so Skip-It.
SC: Skip-It!
AB: I loved Skip-It as a child, but I’m gonna have to go with Bop-It. I could get some serious concentration if you put a Bop-It in front of me.
RL: We should get a Bop-It Extreme for the car.
AB: Yeah, that wouldn’t be annoying at all! [everyone laughs]
Beavis and Butt-head or Ren & Stimpy?
CP: Ren & Stimpy.
RB: Ren & Stimpy.
SC: Definitely Ren & Stimpy.
RL: Probably Beavis and Butt-head. I wasn’t allowed to watch either of those as a child.
Me neither, plus we didn’t have cable. And that’s why I made friends with kids who had cable!
RB: He wasn’t allowed to have sugar either. He was one of those kids. [laughs]
Okay, finally, Backstreet Boys or ‘N Sync?
AB: ‘N Sync!
CP: ‘N Sync.
SC: I don’t know any difference.
RL: ‘N Sync.
Bully will be performing at Lollapalooza. If you’re attending, check them out! The foursome will also be touring throughout Summer and Fall, including performances at Made In America and Boston Calling. A full list of tour dates is available on their Facebook page.
Photo of Bully by Pooneh Ghana
Sarah Hess
After attending The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Sarah went on to study education at Dominican University, earning a degree in history. When not teaching, writing, or taking in a show, she is most likely to be found with a camera to her eye or hanging out in a darkroom.
You can follow Sarah Hess on twitter at @Sarahhasanh and view her music photography on her website: smhimaging.com.
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