A BAND A DAY WITH NXNE: THE BLACK BELLES

12 FACTS:

• This is a band shrouded in mystery. Which we guess makes sense, given their aesthetic. Whatever the case, it appears to be working for them. Fact finding? Tough.

• Their signature – beyond a vintage, garage rock sound – is no-sun skin, black garb, and wide-brimmed hats.

• They provide the theme song for Elvira’s Movie Macabre. 

• In 2011, they appeared on The Colbert Report to perform and help the Rev. Sir Dr. Stephen T. Mos Def Colbert, D.F.A. out with a song.

• Before playing a show, they say they have a dance party and listen to The Cramps to get ready. 

• Vogue pegged them as Band of the Week.

• Bassist Ruby Rogers is a comic book fan and even gives shout outs to fans that show up to their shows wearing X-Men t-shirts. 

• They’re based in Nashville but vocalist/guitarist Olivia Jean grew up in Detroit – also home of The White Stripes.

• Speaking of Olivia and The White Stripes, she contributes guitar + drums on Jack White’s recently released Blunderbuss.

• The original album artwork for their self-titled debut was deemed “gross and offensive.” They only released 300 copies of the vinyl (on glow in the dark “absinthe vinyl”) with that cover art at their record release show.

• Drummer Shelby Lynne is from California and is a huge Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds fan. It’s a small world, because Nick Cave recently collaborated with NXNE headliners The Flaming Lips.

• Be sure to read their self-written bios for gems like “Upon her mother discovering a dead bird in her purse…” 

After a May European tour, The Black Belles will bring their rock n’ roll goth vibes to NXNE 2012. Head to nxne.com/2012/the-black-belles for more.