Eerie pop from the South: The Casket Girls

On a Sunday night I headed to The Mercury Lounge – one of the meccas of the indie music at the LES – to hear The Casket Girls. When Black Moth Super Rainbow Ryan Graveface met sisters Elsa and Phaedra Greene by chance – the sisters were hanging out in a public square playing autoharp and singing to each other – he was transfixed and approached them with the idea to start a band together. And The Casket Girls were born!

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The Casket Girls are really cool live! Their gothy-noisy pop blends perfectly with theatrical outfits (Elsa and Phaedra were wearing black wigs, big sunglasses and black kimonos reminding B-movie queens in their NYC gig). Their performances also included cute matching dances and at a certain point they went down the stage to hug each person of the public, which reminded me why I love so much the intimacy of indie shows in small venues!

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Here is what Elsa from The Casket Girls told us right after their gig:

What was the inspiration behind your new album “The Night Machines”, how is it different from your previous work?
“The Night Machines” is a concept record about the potential of the future spiritual and existential revolution into a higher consciousness. This is the first time we’ve written an album with an overarching theme in mind.
Does it help when you’re siblings to be in the same band?

We do everything together, so yes. It would not be possible for one of us to be in a band without the other.
How does your music taste differs from one another?
Our taste rarely differs. Although I love Rush and Phay doesn’t. But I’m probably the only woman alive that loves Rush, so I don’t blame her.
You’re from Georgia, what do you think about the “Southern Gothic” term and can you see yourself in it?
The term doesn’t bother me at all, and in fact I completely identify…. Being both Southern and gothic. 

What draw you into the noise pop genre and do you consider experimenting with other music genres in the future?
We try to always stay open to all paths presenting themselves… But this unlikely collaboration has so far felt like a star-crossed past life marriage that finally has found its way…
What kind of books and art do you like?
Phay and I have been working our way through Edgar Cayce’s catalog.
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How do you like performing in NYC? Do you have favorite spots in the city where you like to hang out?
NYC really lives up to its myth. We always love our time spent… So far, we’ve felt most at home in Queens.
What’s coming next for The Casket Girls?
We plan to keep touring in support of “The Night Machines” and we are always writing… The future will unfold without the comment of the room…

And as final few words (and pics) for another really cool band that shared the stage with The Casket Girls – Stardeath and White Dwarfs who blew my mind with a perfect blend of stoner rock heavy guitars, psychedelia, a lot of neon and a touch of metal!

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