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Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Label: Shiny Pants (Independent)
Website: www.vivalavenus.com
Sounds Like: Heart, Hole, Paramore, The Donnas, Avril Lavigne
Genre: Rock
Viva la Venus is a female-fronted guitar rock band from North Carolina founded by vocalists/guitarists Wendy Brancaccio and Susan Darney. The two began writing music that combines powerfully seductive vocal melodies with complex and intricate guitar leads wrapped around sexy rhythm guitar hooks. Mary Anne Barckhoff soon joined with grooving bass lines, adding rhythmic vocal harmonies and occasionally trading bass and guitar duties with Susan. Trey McLamb’s thunderous drumming intensified the Viva la Venus sound: not quite metal, certainly not pop, but well-written, solid rock songs to keep your body rocking and mind rolling. The band quickly gained popularity through constant touring, radio airplay, press, and winning “battle of the bands” competitions.
The band’s debut CD release, The Never Ending Mending Story, proved the group’s strong songwriting and musical talent landing them a deal with Sony Music Television. Their second CD release, Forget the Fairy Tale, quickly skyrocketed, gaining them national attention and was selected as one of the Top 25 CDs of the year by indie-music.com. The band toured heavily and gained popularity throughout the East Coast and Midwest club circuit. The band's most recent CD release, Bleeding on the Edge of Happiness, shows a clear maturity of seasoned musicianship and proves how well they complement each other as a solid unit, delivering their own brand of rock.
The band has made television appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the North Carolina band TV showcase, Barchords. The music of Viva la Venus has been featured on national TV shows including Lifetime Network's Strong Medicine and in the film, The Forever Dead written and directed by Christine Parker. Their music is available online at CDBaby.com, iTunes and other online outlets.
“What do you get when you take a little Ozzy Osborne, Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, add a little Heart with just a dash of Salt N Pepa? You get a recipe for success with Viva la Venus's latest album, 'Bleeding on the Edge of Happiness'. It started with a Little Voice and progresses on to be more of an album worth shouting about. Viva la Venus continues to pump out great music with each album and we always look forward to seeing this four piece take the stage and rock the faces of anyone who enjoys good music! Kudos for a great album Viva la Venus! Thank you so much for yet one more great recipe of intoxicating music!”
Andy Washburn - NC Local Music
“'Bleeding on the Edge of Happiness' really showcases Wendy’s vocal ability. The album as a whole, musically, vocally, lyrically, show the band is poised to take the next big step. The songwriting, guitar work, and vocals are ridiculously good. I mean, from song to song, they just keep getting better and better. ...I’ve always enjoyed VLV’s shows. And as you know there are some bands that are ‘live’ bands and come across better on stage than on CD, and then there are bands that are CD bands and come across better on CD than live. Viva la Venus, with their new album, has really impressed me. They’ve actually gone up several notches in my book thanks to this kick ass piece of work....Go. Get Bleeding on the Edge of Happiness. You’ll thank me later. You will. Really. I promise.”
Jim Keller II - Away Team
“Viva la Venus is not your average girl band. They are much more than a pretty face and they prove their serious rock credentials on their largely anticipated third album, 'Bleeding on the Edge of Happiness'. These women rock with infectious riffs, and a take-no-prisoners attitude when it comes to lyrics. Their drummer, Trey McLamb is a constant force to be reckoned with, adding hard pounding grooves, that never want to quit.
...The new album has definitely got attitude, the kind of in-your-face-unforgiving-attitude that only Viva la Venus can evoke.”
Rebecca Kane - Coolgrrrls
“'Bleeding on the Edge of Happiness' is the breathtaking hugely enjoyable new thirteen track album... This album has all the fundamentals I like about albums of this genre that strikes that chord with me for its rich diversity, fun energy and raw passion.
A lot of care and attention has gone into the creation of the album, especially with the production... 'Bleeding on the Edge of Happiness' has all the hallmarks that fans of catchy, gutsy, rock music will fully enjoy.
There is so much to enjoy from this album, it is huge, I'm really excited about this band, musically it's all here, there is something for everyone to enjoy throughout 'Bleeding on the Edge of Happiness'. We couldn't ask for more really and this is one of those albums I can play forever. Watch out for Viva la Venus, one to look out for in the future and a band who perform with feeling and style, and that’s a rare thing.”
Nicky Baldrian - Fireworks Magazine (UK)
