Q: We'll start with Alicia (frontwoman Alicia Solombrino). Many people have noted your charismatic presence on stage. Is this something you consciously develop as part of your onstage persona or does it come naturally and subconsciously while performing?
A: My stage performance isn't really planned. The music takes over me - a rock n' roll possession of sorts - and I forget everything else. I just move with the music. That is why I will bust into a moonwalk or something else random in the set. I go with the moment. -Alicia
Q: We read that your guitarist Thomas Becker is a Harvard Law graduate. Given you guys are still unsigned; we take it Thomas will act as the lead negotiator when ironing out the contract with your eventual record label?
A: Yikes. I wouldn't hire me to fix a ticket, much less negotiate a record contract. I am a human rights lawyer, so I know international and human rights law. Contract and entertainment law, on the other hand, is like Swahili to me. I definitely wish I paid attention a little more in Contracts class my first year of law school. So far, I have been acting as our lawyer by default, but I think we will hire someone more experienced when it comes to contract signing. -Thomas
Q: Tell us the origins of the band name.
A : Our old guitarist asked me my favorite book, which at the time was "The Beautiful Bodies." At first we dismissed it as a name until we started talking about what the name meant to us. Everyone is beautiful inside and out. People in the crowd were often as inspiring if not more so than a lot of the bands we would go to see. We thought it would be cool to name a band after the folks at shows who never get credit for making music awesome. -Alicia
Q: We've heard apt descriptions comparing the Beautiful Bodies to No Doubt, Metric and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Who are some of your musical influences and how do they shape your music?
A: I am influenced by all types of music. What moves me is seeing artists put everything they have into their work. When I see that, whether it is from someone huge like Michael Jackson or a fifteen-year-old in a coffee shop, I feel energized and inspired. -Alicia We all have pretty diverse musical interests. I grew up playing in punk bands and listening to artists like The Ramones, Blondie, and Minor Threat, and Alicia grew up on dancier stuff like Michael Jackson, Madonna, and even indie-dance groups like Bloc Party. The thing tying all these different artists together was an incredible amount of energy on stage. We wanted to start a band that mixed musical elements of all these influences and captured their energy in our music. I'm still not sure what we've ended up with, but it is a blast to play. - Thomas
Q: You have opened for some amazing bands. Do you learn a lot opening for a large act and if so, what?
A: We have been really fortunate to play with some incredible bands. One of the most important things that I think we have learned from playing with "large" acts is how to interact with the crowd in bigger venues. At clubs or smaller venues, it is much easier to get the crowd involved. When you play larger venues like Livestrong, Sandstone, or even the Midland or Uptown, though, shows can seem impersonal, particularly when there is a giant barrier between you and the crowd. We've played with some artists who simply play their instruments and stare at the crowd apathetically. Other groups we've played with, like Janes Addiction or My Chemical Romance, have gone out of their way to get the crowd involved and make them feel part of the performance. After playing bigger shows like these we have really tried hard to make a huge venue seem like an intimate environment for the crowd and immerse everyone in the show. -Thomas and Alicia
Q: With the recent Middle of the Map Fest and other large music festivals taking root in Kansas City, do you feel like KC is becoming more respected musically on a national level within the industry?
A: Unfortunately, for a long time, many folks in the music industry have referred to places like Kansas City as "flyover territory." Recent festivals like Middle of the Map and Midcoast Takeover at South by Southwest, however, have really started to change how people view Kansas City. There really are bands here that are nothing short of spectacular, so I am excited that people are starting to notice the kind of talent this city has. I think people are beginning to realize that Kansas City is an epicenter of a lot of cutting edge music. -Thomas
Q: Alicia, do you have male groupies?
A: Hahaha. She has male and female groupies. -Luis
Q: Best place to get BBQ in KC?
A: You may have just started a war with our band members. No one could agree on the best BBQ. The battle is between Oklahoma Joe's, Wyandot BBQ, and Gates...and then there is the other half of the band that is vegetarian (I know. It's sacrilege in KC). -Luis.
Q: Favorite city to tour (besides KC)?
A: New York City or Austin, TX (which are second and third to Kansas City, of course).
Q: Favorite KC Royal and why?
A: As far as an all time Royal, George Brett. Always my baseball hero growing up. I also collected his cards as a kid. I had stopped keeping track of his cards at about 500 of them. But as far as current it is Eric Hosmer. I went to his first game last year and have been excited about him since. Reminds me of the new Kansas City George Brett type icon. -Aaron
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