Here Kitty, Kitty

Actually hailing from Atlanta, Ga. and not Music City USA, Nashville Pussy’s name is an indicator that they don’t take themselves too seriously. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t serious rock out. Nashville Pussy’s sound has been described as psychobilly, Southern rock, hard rock, cowpunk, or “sleaze rock.”
As you might expect, their lyrical themes mostly revolve around sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll, with a heavy dose of drinking and fighting thrown in for good measure. Nashville Pussy brings their swaggering rock ‘n’ roll stylings into West Ashley this Sunday, Jan. 11 when they play Tin Roof.
Formed in 1997 by guitarist and vocalist Blaine Cartwright and his guitarist wife Ruyter Suys (pronounced “Rider Sighs”), Nashville Pussy has played thousands of shows, released six full-length studio albums, one EP, and two live DVDs in their nearly two decade run. They’ve toured with acts like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Reverend Horton Heat, and most recently, ZZ Top.
The current lineup includes Cartwright, Ruyter Suys, who was recently voted One of the Greatest Female Electric Guitarists by ELLE magazine, longtime drummer Jeremy Thompson, and bassist Bonnie Buitrago, who joined the band in 2011.
Nashville Pussy received a Best Metal Performance Grammy nomination in 1999 for their song “Fried Chicken And Coffee.” Their song “Drive” was featured in an episode of the HBO series The Sopranos and their song “Hell Ain’t What It Used To Be” was featured on HBO’s Entourage. “Come On, Come On” and “Hate & Whisky” were featured in the video game Jackass the Game. Additionally, “Snake Eyes” was for the end credits in the video game Rogue Trip and both “Shoot First and Run Like Hell” and “Wrong Side Of A Gun” were in the movie Super Troopers.
Even after all that exposure, Nashville Pussy has remained largely underground. However, they have a large cult following in the American rock club scene, as well as in Europe, Australia, and Japan. Grassroots promotion of the band has been aided by their taper-friendly show recording policy.
After a five-year hiatus from the studio, last year Nashville Pussy released Up the Dosage, consisting of 13 fast-paced rock tunes, plus two bonus tracks.
“This is our Back In Black!” says Cartwright, referring to the landmark AC/DC album, which was the band’s sixth studio album, which came out exactly 17 years after the famed Australian band formed. It was exactly 17 years since Nashville Pussy formed when they released, Up The Dosage, the band’s sixth studio release.
“None of the previous Nashville Pussy albums have been as diverse and at the same time consistent,” says Cartwright. “Everything sounds even bigger and better, yet raw and authentic through and through.”
The new album was self-produced by Nashville Pussy and sound engineer Brian Pulito at the Microsonic Studios in Lexington, Ky.
“It was clear from the beginning that the album would have to be cut with very little money because the ZZ Top tour cost us lots of dollars,” says Cartwright.
Luckily, Shinedown producer Rick Beato is a close friend of Nashville Pussy. “Rick was so enthusiastic about the new material that he spontaneously decided to remix the album for us,” says Cartwright. “That’s why Up The Dosage sounds so contemporary and powerful, with phat guitars and a production which sounds brilliant in every respect.”
Nashville Pussy plays this Sunday, Jan. 11 at Tin Roof, located at 1117 Magnolia Road. Tickets are $10. For more information, call 571-0775 or visit charlestontinroof.com.