Lissy Trullie

Last night's show felt like a big deal, with a massive mob clamoring for the door-girl's attention outside Le Royale before prettier-in-person fasionista-cum-songwriter Lissy Trullie took the stage. There was an elegance about Trullie's simple aesthetic, from the unadorned guitar work to her coy but monosyllabic lyrics, and she exuded a captivating vulnerability when her boyish voice grasped at higher pitches. Guitarist Eben D'Amico, formerly the bassist of New Jersey emo legends Saves the Day, colored Trullie's straightforward tact with clever but careful lead work. Pre-selected CMJ fave "Self-Taught Learner" was a highlight, as was a brisk take on Hot Chip's "Ready for the Floor".

Vivian Girls

The Vivian Girls started in Brooklyn, NY in March 2007 as the trio of Cassie Ramone (guitar/vocals), Kickball Katy (bass/drums/vocals) and Frankie Rose (drums/bass/vocals).While only a band for a short while, they recorded a demo CD-R which included five original songs and a Wipers cover, and began to play locally in Brooklyn and Katy and Cassie's home state of New Jersey.Within the first couple of months they had already developed a strong local following, supporting acts like Jay Reatard, Sonic Youth and the King Khan & BBQ Show as well as finding kindred spirits in other locals like Cause Co-Motion!, Crystal Stilts, and Woods, with whom they’ve shared many bills and helped develop a local scene. In March 2008 they released the "Wild Eyes" single on the Plays With Dolls label.With very little promotion and distribution the single became an underground indie hit as it charted on many college radio playlists and garnered positive reviews on the internet.Recorded in the same session, their debut self-titled LP was released by the Mauled by Tigers label, whose initial pressing of the LP sold out in ten days.During this time, the group signed with In The Red Records who released a new single in August 2008.In The Red re-released the Mauled by Tigers record on LP and CD formats in October 2008. In July 2008 the band underwent a lineup change with new drummer Ali Koehler replacing Frankie Rose.

The band's name comes from a mammoth written work by outsider artist Henry Darger, called The Story of the Vivian Girls, in What is Known as the Realms of the Unreal, of the Glandeco-Angelinnian War Storm, Caused by the Child Slave Rebellion.