Del Cielo: "I was just playing three dissonant power chords and thought 'I am awesome.'"

Thrasher Magazine, April, 2005 by Luke O'Neil

IN THEORY, ROCK BANDS are supposed to thrive during conservative administrations. The Reagan/Thatcher era brought us some of the best reactionary rock and roll in history from the likes of The Clash and The Dead Kennedys, among others. After all, oppressive politics and rock and roll are basically the yin and yang of youthful rebellion, right? Maybe it's too early, but aside from the surprisingly poignant (and surprisingly critically acclaimed) recent release from pop-punk godfathers Green Day and the efforts of labels like Fat Wreck Chords, it seems the indie world remain content with the status quo--in practice if not in theory. Of course any punk band from DC has a rather large set of DIY sneakers to fill, with Fugazi setting the bar pretty high and Dischord doing its part to keep the flame going, but on paper the three women who make up Del Cielo seem like perfect candidates to raise holy hell. On the band's website guitarist Andrea Lisi lists "American Idiot" at the top of her playlist, and they have a link to their favorite "Bush'isms." But while the band--whose sound could be likened to a more melody-driven Sleater Kinney--seems to play more than its fair share of political-minded benefits from Take Bake the Night to Rock for Choice concerts, the stand out title track from their new album Us Vs Them on Lovitt records seems to be the only one to dip its toes into the current political zeitgeist. Over a nice bit of duel vocal interplay and a chorus reminiscent of Sunny Day Real Estate, the band sings: "It's all about your politics, your open mind, the ways you fight ... When did my friends separate into these categories of us versus them?" Del Cielo is Basla Andolsun, Andrea Lisi, and Katy Otto.

Did you prepare any charming yet down-to-earth anecdotes for me?

Andrea Lisi: No. I don't know what kind I am supposed to have.

Come on! That was your homework. Okay then, tell me about your connection to Lovitt Records. They've got some pretty hot bands on that label, from Engine Down to Division of Laura Lee.

We've known them for a while from being in the same area; they are putting out our second full-length. Engine Down are from Richmond, and I went to school in Richmond.

So where do you work in DC? You have a political job like everyone else?

I'm a secretary at the National Petroleum Council.

Holy shit!

I don't really do anything. I got placed through a temp agency, and our drummer already had a nine-to-five job so I wanted something to match.

Have you ever read Thrasher?

When I was growing up I did. My brothers used to be skateboarders. I was staying at my parents' house recently, and everything from back then is the same. One of the whole walls of my older brother's room is pages from Thrasher with, like, a Jason Lee ad. The other side is dedicated to the Green Bay Packers. I remember in the sixth grade my brother decided he wanted to make me cool; he had me listening to 108 and all these interesting hardcore bands. I don't know what I saw in that back then. Plus we had a ramp in our backyard. The one thing I could do was a fakie rock and roll. Then I quit. He also told me he loved girls that wore hats, so I wore a pirate hat for three years.

Now that's the type of anecdote I was talking about. What, if anything else, from back then remains influential?

Green Day is probably my favorite band ever. I loved them in the sixth grade and I love them now.

Don't you think it's weird that all of a sudden everyone is taking them seriously?

I don't think I read much about them. I just like them. I could have a favorite band ever and not know the names of the people in it.

Would you say Del Cielo is a political leaning band?

We do play a lot of benefits, which is one thing I like about our band. We are playing an anti-inauguration show with Q and Not U and Anti-Flag in DC right after a big march to one of the inaugural balls.

Do you prefer to play basements or clubs?

I really like the houses we end up playing usually. But there is always the house show where we show up and the people are like, "What's a PA?" The thing about basement shows is you get a certain energy you might not get in a club. For example, in DC I've seen bands sell out the Black Cat (mid-sized indie venue) and people stand there and look like they want to die. When you paid a decent amount of money to go to a show it's weird that you don't look psyched.

So how long have you been together?

We just had our four-year anniversary the other day, and Katy (our drummer) had baked us a birthday cake when we got to practice.

I don't think that sort of thing happens too much in all-guy bands. So what's different now, from when you first started? Do you remember a point when you started noticing actual fans coming to your shows as opposed to only friends?

It is just insane to think about what we sounded like then compared to what we sound like now. We practiced this old song that I wrote junior year in college the other day. When I wrote it I thought it was the most brilliant thing ever. I was just playing three dissonant power chords and thought "I am awesome."