Band Ugly Broads evolve, experiment as members flow in and out
They can sometimes be seen wearing dresses and space suits when performing.
The band known as Ugly Broads has changed quite a bit over the years in both style and numbers.
“We have rotating bass fiends who come in, and they have all played together in some combinations,” said Andrew Neal, who plays the guitar and sings. “It did have official band members, and we have had other band members come and go. It’s been fun to do these live shows, and sometimes it will be just a duo or other times four or five people.”
As members left, they started to change their music, and for two people to remain, it is somewhat difficult to get a full sound, Neal said.
They have been described as independent rock, country, punk and, when the saxophone plays with the band, as jazz.
“When we first started, we had four permanent people, but then one got a girlfriend and quit, then a bass player didn’t feel like playing in shows in September of last year,” said Keith Dast, drummer and one of the two remaining original band members.
Their current interim-bass player, Curtis Kuipers, fills in on occasion and is in two other bands, so Ugly Broads have been essentially made into a jigsaw puzzle, with new pieces every month.
Dast started playing the drums on an individual project for Neal, and the pair kept in touch from there and decided to form the band and its unique name.
“I was saying rude comments about a female that I know and called her an ugly broad, and it kind of unfolded from there,” Dast said in good humor.
Originally, it was a joke on the name Ugly Broads to wear strange costumes, ranging from dresses and wigs to space suits.
“I think it gives you a little bit extra,” Neal said. “If you are trying to make a point that you are having as much fun as the people in the crowd, this is the way to do it.”
As far as music goes, Neal said he has been writing songs since he started playing guitar at 11-years-old.
Since then, the music has been evolving, and the words have changed as well, he said.
“Music is such an opinionated thing anyway, and the least you could do is set them up to not hate you right away,” Neal said.
The band’s "Blitz Spirit" album, released in January, is a six-song EP that is approximately half an hour long. The songs were layered one instrument at a time, with the drums being recorded in August, and other portions from the scratch guitar and bass all coming together with the vocals months later.
“I’m already playing those songs differently today,” Neal said. “We still are constantly changing stuff.”
The album is available for download on uglybroadsbandcamp.com.
