Q&A with Death By Sexy

Congrats on not only releasing your first full length album, Curse the Curse, but also on having it featured on DC 101's Local Lix as well as Richmond's 102.1 The X! What was it like hearing your song on the radio for the first time?

It was pretty cool, I’d have to say, but it wasn’t exactly a “That Thing You Do” running down the street screaming kind of moment. This is probably due to the fact that I was in my car at the time, so I called my drummer and had him turn on the radio. It’s always pretty sweet to hear yourself over the airwaves.

DXS' sound has been described as a combination of Motorhead, the Misfits, Queens of the Stone Age, and New York Dolls, among others; personally I couldn't agree more. Was it a conscious effort to incorporate elements of these legendary bands to create a sound of your own?

Those are just bands we happen to really like a lot, and it comes out in our playing. I don’t really know any good bands that consciously try to sound like other bands. I know a lot of crappy ones that do that, though. It just smacks of going along with the flow – like, “the Arcade Fire has 1500 people in it, so we’ll have 1500 people in our band too”. Or “This popular band has afro-beat influences, so we will too,” or “This band has disco rock beats, so will we.” That’s all just so lame. Do your own thing already.

Death By Sexy isn't only the name of the Eagles of Death Metal's second album, but it was also honorably bestowed to you by EODM's, Jesse Hughes, over a game of pinball at DC's Black Cat. Are you influenced by EODM in other ways besides a name?

We’ve gotten some shit for that whole “naming our band” thing from some blogs, and it’s weird because they obviously haven’t even listened to the record. I don’t really care if you don’t like our music, that’s fine and dandy like strawberry candy. But if the only reason you don’t like us is our band name, or the fact that it’s the title of an EODM album, please go away. As far as how EODM influences us, they just do the straight-up rock thing have fun, and don’t really give a shit about anything else. Which we agree with totally.

How do you think Curse the Curse reflects the growth and progress of DXS since you first started playing together back in 2005?

Well, the obvious one is that we started as a duo and Christian(our bass player) is part of the band now. It frees us up to do more things musically. But the songs on the album are a couple of years old, and the stuff we’re doing now I think is even better.

Describe your stage presence to those reading this Q&A who haven't had a chance to see you play live.

Well, we sweat a lot. And we’re pretty loud. But there’s also some catchy melodies and harmonies going on as well. We’re like Ancho chiles covered with sweet milk chocolate. Have you ever had those? They’re pretty fucking good.

Can you tell us who "You're So Hot (But So Cold)" is about?

All I can tell you is that it’s probably not about your mom. Probably.

Please explain what it is about Canadian figure skater, Aaron Lowe, that truly inspires and influences DXS. (once listed under "Influences" on DXS' MySpace page).

He’s just a good dude, y’know. Plus his triple salchows are breathtaking.

How do you plan on celebrating Cinco De Mayo?

I don’t know what that means. I don’t speak Spanish. Does that have to do with mayonnaise? Because I would totally be down with a mayo festival. BACONNAISE!

Death By Sexy will be playing with The Whore Moans on Friday, May 1 at The Red and The Black. Tickets cost $8.