Tappin the Luv.
A Sit Down Interview With The Purveyors of Sin City Sex Rock: The Luv- Taps
By: Lenny Nero

Vegas bands can generally be categorized into just a few basic genres: Punk, Metal, Emo, or Scream-o. You may find a random pop band or a Dave Matthews sound-a-like here or there, but for the most part, most of Sin City’s musical entities can be lumped into one of the aforementioned categories.

However, there is only one band that can be qualified as “Sin City Sex Rock,” and that band is called The Luv-Taps. Rising out of the ashes of the original Vegas Sex Rock band – The Pull Outs, guitar player Mariann Seymore and bassist Martine Everheart continue the tradition of sexy gals playing trashy rock and roll, and they do it with style. One wonders why there aren’t more bands that play this style of music. I mean, who doesn’t like seeing hot girls rocking out? But then, on the other hand, it’s nice to only have one sexy band to hold our attention.

Smash Magazine had the opportunity to sit down with Everheart and Seymore in the luxurious Smash Magazine offices. And while this writer had a hard time keeping the conversation focused on music, the gals did not.

Smash Magazine: So, The Luv-Taps have been around for 8-9 months?

The Luv-Taps: Actually, it’s been closer to a year.

SM: Any plans to record an actual album?

LV: We’re thinking about doing a split (album) with the Dirty Babies. A split 7” record, actually. And we’d each do a side to that, and then go on a little tour with them.

SM: Any talks of what label might release it, or are you thinking of just releasing it yourselves?

LV: We’re going to try to get Wood Shampoo (owned and operated by Darrin Wells – brother of Dirk Vermin of Vegas punk rockers The Vermin) to put it out. He’s putting out the Dirty Babies record anyways, so it seems appropriate.

SM: Now, I know you guys aren’t a total “chick band:” meaning the band isn’t made up of all females, but how do you respond to people saying “oh, they’re just a chick band, it’s just a gimmick?”

LT: We haven’t really heard that since the last band, and that band was mostly girls.

SM: Ok, well, how did you respond to it back then?

LT: I don’t really know. It’s interesting here with the Luv-Taps that it’s not even an issue. So what, we’re girls? Nobody seems to notice at all, and I think that’s cool because they shouldn’t. When we do get those kinds of comments, it’s usually from guys - guys that are in bands, and that’s the problem. If we get to do something that they didn’t, or play a show they didn’t get on, it bothers them.

SM: Do you think it’s jealous mostly?

LT: I just think if they had tits they’d use them too.

SM: But it’s not like you’re strictly using your tits to sell the band.

LT: No, but we definitely utilize our assets.

SM: Might as well, you got them right?

LT: Exactly. It’s not like we’re feminists over here. I mean, I’m a marketing major. I know what sells. I like rock and roll as much as I like chicks playing rock and roll. So we just try to utilize whatever. And that includes rock and roll and being a chick. And I don’t mind that. And I haven’t heard much bad stuff from girls, but that’s only because most girls won’t say it to your face where guys will. And that’s just silly. It’s petty jealousy, and I could give a shit.

SM: I want to know individual influences. And not just influences for The Luv-Taps or influences for your previous band or whatever. I want to know bands that influenced you growing up. Bands that influenced you to want to be in the music industry. Band that influenced you to become punk rock-ish. Bands that influenced the sound that The Luv-Taps make, etc.

Martine Everheart: Not musically, but probably the biggest influence I had in terms of the fantasy me in my head is that I want to live in a John Waters world. A world where the raunch is just a little bit raunichier, and the lewdness is definitely more lewd than in the real world. Everything is really out there, and really bright and garish. I love that sort of presentation of sexuality especially musically. I know that my hero was Joan Jett, of course. And there are going to be a lot of these views that are the same (between me and Mariann), and that’s how come we’ve been in these 2 bands because we’ve got very similar goals. I remember wanting to be in a band since I was a child, and I remember knowing I was going to do it when I was 17 and I was listening to Blatz and Raoul and Skin Teen and L7, and I really liked that sort of very tough, ballsy female who is not butch, but so confident with herself that she can just express herself, and she’s not afraid of anything. I really try to emulate that fearlessness that all of those bands had, and been in terms of music, and what influences me musically is that big beat, low end, bottom end, the low “fuck me” beat like Tommy James and The Shondells, and “My Baby Does The Hanky Panky” is one of my top 3 favorite songs. The other two are “96 Tears” and “Louie, Louie.” And definitely that big beat; the mid-tempo with a good song on top of it. You know, if it doesn’t grab me on the ass I’m not going to like it. I listen to my music so it grabs me in a primitive sense, in a physical sense. I don’t listen to my music for politics. I don’t read the lyrics to gain social insight. I want to be standing at the bar, and not even looking at the band, and all of the sudden not be able to help myself but to go over there and watch. And that’s real ass shakin’ rock and roll and that’s what we try to do.

Mariann Seymore: I think I went through three stages. When I was young I grew up on Ricky Nelson and Elvis and Chuck Berry and The Shangri-la’s. Basically all 50’s and 60’s rock and roll. That’s what my parents listened to, so that’s what I listened to. Then I grew up a little bit and started getting a little more independent. Of course, this was after my New Kids On The Block phase…I forgot about that. That was a confusing time for me. Then I became a teenager and started getting angry. Well not really angry, I just wasn’t down with the music that everybody liked, so I started hanging out with all the skaters and got introduced to punk rock. Ramones were the first band that stole my heart, definitely. Then I went through a punk rock phase for a while…through high school, and probably until I moved to Vegas. Then I met some people who more punk rock and roll like the Dictators and stuff. More trashy rock and roll as opposed to just straight up punk rock. Bands like…well, definitely Debbie Harry, Joan Jett for sure, the Shangri-la’s, Poison Ivy (of the Cramps). Bad girls. Those are definitely my girl idols. I’d love to have the sex appeal and the rock appeal that they had, and I strive for it. Other than just the girls, I was into the Cramps, the New York Dolls, The Dictators, the Sonics, the Stooges, MC5.

SM: If you had to pick one genre of music to classify your band as, what would it be?

LT: Trashy rock and roll.

SM: Who are your favorite bands in Vegas to play with? Not necessarily your favorite bands in Vegas, but your favorites to play with?

LT: Dirty Babies. They’re just the best rock and roll band, and I love playing with them. Jupiter Shifter is so good. The Pervz and The Holy Smokes are great. Sin City Ghouls and Cute in the Face. Cute in the Face are so much fun. We’ll play with them anytime.