Vanity Theft
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Vanity Theft

Dayton, Ohio, United States | INDIE

Dayton, Ohio, United States | INDIE
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"KLAQ Catches Up With Vanity Theft at SXSW [VIDEOS]"

While wandering around downtown Austin during SXSW, I met a pretty kickass, sexy band – Vanity Theft.

I caught up with guitarist Brittany Hill and singer-keyboardist Alicia Grodecki near Congress Street and they introduced me to the rest of the band’s members outside Rusty’s, where the band performed Thursday night at 10 p.m.


The girls hail from Ohio and have been nonstop touring lately, with upcoming shows planned all over, including Webster Hall in NYC on April 25. While there’s no El Paso tour dates in the immediate future, you should definitely check in with their schedule often because these sexy ladies are totally worth checking out. In the meantime, check out a couple of the girls’ videos below and like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. Check out all of our interviews, photos and behind-the-scenes SXSW action on our SXSW page! - KLAQ


"Top Indie Anti-Love Songs"

Vanity Theft: Anatomy
Another upbeat song, the girls of Vanity Theft claim, “Baby I don’t want you for your money.” This Houses-Haunted tape remix is addictive. - Life Is Awesome


"Bands to Watch"

Vanity Theft
Formed: 2005
Style: Indie pop rock
Members: Alicia Grodecki / Brittany Hill / Elyse Driskill
Upon the release of their 2006 debut, Vanity Theft quickly proved to be a formidable indie rock outfit with aspirations well beyond the small clubs of Dayton. They relocated to LA for a time in 2008-2009, further refining their sound with additional dance elements coming to the fore. Over the past several years, the quartet toured relentlessly from coast to coast, earning a loyal following the old-fashioned way. With an appearance at South by Southwest in March and an extended tour planned for the spring, their upcoming album should further bolster these ladies as one of Dayton’s leading exports.
Website: vanitytheft.com; facebook.com/vanitytheft - Dayton City Paper


"First Show Cometh!"

VANITY THEFT – For a few minutes I live the rockstar dream and become the fifth and easily the heaviest member of this awesome group as they head for a show in Cleveland in the tour van. http://www.vanitytheft.com/ - Music N Bands N Dan


"Eye of the Tigress"

Vanity Theft is part of a pedigreed lineage of female rock bands. The Runaways, The Go-Gos, Sleater-Kinney—you know the sort. Girls who elbow their way through the male-driven rock paradigm and make a place for themselves in the boy’s club. If you like “Anatomy” (and you will like “Anatomy”), be sure to listen to the Houses Haunted Tape Remix. The track transforms the original into a mishmash of digital chirps, chopped-up chants and great stomping beats à la Sleigh Bells. Don’t worry, all the hooks of “Anatomy” are kept intact, clawing their way into your brain while jagged soundscapes add a sinister edge. “Limb From Limb,” with its lashes of electric guitar and synths is just as fierce. With vitriol dripping from each of singer Alicia Grodecki’s words, the band dares you not to dance. We can only say, you go grrrls. - OurStage


"Lady Killer Tour Backstage Pass: Sick of Sarah, Hunter Valentine & Vanity Theft"

Good news! Some of Autostraddle’s favorite all-female bands — Sick of Sarah, Hunter Valentine and Vanity Theft — will be hitting the road together for The Lady Killer Tour, a 30-date adventure across the United States in August and September.

Experience has taught me that it’s a lot more fun when what happens on tour doesn’t stay on tour. Clearly 12 lady musicians spending copious amounts of time together will lead to all sorts of trouble and hilarity, and we don’t want you to miss a moment. We’ve roped the girls from Hunter Valentine, Sick of Sarah and Vanity Theft into sharing their tales (and photos!) from the road in an epic segment we’re going to call The Lady Killer Backstage Pass.

If the following tour video is any indication, this tour, and the backstage pass, will be nothing short of spectacular. Stay tuned for the first instalment. - Autostraddle


"Sounds Like Oxygen"

Music video and free download feature on Oxygen.com - Oxygen


"Vanity Theft: Feb. 19 @ The Roxy"

Indie pop rock band Vanity Theft energized the Roxy as they promoted their album Get What You Came For. Based in Dayton, Ohio, these four girls played with intensity and passion that electrified the crowd across the floor. While beginning their setlist, a wave of cheers flooded the venue as they embraced the reactions.

Lead singer and keyboardist Alicia Grodecki bounced around the stage at every opportunity while screaming her lungs out. Although she appeared shy and timid with her hair covering her face, Grodecki made the night her own by stomping across the floor and facing off with drummer Elyse Driskill and guitarist Brittany Hill. Bassist Lalaine Paras performed with a plastered smile as she fed off the live energy. Hill showcased her talents as a guitarist multiple times throughout the night by adding addicting riffs and switching the rhythms with each song.

Vanity Theft’s flirtatious attitude worked well with the audience as they won everyone over. Their lyrics described personal experiences about past relationships that revealed giggles and smiles at every opportunity. Still, the young group played with talent and heart that earned everyone’s respect. Expect these tough girls to explode across the indie pop scene. - Campus Circle


"Vanity Theft / Hunter Valentine at the 400 Bar"

As you can see from Vanity Theft's setlist, most of the songs played were from their recently released Get What You Came For. The two not from the new album were "Where's the Action?" and "Symptoms", which was the last song on the set. During the performance of "Anatomy", Hunter Valentine repaid the favor from earlier with a stage invasion of their own*.

Anyway, sad to see the end of the Hunter Valentine and Vanity Theft alliance, but I'm glad to have caught their final appearance together. - We Heart Music


""Anatomy" by Vanity Theft"

"Anatomy" music video - VH1


"ALBUM REVIEW: “Get What You Came For” by Vanity Theft"

Move over Hayley Williams. Step aside Emily Haines. There’s another kid in town but unlike her predecessors the vocal powerhouse, Alicia Grodecki, is followed by three additional female musicians with tunes revved for radio play. Listed as a “Band to Watch in 2011” by The New York Post, Vanity Theft, an all-female pop-rock group out of Dayton, Ohio delivers their debut full-length Get What You Came For with a contagious and sassy punch. - The Owl Mag


"Stealing Beauty With Vanity Theft"

While the rooms these bands are playing are growing smaller and smaller there are still plenty of groups embracing these sentiments. Deluka and New Collisions have put out amazing music recently, but 2011’s Queens of [this particular brand of] Noise are Dayton’s Vanity Theft, whose sophomore LP, Get What You Came For, hits shelves today. The four ladies of Vanity Theft are no strangers to Philadelphia. In October they put on one of the more explosive shows the Fire has seen recently and last month they hit up the M Room with Hunter Valentine, performing a collection of their the brashest songs, both from Get What You Came For and their debut LP for a display of the band at their punkest. - Origivation Magazine


"Vanity Theft 'Get What You Came For' Album Review"

Get What You Came For is a great album, and a lot of fun. Released with plenty of time to digest before the summer days start, because this is definitely an album you’ll want to make a part of your summer list. Clocking in at just under 35 minutes makes it one of the most resourceful uses of time I’ve heard in awhile when it comes to albums of this length. Without feeling neither bored or cheated, If you’re anything like me, Get What you Came For will have you tapping your feet and bobbing your head before you realize that the album has already restarted… several times over. - Indie Rock Reviews


"VANITY THEFT RELEASE REMIX EP, ANNOUNCE LA RESIDENCY & SXSW SHOW!"

Get What You Came For finds Ohio’s rockers at their very best- catchy, edgy and dancey as hell. The album kicks off with the charging track “Trainwreck,” and doesn’t let you go until the final notes of “Missing Teeth” slowly fade out. More to the point, these chicks R.O.C.K.! - Altsounds.com


"Album Review: 'Get What You Came For' by Vanity Theft"

Often girl groups take a softer approach to their music. Not them. Vanity Theft isn’t afraid to let loose and show their rough and tough side. Elise Driskill’s driving beats introduce “Limb From Limb,” a song packed full with fury directed at, from what I can gather, an ex-boyfriend who committed some wrongdoing or another. These chicks mean business, repeatedly threatening to “feed those lions, watch them tear this limb from limb.” There’s no doubt that mystery boy is shaking in his boots if he ever dares to listen to this vengeful song. - Red River Noise


"Hot New Music: Vanity Theft"

Get ready to swoon for this queer inclusive band and their hot new video: Anatomy. - Curve Magazine


"You Must Know: Vanity Theft"

Vanity Theft are made up of four smoking hot (sorry Britney) Ohio rockers, each gal more rocker than the next. Their music consists of super catchy, newly edgy and ridiculously fun dance tracks, that start off hard and end up all soft and sultry.

Think of a club kid, Avril Lavigne and Taylor Momsen having a sleepover. Yes, it sounds like that.

Vanity Theft have become known for their eardrum-slobbering live show, having toured the nation over for the past five years (many of which were self-booked), winning over fans nationwide. They’re currently in the middle of a national tour with Hunter Valentine and pretty much becoming the next lady brigade of rock that you must -- like we said in the title -- know.

The ladies' new album, "Get What You Came For," was released digitally February 1 and will hit the real world shelves on March 1, but today the girls are offering up a 7-track remix EP that will pretty much make you a fan — if you aren't already.

From a slam-dance puree of their track "Rattle Rattle" to a sleek rendition of their monster single "Missing Teeth," seven A-list DJs like Houses, Chrissy Murderbot and Jesse Christenson offer up some nice and naughty nuggets … and they are giving them away …. free. - New York Post


"Download of the Week"

The women of Dayton, Ohio’s Vanity Theft make awesome songs, somewhere between the fist-pumping chick power of Sleater-Kinney and the more-dance-ready, indie-pop fun of the Ting Tings. Their new album, Get What You Came For, comes out this month on Adamant Records. A proper label to call home is a welcome respite from five years of putting out their own records and booking their own tours. Still, even with a label behind them, you can hear this band’s DIY spirit loud and clear in this hot remix of their newest single “Anatomy.” Don’t miss the sweet video for the single, and you can follow the band on twitter to get their latest tour dates. - Roxy Blog


"Music Video: Vanity Theft!"

Vanity Theft may be all-female, but this foursome definitely isn’t your average girl group.

With catchy guitar riffs, an in-your-face sound, and lyrics that are, ahem, straight to the point, this band is determined to set themselves apart from a sea of frilly pop with their debut single, “Anatomy.”

Check out the video here and let us know if you’re into it! - Nylon


"Vanity Theft: Get What You Came For"

Why do I love Vanity Theft's popcentric take on grrrl rock? For the same reason I can't resist The Donnas -- because, though they're not making any strides to redefine music, they know how to structure a pop song and back it with a little bit of a dirty punch.

Get What You Came For, with its perfectly constructed little three-minute nuggets, is brought to sparkling life by four adorable chicks who are barely of legal drinking age -- one of whom, oddly, is a former Disney Channel star (Lalaine from Lizzie McGuire). Before disregarding the group merely for its Disney association, take "Anatomy," and "Limb From Limb" for a spin. These two songs alone, and perhaps in spite of the rest of the otherwise redundant record, make this little band from Dayton, Ohio worth opening your brainwaves to.

It may not be life changing, but it's pop music with a youthfully naive tough girl sneer, and if it worked for The Runaways and Tegan & Sara, then why not for Vanity Theft? - Ink 19


"Vanity Theft Builds National Following"

It was apparent Vanity Theft was destined for bigger things when the group released its self-financed debut full-length, “PostScript: Pace Yourself,” in 2008. With the new album, “Get What You Came For” (Vigilante Music/Adamant Records), the all-female quartet from Springboro has officially made the transition from regional band to national act.

“Having the support of Vigilante, Adamant and (publicity firm) Girlie Action is amazing,” singer Alicia Grodecki said last week, speaking over her cell phone during a break from pre-tour rehearsals in Los Angeles.

“We’re pretty busy up until summer with shows in the States,” she continued. “We have this tour with Hunter Valentine starting Feb. 2, and that goes all the way up through March. We’ll be home in Ohio for a couple of days and then we’re heading down to South by Southwest. After that we’re coming back to L.A. for a residency at Club Moscow.”

On Tuesday, Feb. 1, Grodecki (vocals, keyboards, percussion), Brittany Hill (vocals, guitar), Lalaine (bass, vocals) and Elyse Driskill (drums, vocals), will celebrate the digital release of “Get What You Came For.” The hard-copy CD will be released on March 1.

“Most of all, I’m excited to get the album out already,” Grodecki said. “I want people to hear it. I’m really proud of it. I think everyone that worked on it is really proud of it. I’m interested to see what people think about it. I’m a little bit nervous, too, but I’m excited.”

Sing-along choruses and new-wave overtones were already a part of Vanity Theft’s indie-rock arsenal when the “Post Script, Pace Yourself” was released. Now, thanks to solid touring and the guidance of producer Joshua Binder, the quartet has honed its sound into an infectious blend of dance-pop and alt-rock.

“We’re going into it knowing there will be people that don’t like the new songs,” Grodecki said. “It’s a different sound, obviously. There’s more to it than our last album. That was very do-it-yourself. We basically just did it in the garage. With this we’re a lot older and we actually had people that knew what they were doing.”
Although no local date is scheduled for Vanity Theft, Grodecki expects to have a Dayton show lined up for early spring.

“We like to finish things off in Dayton, so we can come and play a show with everybody,” she said. “We’re looking to book another homecoming show before we head to South by Southwest, so hopefully everybody will keep their eyes and ears out for that.” - Active Dayton


"VANITY THEFT: Anything but girly."

Vanity Theft has an edgy, pop sound, channeling The Runaways and other post riot-grrrl indie groups. After releasing their latest EP, Anatomy, in October, Vanity Theft is back for more. Their video for the Houses’ Haunted Tape Remix of “Anatomy” is visually stunning, full of quick cuts that break up a general monochrome feeling with scenes of bright greens, golds and purples, which add a punkish feeling to the video. Their upcoming album Get What You Came For will be released digitally on February 1st with a physical release to follow March 1st. Along with the digital release, the band will hit the road with Hunter Valentine on a cross-country tour in February and March, hitting The Knitting Factory on February 2nd and ending March 5th at 400 Bar in Minneapolis. Don’t miss your chance to rock out with these sassy chicks. VanityTheft.com — Michele Tymann - Zink Magazine


"Vanity Theft: Anatomy (Houses Haunted Tape Remix)"

Vigilante Music & Adamant Records indie foursome from Springboro, Ohio Vanity Theft just released their latest EP The Anatomy. Click here to get your copy on iTunes or here to get it on Amazon! The EP’s got it all: new songs, old songs, remixes, and even a digital art booklet! Check out the enticing Houses remix, below, of the band’s track Anatomy which KKS is heavily crushing on. Tour dates, after the jump… - Kick Kick Snare


"Album Spotlight: Vanity Theft's "The Anatomy EP""

Recent CMJ spotlight artists, Vanity Theft, have released their latest alternative/pop rock tracks in The Anatomy EP (Vigilante Music/Adamant Records), a 6-song disc that includes two remixes by Lefse Records’ artist Houses.

The four original tracks on The Anatomy EP, are a mash-up of pop, dance, and post-riot-grrl punk. There’s the title track, whose tongue-in-cheek lyrics almost laugh, “And besides maybe I don’t want you for your mind / Can’t decide, ” and synthesizers that playfully nod to the current 80’s obsession. With punchy beats, wailing harmonies, and just the right amount of growling, “Limb from Limb” is sexy, warningly intimidating, and impossible not to air drum to.

The restrained, thoughtful harmonies and dense, overlapping melodies in “Excavation” echo the lyrical imagery of the digging search for identity. And despite running slightly long, “Missing Teeth,” a haunting ballad that proves Vanity Theft has a variety of styles up their sleeve, has a melancholy, sinking-beneath the water sound that holds up the beautiful metaphor in the chorus, “And all the ships that sail out to sea / Leave the dock that runs across the shoreline / A mouth with missing teeth.”

Electro-ambient artist Houses’ remix dissects and robotically reassembles “Anatomy,” removing lyrical meaning and manipulating percussion with Gaga-esque vocal breaks. The “Missing Teeth” remix, is simply a far-away sounding, ghostly ethereal version of the original. Sadly, the remixes are very stylistically different from Vanity Theft’s recordings, and certainly do not best the originals, making their inclusion unsatisfying.

Because The Anatomy EP is true to Vanity Theft’s edgy, powerful live sound, and the lyrics are coy yet undeniably intelligent, it’s almost the perfect party soundtrack. You want to drink and dance to this album, either in a miniskirt and leather boots, or with a girl in a miniskirt and leather boots (or at least I do).

Cut your teeth on the EP and get ready for the full-length album, Get What You Came For, hitting stores on March 1 and iTunes on Feb 1. And check out their national tour with Hunter Valentine beginning February 2, 2011. - Autostraddle


"This Just In: Introducing Vanity Theft"

If you haven’t heard the pouty-lipped pop rock coming from Ohio’s Vanity Theft, you’re missing out. The foursome has put together a solid album, Get What You Came For, that is set for release Feb. 1 There’s something for just about everyone’s mood, but a standout track for me has to be “Anatomy," an anthem that confidently discloses, “And besides, baby, I don’t want you for your mind,” which is something I’ve always wanted someone to say to me. Stop wanting me for my mind, people! - AfterEllen


"Film at 11: Vanity Theft"

On February 1, Vanity Theft is digitally issuing debut album Get What You Came For (the physical release is out March 1 via Vigilante/Adamant), then hitting the road for an extensive North American tour with Hunter Valentine. The Dayton, Ohio, band is following up October’s Anatomy EP, whose title track you can download here. Vanity Theft had Lefse Records artist Houses remix the song, which you can download here, and then made a video for said “Haunted Tape Remix,” which you can watch below. - Magnet Magazine


"Vanity Theft: Reinventing Girl-Rock"

Edgy, dark, powerful, sensual: these are four excellent descriptors of the girl-rock band, Vanity Theft. In October, Vanity Theft released their Anatomy EP and immediately caught the attention of listeners across the United States. These four girls are not your typical sweet-lyric, love-song types. Instead, Vanity Theft is all about past, broken relationships. And the lyrics reflect the sass, attitude and bitterness developed by these young women. On February 1, 2011, the full length album, Get What You Came For, will be available for digital purchase. The physical album will hit stores March 1 through Vigilante Music/Adamant Records. The excitement generated by Anatomy EP will be fully realized with this album. Vanity Theft produces quality rock on every individual song.
Vanity Theft follows in a long-line of all-girl bands bent on the deconstruction of female-band conventions. Get What You Came For takes the typical topic of ‘love’ and turns it on its head. The entire album takes a bitter and empowered look at previous relationships the girls have experienced. This generates an edgy and hard sound that truly rocks. The girls state that the album is highly sarcastic. Such topics include sexual control, exposing flaws of previous lovers and the incurable obsession with bad guys. ‘Anatomy’ is the token song of the album, full of grinding beats, wailing guitars and dark alto vocals. ‘Missing Teeth’ is the only true ballad on the album. It shows a beautiful and ambient side of Vanity Theft that is new and exciting. Each song is an individual masterpiece with an emotive and powerful story.
Vanity Theft consists of four strong women. The three core members came together in Dayton, Ohio. The Ohio core includes guitarist Brittany Hill, singer-keyboardist Alicia Grodecki and drummer Elyse Driskill. The fourth member, bassist Lalaine, joined in preparation for Anatomy EP. Lalaine is best known as the child-star from Disney’s Lizzie McGuire. She played Hillary Duff’s best friend in this television show. Lalaine met the group while they were recording out west. Seeing their need for a bassist after the original bassist quit, Lalaine jumped at the opportunity. She flew out to Ohio to display her seriousness and to test band-cohesion. It was an instantaneous match.
The band has been working hard since the addition of Lalaine. They are very excited about the release of Get What You Came For. Along with this album release, they will set out on a North American tour in February/March 2011 with Hunter Valentine. If Vanity Theft strike your fancy, be on the look-out for them in your area during these winter months. Their shows are sure to be a rowdy good time! - Static Multimedia


"Some sound advice for 2011"

Following in the not-so-dainty footsteps of riot grrrls Sleater-Kinney and rock goddess Joan Jett, Vanity Theft is an all-girl rock quartet that plays harder than most of the boys. Bassist Lalaine -- just Lalaine -- is blunt about her band, saying, "We may have vaginas, but we're not p - - - ies." That's very clear on the group's full-length debut, "Get What You Came For," a solid collection of headbangers. On the lone exception, "Missing Teeth," singer Alicia Grodecki gets all girly on the Auto-Tuned ballad. The record will be released Feb. 1, and these hard-hitting women play the Knitting Factory on Feb. 2. - New York Post


"Vanity Theft: The Anatomy EP"

The Anatomy EP contains four songs and two remixes of synth-heavy, beat-dominated new wave revival. These days, you can’t spit without hitting a band that falls into that category. The wonderful thing is, in these six tracks, Vanity Theft transcend genre trappings and showcase excellent songwriting abilities, while many other bands think style over substance is acceptable, and that stealing the sounds of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark or the Pet Shop Boys make them exempt from thinking about melodies, hooks, or innovation.

So, let’s applaud Alicia, Brittany, Elyse, and Lalaine. “Anatomy” recalls the darker synth-pop of Depeche Mode and New Order in a refreshingly modern, not at all plagiaristic fashion, with spot-on vocals and a chorus that kills. Its “Houses Haunted Tape” remix transforms it into something like a Fever Ray/M.I.A. collaboration. “Limb From Limb” is akin to what the Yeah Yeah Yeahs did on It’s Blitz!, without the stigma of being completely overrated. “Missing Teeth” is just heavenly electro-pop, that, although repetitive, is saved by sublime vocal melodies and production. The “Houses Peeling Wallpaper” remix of said song is actually even better; a perfect 10, adding more reverb, shoegaze, Beach Boys-style vocal backups, and a rhythm heavy on bass and handclaps. “Excavation” ends the EP on a surprising emo/indie note, dominated by synths, and not unlike the early work of The Anniversary.

With two full-lengths behind Vanity Theft, The Anatomy EP is a gloriously satisfying excursion, that should hold fans over until the next album drops in February 2011. I am so totally there. - PopMatters


"CMJ Artist Spotlight: Vanity Theft"

I have a song stuck in my head and it starts with a kick drum. It’s called Limb from Limb, a punchy track from all-female alt-rock quartet and CMJ Music Marathoners, Vanity Theft.

Despite having a band name and song title fitting for a Californian thrash metal band, these girls look and sound like anything but.

Vanity Theft are Alicia (vocals/keyboard), Brittany (guitar), Elyse (drums) and Lalaine (bass), four talented young women hailing from Springboro, Ohio. Right now these girls are wowing crowds across the United States on a lengthy tour with with label-mates Sick of Sarah, no doubt fueling anticipation for their October 26 release, The Anatomy EP.

Go Magazine’s Emily Hall Smith describes Vanity Theft as “electric guitars, lipstick, and attitude. The Anatomy EP showcases the band’s talent with both pop-tinged alt-rock and ethereal ballads. Sexy, coy, and confident songs with smart lyrics and melodies that won’t leave your head. And two great remixes by Lefse Records artist HOUSES.” The Rainbow Report is similarly impressed.

Vanity Theft will play a CMJ Music Marathon showcase at The Studio @ Webster Hall, NY, on Oct. 20. Full US tour details are here. Check out their latest music video, Limb to Limb, below. - Autostraddle


"Locals Only: All the Young Dudettes"

All-women Indie Rock group Vanity Theft breaks out of Lebanon, chewing on momentum

Interview By C.A. MacConnell


To vocalist/guitarist Brittany Hill, the name Vanity Theft suggests the idea of "being humbled. Experiences can kick you down." But this four-piece, all-women Indie group doesn't feel the need to defend womanhood. They focus on the music. Gender's in the backseat. Hey, when you're good, you're good.

From the Lebanon area, they're young, but their sound is remarkably mature. At 20, Hill is the oldest. Ages follow in descending order: Elyse Driskill (drums), 19; Lindsey Keene (bass), 18; and Alicia Grodecki, (vocals, guitar), 17. Keene and Grodecki are seniors at Springboro High School, while Hill and Driskill attend Sinclair Community College.

Hill's phone voice is unmistakably a singer's; she sounds sultry, smoky, older than her age, and her words have an open-ended, breathy feel. Hill began with drums, then guitar, in the eighth grade. Both Hill and Grodecki contribute vocals, switching off as the lead singer.

Also learning guitar in grade school, Grodecki has become the band's "effects person," playing keys, tambourine, harmonica and then some. Openly creative, the band strives to add a new instrument to each song.

Hill met Grodecki three years ago at a Lebanon youth group event.

"For a year, we played in my basement," Hill says.

Sharing the mic, they learned Brand New and Blink 182 covers and wrote some songs. After a year spent underground, by May 2005 they were booking regional gigs. When Staci Farssing, the original bassist, left for college, Keene replaced her. Driskill started playing drums a few years ago, but her sharp, natural skill on their EP is something to note.

Recorded in Tennessee in 2006, Symptoms, a five-song EP, is artistic, engaging and captures a wisdom that reaches beyond a typical debut. Working with First Street Studio's Tyler Orr, Symptoms is professional and smart, with concrete, fully developed lyrics. The two voices contrast each other well, both melodic and rocking with presence. An underlying confidence.

On "Teeth and Bones," Grodecki sings lead as smooth as Juliana Hatfield, presenting clear-cut lyrics about a relationship gone wrong. These words could sound bitter, but don't; Grodecki's style comes across as bluntly up-front and far from self-pity. Stating it how it is, "Teeth and Bones" is the catchy one here; the melody and lyrics are memorable enough for a chart single.

On "Symptoms," Hill's vocal style is darker, older and more artsy. Her sound is similar to old-school Gwen Stefani -- not her current fluffy Pop stuff, but Stefani from the bolder, more artisan, early No Doubt years, when she wore sweatpants and showed muscle, but still pulled off looking gorgeous. No bubble crap. More complex. Sometimes Punk ain't pretty. Sometimes it is.

Hill explains, " 'Symptoms' is about being obsessed with someone. It'll drive you to do crazy things sometimes." True. The tune expresses this off-kilter, slightly nutty feel.

Influenced by the shared vocal style of Alt/Emocore band Taking Back Sunday and Indie duo, Mates of State, Hill also gives a shout out to Garage UK band The Spills and American Indie rockers like The Shins and Rilo Kiley. But Vanity Theft strives to avoid being associated with one style, similar to the unattached attitude of bands like post-Hardcore New Jersey group Thursday.

Hill says, "In our earlier stages, we were more post-Punk/Emo, and now we're moving into more of an Indie Pop sound."

Individuality has gained Vanity Theft regular rotation on Engage Internet Radio, as well as play on various XM satellite radio Indie Rock stations.

Fully committed, Hill says, "We've been gaining momentum with interviews and exposure. Be on the lookout for some Cincinnati gigs. So many guys think girls can't rock as hard. Just because we're girls doesn't mean we'll sound exactly like The Donnas. So many times, we'll show up to play a gig and people will expect we're gonna suck."

She remarks that often they're met with the stereotypical crowd misconception that an all-female band is going to a) suck b) sound wussy or c) sound like loud, Hardcore Punk.

I think there's a "d." And Vanity Theft, among others, intend to invent it and tackle it.

Chew on that.

- Citybeat


"Vanity Theft"

If you don't know where Springboro, Ohio is located, you will soon if the girls of Vanity Theft have anything to say about it! Based in Springboro, their music is going to take them far beyond that with its catchy hooks and appealing overall sound.

Vanity Theft is a 4-Piece all female act made up of Alicia Grodecki; Rhythm Guitar, Keyboard, Vocals, Brittany Hill; Lead Guitar, Vocals, Lindsey Keene; Bass Guitar and Elyse Driskill; Percussion.

These very talented, hard-working women have been tearing up the music scene in their area and beyond and are surely ready for a breakout. Their music is tight, well structured and their multi-vocal capability makes for very enjoyable listening. Although billed as an indie rock / alternative band, you can toss in progressive too as their music is always progressing forward with very good changes and breaks.

The band produces a very popish sound without going into the "sweet" or "commercial" sound. Their music maintains an indie sound that is appealing with great guitar work, strategically placed keyboards, great vocals and a very tight and powerful rhythm section of bass and drums; with a very talented drummer/percussionist playing with interesting beats and timing coupled with a bass player able to stay tight to these changes as well as being able to "play off" them on her own, helps develop a very unique sound. With two of the band members considered "lead vocalists," Vanity Theft is able to have great lead and backing vocals along with a strong diversity in the up-front vocal sound.

Formed in the summer of 2004 and with only 3 years under their belt as a band, Vanity Theft was able to take their assorted influences and use them to develop their own sound and style rather than falling into the sand trap that many bands do by trying to sound like their influences. Vanity Theft surely has their very own sound and a great sound it is! You can tell these women have worked hard to achieve this and it seems to be working quite well for them.

-Bob Donovan

- Indie InTune


"Vanity Theft to Play Canal Street Tavern"

For the past year Springboro's Vanity Theft have attempted to breach the stereotypes that many have about girl rock bands. Mostly they want to prove that the girls can rock just as hard as the boys.

Brittany Hill (guitar, voice), Alicia Grodeci (keys, voice), Elise Driskill (drums), and Lindsey Keene (bass), are earning respect and fans throughout the Midwest playing upbeat, catchy, and melody driven music that borders on indie and hard rock.

The band's most definitive characteristic is their two singers, Hill and Grodeci. Together they are able to manipulate melodies and lyrics in a way reminiscent of Taking Back Sunday or Thursday, but with female range and compassion.

Vanity Theft plans on spending the first part of 2007 performing and breaking into the Dayton rock scene. Catch the band next Saturday, February 10th at Canal Street Tavern with Shrug. Show starts at 9:30pm and is $5 at the door.

At the show pick up the band's first 5-song ep entitled SymptomsSymptoms.

I got to chat with Brittany Hill about Vanity Theft and their up coming show at Canal Street Tavern.

KN - I hear many different styles and influences in your music, is that planned?

BH -Yea, our style is always changing and adapting. We encompass a broad spectrum and we do not like to classify ourselves. We like to write fun stuff that will make you tap your feet, but at the same time is very heartfelt lyrically.

KN - Is it difficult being an all-girl band in a normally male dominated genre?

BH - Sometimes it is hard, but it is fun at the same time. Every show people look at us and think we are going to suck. It is fun to change people's minds and blow them away. Being a girl band makes us stand out.

KN -Why do people think you might suck when they look at you?

BH - The stereotypes about girl rock bands are that they are either the Donnas or Kittie. We are trying to be deeper than that. We want people to focus on our music not on us being girls.

KN - Are you excited about playing on Saturday at Canal Street?

BH - Yea were excited about it. We cannot wait to play with Shrug. They're great. We hope everyone comes out, gives us a chance, and has a good time.

-Kris Neises - Dayton Daily News


"Top Local Debut Albums of 2008"

"Post Script, Pace Yourself" announced number 1 Local Album Debut of 2008:

Dayton is a fertile music territory- a point reconfirmed in 2008 by the release of more than a dozen stellar debut releases from local talent. Here are 10 of the best of these homegrown albums released last year that are certainly worthy of a wider fan-base.
1. Vanity Theft
Post-Script, Pace Yourself (self-released)
This might all-female combo has the goods to inspire a generation of guitar-toting girl groups. “Symptoms,” “Where’s the Action?” and other cuts from the group’s stunning debut full-length are bolstered by a dueling twin-guitar attack and indelible melodies.

**see photos section for accompanying Cover photo


- Dayton Daily News: Don Thrasher


"Non-Required Reading"

Please see link - Dave Eggers Anthology


"Dayton Local Band Q&A"

Vanity Theft
Style of music: Indie rock
Location: Springboro, Ohio
Members and instruments played: Alicia Grodecki (vocals, keys, guitar, effects), Brittany Hill (vocals, guitar), Lindsey Keene (bass guitar) and Elyse Driskill (drums)

Formed: 2005

Random fact: After Dayton shows we crash at Alicia's and fall asleep to a Disney movie

Web site: www.myspace.com/vanitytheft

If you could've written any famous song, what would it be and why?
Alicia: I'd probably have to say "The Archers Bows are Broken" by Brand New because it's amazing or "Idioteque" by Radiohead because it's so creative.

If you could seek musical advice from one music icon, who would it be and what would you ask?
Lindsey: Paul McCartney!! I would like to know how in the world he played such complex bass lines and sang in completely different rhythms. Oh, and how he could remember how to play "She's So Heavy" because his part changes completely every minute or so É for seven minutes.

What is the most unique characteristic of your band?
Brittany: Well the obvious thing to say is that we're all girls, but I really think what makes us stand out is our fun and quirky indie rock sound. Being experimental and breaking the mold is a priority, which might be why you'll see Alicia playing a different instrument almost every song. If nothing else, we just want to see people at our shows tapping their feet and not being able to resist their urge to dance at times.

If you could play any venue with any band ever, where would it be and what other act would be on the bill?
Everyone: We would love to play The LC Pavilion in Columbus because that's where we go most of the time to see our favorite bands and it's a really cool atmosphere. Our fantasy lineup of bands to play with would be Brand New, Deathcab for Cutie, The Stills and Radiohead.

If you were forced to choose, which two famous acts would you say your band's sound most resembles?
Elyse: That's a tough one. We really never get compared to the same bands twice, but I'll go with The Sounds and Nightmare of You. - Active Dayton


"Dayton's Damsels: Vanity Theft"

Coming from Dayton, Ohio, a city that most people wouldn't recognize on a map unless they were familiar southwestern Ohio; many either forget or don't know that this city does have quite an important musical history. Oh, and the Wright Brothers built the first airplane here. Among the numerous bands this city has produced are The Ohio Players, Guided By Voices, Swearing At Motorists, Brainiac, The Breeders, and while he didn't actually bring much to the local music scene, Lou Barlow was born here too. In addition to these bands, that are household names in some circles, there are a plethora of equally talented, if not quite as well known, bands that call this city home.

One of those bands, is Vanity Theft. The ladies of this band are original, talented, and out on a great live show. They manage this despite the fact most of the band aren't old enough to drink in the bars they play shows in. This is normally not a great sign for a band. Young bands, have a tendency to wear their influences on their sleeves. Often times to the point of inducing thoughts of parody or even of them being a tribute band of some kind. This rarelt speaks to the overall talents, but rather the fact that the songwriters in the band are still trying to find their voice, and the musicians in the band are still learning how to make that voice speak.

In the case of Vanity Theft, the band's song and voice is fully realized. The strange thing, is that the bands influences: Radiohead, Okkervil River, and Of Montreal aren't overly noticable in their sound. They sound more like Sleater Kinney ... but only if they were jamming with Devo or an early incarnation of The Metric.

Their album, "Post Script: Pace Yourself", features songs that are mature without being cynical, well written without sounding overly processed, and intelligent while still being fun to listen to. The best songs on the album, are "In Retrospect", "Teeth and Bone", and the album's closing track "Edit, Edit, Edit". To only pick two or three songs off of this album, isn't fair though, it is a solid album from front to back. And one that can be listened to literally constantly for a week or so.

For a band this young, to have this strong of a sense of melody but also understanding how to write rock songs that don't shy away from experimentation is a rarity. Hell, there are bands that been together for over a decade that are yet to put out an album that is this solid from front to back. You can check them out on their MySpace, and if you like what you hear, hop over to their CDBaby site and pick a copy up. Music this fun and honest doesn't come around very often, regardless of the band's status.

The band put together a video for their track "Edit, Edit, Edit" that not only shows off the bands musical prowess, but also that they are good natured people who don't take themselves too seriously. To be perfectly honest, this band is reminiscent of the alternative music scene when it was just starting to blossom into the forefront of the musical mainstream. These ladies are an amazing band and if all is fair, they will be extremely succesful. But, they don't give a damn about what any musical commentator has to say about them. And that, is the beauty of it all. - Examiner: Los Angeles


"Thursday Pick: Vanity Theft"

In its bio, this Dayton-area foursome says the members are “just trying to break the stereotypes of lame girl bands and play something that doesn’t sound like everything else out there.” Mission accomplished.

Vanity Theft makes Indie Pop music that's fun, danceable and brazen. Alicia Grodecki and Brittany Hill are the band’s co-lead singers, usually singing together and concocting some mesmerizing, creative harmonies. They have that kind of harmony-mind-meld that usually only comes from siblings.

The group’s first full-length album, PostScript: Pace Yourself, was voted the No. 1 debut album released by a Dayton band in 2008 by The Dayton Daily News. Listening to it, it appears the newspaper have missed the mark — it’s one of the best debut albums by almost any new band in the past five years.

Here's a profile from DDN's weekly entertainment publication, ActiveDayton. - CityBeat


"Chic-Spotlight: All-Female Band Vanity Theft"

Cincy Chic: How did Vanity Theft first get together, and what's the significance of your name?

Alicia Grodecki, singer, guitarist, and keyboardist for Vanity Theft: Well, we first got together with our original lineup back in high school. I was playing at a festival with my old band when I met Brittany [Hill, singer and guitarist for Vanity Theft]. She basically found me after the show and told me she wanted to get a band together and wondered if I'd be interested. We ended up getting together and ended up hitting it off immediately. Then when the time came that we needed a bassist, my friend Lindsey [Keene, bass guitarist] was the perfect fit and voila! So formed Vanity Theft.

Hill: And as far as the name goes, it was really a combination of ideas. But I guess if you had to assign meaning to it, it really just speaks of being humble and not taking yourself too seriously.

Cincy Chic: You say that your band is trying to break the stereotype of girl bands, so how are you working to stand out from the crowd as an all-female group?

Hill: This isn't a conscious effort per se. We just play what we like and try to push the limits as far as complexity and instrumental experimentation goes. Too many people think that if you're an all-girl band you're going to either be punk or screamy metal. Sometimes we even forget about the fact that we're an all-girl band because, to us, it's not a gimmick.

Grodecki: Yeah, a lot of times people get the wrong ideas about us because we're an all-girl band, but like Brittany said, we don’t even think of it that way. It just so happens that we all work well together as friends and musicians, so the fact that we all happen to be girls is simply a technicality.

Cincy Chic: They say that "if you play together, you stay together." How do you interpret this for your experience as a group of women playing music together?

Hill: Well, we've definitely had our ups and downs as a band, but when you share that kind of connection and passion, it does make it easy to get through the hard times. We're all best friends, which also helps, so those energies feed off of each other. I don't think we could completely break up even if we wanted to.

Cincy Chic: After playing with each other, what insights do you have into the importance of girlfriends?

Grodecki: In all the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, I think the importance of girlfriends, and all friends in general, is way too easy for people to take for granted or overlook. But after playing in a band with these girls and having been through so much together, I realize that people need to just take a step back and appreciate these friendships that we are all so fortunate to have. I personally couldn’t imagine my life without the three of them in it. No matter what is going on in our lives, I think that the four of us really are what keep each other going.

Cincy Chic: What advice do you have for women about maintaining their friendships with girlfriends?

Hill: Just take a step back and remember what's important. And never be too stubborn to put yourself in someone else's shoes. And always keep it honest.Yeah, honesty’s a big one. Sometimes the things that you think might push you apart actually end up bringing you closer together.

Cincy Chic: When and where can Cincy Chic readers expect to see Vanity Theft?

Grodecki: We're playing at the Midpoint Music Festival this year, which we are really excited about. We're scheduled to play at the Know Theater around 9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24 with some other great bands.

Cincy Chic: When you put down your instruments, how do you relax and have fun?

Grodecki: Oh, man — We somehow always find ways to entertain ourselves and have a great time, no matter how ridiculous they may be! I think we’ve done everything from going sledding on an air mattress in the middle of a snowstorm to having impromptu dance parties in the living room.

Hill: Yeah, and we're addicted to watching old episodes of "The Twilight Zone" and "My So Called Life." We also are always going to shows and, of course, getting down to our 1990s copy of Darren's Dance Grooves.

Cincy Chic: What's your favorite thing about Cincinnati?

Hill: Uh, the Bengals?

Grodecki: Um, no! Cleveland Browns all the way! But seriously, we love the music scene there. There are always new faces at shows and people seem to take a genuine interest in what we're doing, which is always refreshing. There's also a lot of talent down there that we get the chance to be around. We've met some wonderful Cincinnatians thus far, and are hoping for that list to continue growing. - Cincy Chic


"Dayton's Vanity Theft is Memorable"

The Dayton based band Vanity Theft is the only all-female act out of 277 bands selected for Cincinnati’s 2009 MidPoint Music Festival.

But five minutes before the band’s show Thursday night at the Know Theater, 1120 Jackson St. in Over-The-Rhine, the two bartenders sitting in the back of a dark room big enough for 150 people were the closest thing to an audience.

“This show is gonna be lame,” said Lindsey Keene, the band’s bassist. “Hopefully we look hot, though.”

MidPoint is a music festival in downtown Cincinnati and Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati, which continues through Saturday. The festival's aim is to help emerging artists gain exposure.

Audio Slideshow: Behind the Scenes

Blue and red stage lights lit shiny, tuned guitars, and The Police’s “I’ll Be Watching You” played through the venue’s speakers. One minute before the show, three people wandered in.

More people trickled in in ones and twos as guitar/vocalist Brittany Bill introduced the band.

Lead singer Alicia Grodecki usually gets nervous to the point of nausea before a show. On Thursday night, she appeared calm.

“At first I thought it was going to be a waste of a 50-minute drive,” she said after the show.

At first, the band's performance had a stilted look and feel. The first song, “Symptoms,” was all pop and light-hearted melody, but their stiff stage presence contradicted the sound. About half way through the song the skinny-jean clad musicians loosened up, and the crowd expanded to include about 30 people.

Bill encouraged the audience to come closer to the stage and then commanded: “Go get your friends from downstairs and tell ‘em to get up here!”

The applause intensified after each song, and by the end of the set, about 70 people danced to the music. One man danced by the front of the stage and sang word-for-word with each song. The dancer, Dayton resident Scott Sanders, said later he has given Vanity Theft’s album, Post Script: Pace Yourself, to many of his friends.

“That’s what you dream of when you play music,” said Grodecki, “for someone to know the words to your songs. It was like ‘Field of Dreams’.”

The MidPoint performance was the last show Vanity Theft plans to play for some time. The group is recording a new album, which they said they hope to release in early 2010. But as the wide-eyed, excited musicians left the stage to mingle half-exhausted with their fans, they reveled in the experience.

“Yeah,” said Grodecki. “It was freaking awesome!” - Cincinnati.com


"Stealing the Show: Vanity Theft at the Vans Warped Tour"

The Van's Warped Tour has always been a grab bag for anyone who goes. Normally, you have two or three bands you want to see and the rest you're able to tolerate ... but ultimately could care less about. Then there are the years where you happen upon a band you'd never heard before and instantly become a fan. The best place to discover new music, at Warped Tour anyways, is the Kevin Says Stage.

This year, Dayton band Vanity Theft performed on the Kevin Says Stage just as the doors for the show opened. Being the first band to go is always a challenge, being the first band people are going to hear upon coming through the door can crank the nerves of young bands to a tipping point. However, Vanity Theft handled both of these situations with a style typically associated with a band that has been making music for more than a decade. Not letting the pressure get to them, the ladies of Vanity Theft were able to put together a great set of music. They also must have a sound that people from various musical backgrounds can get into, because there were people with t-shirts glorifying the latest trends in emo and pop-punk, people with mohawks and old school punk t-shirts, and parents accompanying their young children all stopping to catch a glimpse of this band they were hearing.

Gathering a diverse crowd at this show is always a challenge, as most people already know who they want to see. However, being an Indie Dance Pop band made entirely of girls on a tour that is generally dominated by males playing some variation of loud distorted music makes them just enough of an annomally that people will pay attention to them. The band used this to their advantage, playing to the crowd and engaging in a bit more stage banter than I'd heard from them previously. Which is what seperates them from so many of their peers, both in Dayton and at Warped Tour, these girls appear fearless to all but their closest fans. They exhibit a level of show-womanship that most bands don't pull off when they are playing to a crowd that is several times bigger than anyone they've ever seen before.

The band played almost half of their latest album Postscript: Pace Yourself, an album which they've mastered to the point of making old songs sound new again by adding flair to them they couldn't before. This is the kind of comfort, that can leave some bands treading water at live shows ... being able to overcome that though is a testament to band chemistry and musical ability. Those two things are what is going to seperate Vanity Theft from a lot the bands they share a stage with. - Examiner: Los Angeles


"Vanity Theft to play Canal Street Tavern"

For the past year Springboro’s Vanity Theft have attempted to breach the stereotypes that many have about girl rock bands. Mostly they want to prove that the girls can rock just as hard as the boys.

Brittany Hill (guitar, voice), Alicia Grodeci (keys, voice), Elise Driskill (drums), and Lindsey Keene (bass), are earning respect and fans throughout the Midwest playing upbeat, catchy, and melody driven music that borders on indie and hard rock.

The band’s most definitive characteristic is their two singers, Hill and Grodeci. Together they are able to manipulate melodies and lyrics in a way reminiscent of Taking Back Sunday or Thursday, but with female range and compassion.

Vanity Theft plans on spending the first part of 2007 performing and breaking into the Dayton rock scene. Catch the band next Saturday, February 10th at Canal Street Tavern with Shrug. Show starts at 9:30pm and is $5 at the door.

At the show pick up the band’s first 5-song ep entitled SymptomsSymptoms.

I got to chat with Brittany Hill about Vanity Theft and their up coming show at Canal Street Tavern.

KN - I hear many different styles and influences in your music, is that planned?

BH -Yea, our style is always changing and adapting. We encompass a broad spectrum and we do not like to classify ourselves. We like to write fun stuff that will make you tap your feet, but at the same time is very heartfelt lyrically.

KN - Is it difficult being an all-girl band in a normally male dominated genre?

BH - Sometimes it is hard, but it is fun at the same time. Every show people look at us and think we are going to suck. It is fun to change people’s minds and blow them away. Being a girl band makes us stand out.

KN -Why do people think you might suck when they look at you?

BH - The stereotypes about girl rock bands are that they are either the Donnas or Kittie. We are trying to be deeper than that. We want people to focus on our music not on us being girls.

KN - Are you excited about playing on Saturday at Canal Street?

BH - Yea were excited about it. We cannot wait to play with Shrug. They’re great. We hope everyone comes out, gives us a chance, and has a good time. - Dayton Daily News


"Meet the Band: Vanity Theft"

If there is one thing that Cincinnati’s local music scene sometimes lacks, it’s female-fronted bands. Even more so lacking is what Vanity Theft offers – an all-female alt-rock band.

Formed in 2005, the band got together after a high school community event where Brittany Hill (guitar/vox) met Alicia Grodecki (keyboard/effects/vox). The two hit it off immediately and invited friends Elyse Driskill (drums) and Staci Farfsing (bass) to begin playing with them. They originally played cover songs, but when Farfsing left the band, Lindsey Keene filled the new spot and the girls began focusing on original material. A few months later, in 2006, they played their first show, and the rest is history.

We spoke with Hill to see why being an all-girl band isn’t such a big deal, and why giraffes are awesome.

Why ‘Vanity Theft’?
Vanity Theft became our name shortly after Lindsey came along. We called ourselves Vanity Pledge before that. Vanity Theft ended up being a combination of two different ideas. To us, it's just speaking of going through things that humble you. Getting knocked down, but getting back up. Doesn't hurt that it sounds cool. [laughter]

Do you tour outside of the Cincinnati area? If so, where has been your favorite place to visit?
We mainly hit Dayton, Columbus and Cincinnati for regular shows. We have toured farther though. We'd have to say we like playing in Tennessee most, so far. We've had really good times in Nashville and Chattanooga.

Probably the most memorable times we have on the road are replacing the words to our favorite songs with inappropriate words/profanities.

What would you say is a common theme in your music?
If we had to go with a single theme for our music in general, I think it would be to have fun and not take ourselves too seriously. Focus on what's important, and I guess some songs touch on the irony of getting our priorities completely wrong. That definitely doesn't mean our lyrics express a carefree or party party kind of mood, because our songs are definitely emotional at times, but if it's not something we want to tap our feet or dance around to, we probably wouldn't write it.

You probably hear all kinds of typical questions about being an all-girl band, but what are the positives and/or negatives of that fact?
We're actually pretty oblivious to that stigma until we hear the words, "Wow, I am really impressed with you girls. I thought you would suck, but you were awesome." We get that all the time. And sometimes I stop and think, "Oh yeah, we are an all girl band. I forgot." I mean to say, we just think of ourselves as any other regular band. The bad thing about being all girls is that most people assume we won't be any good – either grungy, screamy punk rock, or another version of The Donnas, which isn't us at all. The good thing is that we get to turn skeptics into fans, surprise people, and people remember us because of that.

What's your favorite girl band, and why?
We don't so much have a favorite band that is all girls, but we have favorite bands that have some, or are fronted by girls. We love Rilo Kiley, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Distillers. Also, Veruca Salt and Sleater Kinney. They are big influences.

If each of you were an animal, what would you be, and why?
Lindsey: An owl. They are intense.

Alicia: A white tiger, yo.

Elyse: A hippo. They just get to sit around and eat all day.

Brittany: A giraffe. Pretty much for the neck. - Metromix Cincinnati


"Buddha Den Review"

The Buddha Den Showcase Presents: Vanity Theft @ South Park Tavern 1.31.09
...after a torturous week that relegated most of the Dayton area to an unbearable level of cabin fever, it was apparent early on that people were excited to head down to South Park Tavern and enjoy some music. Luckily, we were all in for a treat as Vanity Theft served up an evening of near-perfect indie pop. Proving that their impeccable debut, Post-Script Pace Yourself, is no fluke, these young ladies a formidable live unit. With the understated, yet solid rhythm section of Lindsey Keene on bass and Elyse Driskill on drums, the guitar attack of Brittany Hill deftly moved between driving power chords and slashing rhythmic shifts. Rotating between vocals, guitar, keys, and glockenspiel, Alicia Grodecki fronts the band with a conviction and self-confidence that belies her youth. Their cover of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's "Gold Lion" proved the band's mettle and more. Pulling the crowd in with chants and claps, Vanity Theft proved they are one of the finest young talents going in Dayton... - Buddha Den


"All-girl rock band set to debut 1st CD"

DAYTON DAILY NEWS

All-girl rock band set to debut 1st CD

By Pamela Dillon

Contributing Writer

If you Google "Vanity Theft," you'll find 2 million suppliers of security cabinets, or something else definitely more interesting.

That phrase is also the name of an all-girl indie rock band, homegrown right here in Warren County. Alicia Grodecki and Lindsey Keene, both seniors at Springboro High School, and Lebanon High School grads Brittany Hill and Elyse Driskill, snagged the attention of music producer Tyler Orr.

In July, they recorded five songs in Cleveland, Tenn., on their first official CD, Symptoms.

"We thought it would be fun to be together for a week, do our own thing and record," said Keene, the bassist.

You can listen to three of those five tracks on the group's Web site, www.myspace.com/vanitytheft. That's where Orr found about them, and he was impressed with what he heard.

Vanity Theft's music is edgy, with varying tempos, in-your-face lyrics and catchy instrumentals. And, although the group isn't hurting for gigs or recognition, "We're really excited to have a CD out and see where it takes us," said Grodecki, who does vocals, guitar and keyboard.

They've come a long way since the girls met at the Box City Festival in Lebanon two years ago. Hill and Driskill heard Grodecki perform on stage and asked her to join a band they were forming. Keene replaced bassist Staci Farssing last year when she left to attend college in Chicago.

The band started playing gigs in May 2005 at regional teen clubs such as Gathering Grounds in Kettering, the Poison Room in Cincinnati and the Clubhouse in Grove City.

"I would say another turning point came for us last month when we advanced to the second round in a Battle of the Bands at the Mad Hatter in Covington," said Grodecki, who said she hasn't received word on the schedule for the next round.

Hill and Driskill are both sophomores at Ohio State University. Hill does vocals and guitar; Driskill is the band's drummer.

Vanity Theft has eight performances scheduled through the middle of October. The first one is at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Gathering Grounds, 4638 Wilmington Pike, Kettering. Vanity Theft hopes to finish the cover of its CD so tomorrow's performance can double as the band's CD release party. Other bands scheduled for that evening are Simply Waiting, the Secondary and Alter Boy.

"We'll keep the cover simple, with something like grass and sky and a plane writing Vanity Theft in the air," Grodecki said. The band is scheduled to perform at the Tamarack Pool Party at 8 p.m. Saturday at Clearcreek-Franklin Road and Tamarack Trail in Springboro and again at 8 p.m. Sept. 16 at the IGNITE Festival at The Garage, 550 S. Main St., Springboro.

"There are still big stereotypes for girl bands and we're trying to break that," Grodecki said.

"We're putting a good name out there for girl bands and showing people we're not all the same."

Contact this columnist at (937) 748-3487 or PamDillon@woh.rr.com.

go here to read it online: http://www.daytondailynews.com/search/content/localnews/neighbors/warren/082406pamela.html
- Dayton Daily News


Discography

Vanity Theft: Rattle Rattle Digital EP
Vanity Theft: Get What You Came For
Vanity Theft: The Anatomy EP
Vanity Theft: PostScript: Pace Yourself
Vanity Theft: Symptoms

Photos

Bio

The ladies of the Dayton, Ohio, indie-pop band Vanity Theft are young and pretty. Their songs are mostly about past romances. And when they talk, guitarist Brittany Hill, singer-keyboardist Alicia Grodecki, drummer Elyse Driskill, and bassist Lalaine Paras tend to giggle a lot. However, Lalaine, 23, would like to clarify one thing: “We may have vaginas, but we’re not pussies.”

With a moniker that sounds like the name of a Joan Jett B-side, the foursome—who’ll drop their full-length, Get What You Came For, in February via Vigilante Music/Adamant Records—fit right into the storied legacy of all-girl bands bent on debunking benign all-girl conventions. For instance, “we’ve gone through a lot of breakups,” says Elyse. “So for me, a lot of the lyrics are really sarcastic.” The melancholic “Missing Teeth” messes with Auto-Tune to detail an ex’s shortcomings; the highly danceable “Trainwreck” is about finding sexual empowerment in a dysfunctional relationship; and “Bit by Bit” uses stabbing riffs and retro synths to soundtrack being obsessed with the wrong person.

Not surprisingly, the group takes pride in churning out an ear-drum-beating live show. This is not lost on their loyal, grassroots following. In 2009, the group ended up playing the testosterone-centric Warped Tour when it swung by Cincinnati, after their fans rallied to get them the local-band slot. Meanwhile, Vanity Theft has also won over media in the heartland through sheer tenacity.

For five years, the women have booked their own tours, during which time they’ve picked up some critical life lessons while paying their dues. First, don’t try to carry your food in a cooler: “It ended up growing algae. So we got rid of that,” says Elyse, 23. “A lot of times people you’re staying with will cook for you instead.” Speaking of, try to crash with friends whenever possible. Says 21-year-old Alicia: “In Chicago, I literally gagged when I entered the hotel room because it smelled like stale cigarettes and curdled milk. I think it was just a rust stain in the shower, but everyone insisted that was blood….” Lastly, beware older dudes offering you weird favors. “This one guy wanted to put our music in pornos,” says Alicia. “That’s just creepy.”

Though their front is unfailingly united, it took a while for Vanity Theft to get its footing. Forming in 2005, the band—then with a rotating bassist slot—formed in high school, practicing cover tunes in Brittany’s parents’ living room. “My mom was always trying to feed us sweet stuff,” she says. “It was pretty cute.” They graduated to writing original songs (the first being “Professional Hands,” off their first EP, Symptoms) that mixed their two loves—guitars and synths—and assembled enough material to ultimately self-release a 10-song debut, Postscript, in 2008. They landed their first show on the fly, filling in for an absent band at a charity event to help the homeless. Notes Brittany, “It was kinda like we went from thinking we weren’t going to play a live show for months, to playing one the next weekend.”

Lalaine first met Vanity Theft in the studio while the group was out West recording their October 2010 EP, Anatomy, and early material for Get What You Came For with her acquaintance-friend, producer Josh Binder. A former child star who played Lizzie McGuire’s best friend in the eponymous Disney show starring Hilary Duff (How could I not be proud of Lizzie?” she says. “It was a training ground for me to learn everything”), Lalaine was keeping busy by doing vocal work around L.A. When Vanity Theft’s bassist quit, her name came up as a possible replacement. The band asked her if she could play, and though she’d never actually picked up a bass before, she proved a quick study.

Flown out to Ohio as a chemistry test, Lalaine and her future bandmates went to clubs, messed with a Flip cam, jammed, and basically hung out. Within a month, she moved from L.A. to Columbus to prove her commitment to the act. “I was willing to