Wise Girl

If you've not heard of Wise Girl yet, here's the lowdown. The band were formed in 2010 around the vocals of New York songwriter Abby Weitz (if you know your alternative bands from that area, she used to be in The Lookaways who played the legendary CBGBs amongst other achievements). Since forming Wise Girl, success has continued and has included the CMJ Music Marathon two years running and national TV appearances. Despite this you'd have to say they're still a cult band rather than anything bigger. For the time being at least. Currently putting the finishing touches to a new album, they have this self-titled EP available now.

Led by the single 'Set In Stone', 'Wise Girl' takes the spirit of punk and gives it a modern twist. This isn't spit and snot thrashing, these are refined yet ragged songs that are written to a higher standard than three chords and a hook. I guess a better description may be powerpop, it has more depth than you may expect. Buzz-saw guitars are the fuel for 'Wishful Thinking', a song that doesn't forego melody and really is every bit as good as the supposed stand-out. Plus it reminds us just a little bit of Belly and that's never a bad thing. Finally, 'Roles Are Reversed' juxtaposes all these sounds with a big dollop of country. In a nutshell, Wise Girl are worth getting acquainted with. - The Sound Of Confusion

Driving power pop/rock band Wise Girl will soon release their self-titled three-song EP on iTunes. The New York fivesome is equipped with straight forward talent and no need for gimmicks. The Wise Girl EP showcases the perfect combination of poppy melodies, rockin’ guitars and quirky songwriting technique all wrapped together in a no-nonsense attitude.

After two years in the making Wise Girl is the brainchild of songwriter Abby Weitz (vocals, guitar). Wise Girl includes Chris Fasulo (producer, lead guitars), Abby Lee (backup vocals, tambourine), Harry Keithline (drums) and Sean Kane (bass). Growing up, front woman Abby Weitz was such a music fanatic that she had to listen to The Beatles in order to fall asleep at night. At age 11 she started taking drum lessons which then led to her interest in learning to play the guitar at age 13. Born to lead, Weitz started a Strokes cover band in high school followed by an original band under the name of Drella, playing basement/garage shows in her hometown of Long Beach. After dropping out of college six weeks in because “it wasn’t her thing”, she started a punk band with her best friend Liz called The Lookaways. Determined to take over New York City, The Lookaways played notorious clubs around Manhattan such as Sin-E, Lit Lounge, Don Hill’s, including the legendary CBGB’s and on a mini East Coast tour, played a few shows on the Van’s Warped Tour. After The Lookaways split, Weitz decided to start a music publishing company called Wise Girl, stemmed from her strong belief in “Girl Power” and she ended up using the name for her current project.




Elements of Wise Girl’s music can be attributed to their influences drawn from some of Weitz’s favorites such as The Ramones, The Beatles, The Muffs, Letters to Cleo, Weezer and 60's girl groups. The band’s feisty single, “Set In Stone” is a perfect example of how the band creates a rhythmic blend of catchy melodies, gritty guitars and witty yet matter-of-fact lyrics. Produced by Chris Fasulo, the Wise Girl EP’s content centers on love gone wrong and the battles that we face when caught in the middle of it.

The internationally known designer Kate Spade featured Wise Girl on their website and blog as a runner up in a Battle of the Bands contest to open for The Vivian Girls at their SXSW showcase. They were also chosen as one of the 15 bands to represent Manhattan in New York’s Annual “Battle of the Boroughs,” sponsored by New York Public Radio in June of 2012. Picking up a consistent following along the way, Wise Girl has performed at notable NY music venues such as Mercury Lounge, The Bowery Electric, Piano’s and The Knitting Factory. The band has recently opened up for major pop punk band The Dollyrots and Rock ‘n’ Roll sensations, Prima Donna and performed as a part of the 2010 and 2011 CMJ Music Marathon. To add to the list, Wise Girl did a performance/interview on the national television show Beta TV and earned a mention in an American Songwriter’s article (“How Does an Independent Artists Stay Relevant While Creating New Music” – Sept. 2012). In September of 2012 Weitz scored an endorsement deal with guitar company, Daisy Rock Guitars.
- See more at: http://www.hellhoundmusic.com/power-poprock-band-wise-girl-debuts-self-titled-ep/#sthash.8N3gQTSH.dpuf - Hellhound Music

Hey guys! Here I introduce you to Wise Girl, a pop-rock, with a hint of punk, band from New York fronted by Abby Weitz. They've just released their self-titled EP and I am loving it. Set In Stone is a cool pop/rock track, very upbeat and fun, same for their track Roles Are Reversed. 2 very radio friendly tracks. But is Wishful Thinking that I love! It has an edgier approach, more rock than pop and reminds me of Hole, all thanks to the guitars and bass! It's a very very cool band and I'm sure you'll love it! - Caesar LiveNLoud

By sunnymenagerie
December 12, 2012
Interviews
1 Comment
Abby Weitz of Wise Girl: Warped Traditions and Personal Feelings

wise-girl-interview-golden-mixtapeThere are two types of girls when it comes to guitars…One is a girl who picks up an instrument and only uses it as a prop in her bathroom Facebook photo shoot. She can play one Dashboard Confessional song she learned in 8th grade, but alas it’s merely there collecting dust. The other is the one who saw that instrument as her best friend. She didn’t want it to impress anyone; she wanted to play because it was her calling in life.

Abby Weitz of Wise Girl definitely falls into that second category. She heads the New York pop rock band and isn’t afraid to dish about her punk past or how she’d never even entertain the idea of following in the steps of other Warped vets like Cassadee Pope and Juliet Simms and head to The Voice. She says she’s not enough of a ham and she’s actually uncomfortable when the spotlight shines her way.

She might be iffy about all the attention being on her, but she’s pretty confident when it comes to which festival she prefers, starting holiday traditions and more. So continue reading to find out about all that jazz.

Kendra: What made you go from the punk outlet of The Lookaways and head more towards a pop rock sound with Wise Girl?

Abby: Weitz: The Lookaways had basically run its course. We were trying to find a bass player after we got back from The Warped Tour and it was tough so we tried playing as a 3 piece and I was really unhappy about the sound, I felt like it sounded like something was missing. Then our drummer left and we were left with Sean (our current bassist) and I I tried to put together a few different lineups but it just wasn’t working out so I took about 2 years off from playing out all together to write. Over those 2 years my songwriting started evolving and I was much more concerned with the production and arrangement factors and I guess my influences had changed over the years as well. I started The Lookaways when I was 18 and Wise Girl was invented about 6 years later and I think those are the years where you really evolve as a human being, growing into an adult so I was in a completely different place. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to work with Chris who produced our EP and currently plays guitar in Wise Girl. I had never worked with a producer before and have always been really stubborn about my writing and what I think I want the songs to sound like but he really opened up my eyes and does not hesitate to tell me to “shut up and listen” to some of his ideas, which is something I really cherish about our relationship haha. Chris has a huge influence on the sound of the recordings and I am really happy with the outcome and the direction we decided to take the music in.

Kendra: Having played both Warped Tour and CMJ, what one do you think was a better stage for your music and what you’re about?

Abby: DEFINITELY The Warped Tour. CMJ is kind of a mess, there are bands playing at venues all around the city and some of the venues being pretty far from each other. Warped Tour is like a big open space and anyone just walking by can happen to hear you and become a fan. I’d love to get Wise Girl involved with the Warped Tour for 2013, we will see!

Kendra: Since we’re approaching the holidays, if you had to sell your upcoming album as the latest, hottest gift of the season, what would your pitch say?

Abby: “Do you like to jump around to chick songs? Me Too! Get down with me”…No I’m just kidding I would probably say “Epic female pop melodies over Rock and Roll music, the catchiest songs you’ve ever heard on one disc!”

Kendra: Did you draw from more personal experiences for the upcoming album, or did you take more from your musical influences?

Abby: Just about every song I write is a related to a personal experience whether it be a relationship, friendship (relationship), personal feelings, not so personal feelings, etc. I will say the songs are an interesting mixture considering the different and more recent musical influences.

Kendra: You might have “wise” in the band name, but what’s one of the stupidest decisions the band’s ever made, or you can put it on one member…

Abby: Wow, I could totally blow up a lot of people’s spots right now hahaha. I would say when I first started the band I was a little too careful with some of the decisions I made for the band and we definitely missed out on a couple of opportunities but you live and you learn.

Kendra: Does the band have any holiday traditions you guys do together?

Abby: We do not, at least not yet! I think I’m gonna bring that up at rehearsal on Monday. You may have just started the first Wise Girl “Jew meets Christ” holiday; we are a mixed bunch.

Kendra: On a broader scale, there’s not a lot of money coming in from music sales…but to be honest, fans aren’t making millions either. Where’s the happy me - Golden Mixtape

Stepping into a boys world is never easy for a woman. Abby Weitz, front woman of Manhattan’s own pop-rock group Wise Girl, is all too familiar with this. With the music industry still considered much of a “boys club”, Abby shares her tips for making it as a front woman in a band. With tips including fight for what you believe in, choosing band-mates wisely and the right way to deal with creeps this is a great read for up and coming female artists.

1. Stand your ground, fight for what you believe in:

People will always try to tell you how to live your life and how to go about pursuing your career and sometimes it can be distracting. These people are not you and only you know what you want out of your life and career. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself and be confident in the decisions that you make.

2. Choose your band wisely:

A band that “plays” together stays together. It’s really important to have a mutual respect between everyone in the band. Respect is really important to me. If there is no respect, there is no point, period. (No I am not on mine right now, just sayin’!)

3. Be “One of the boys”:

Unlike Katy Perry’s song where she preaches about how she doesn’t want to be one of the boys, I say go for the gold and be one of the boys. Don’t be afraid to get down and dirty! Sweat it out on stage; give it your all, smear that red lipstick across your mouth, this is rock n’ roll! See a cute guy in the crowd? Shoot him a wink or walk up to him after the show and slip him your number. Guys do it all the time, why can’t we?

4. You live and you learn:

Had too much to drink last night and woke up in a stranger’s bed? Yeah, we’ve all been there and it’s pretty awkward especially when you realize you forgot to take off your beer goggles before you left the bar. No one is perfect but you should learn your lessons from failed relationships, friendships, that stalker guy who won’t stop calling or texting you when you haven’t answered in weeks. While all of these experiences are usually inconvenient and distracting, they ultimately lead to great writing material and you usually learn something in the end, if you’re not an idiot….

5. Fake it till you make it:

Being the woman fronting the band, you will encounter many creeps. Unfortunately, most of these creeps may be “fans” in one way or another so you really need to find a coping mechanism to dealing with creeps. No one wants a creep, no one wants to be a creep and creeps don’t even realize that they’re being creeps most of the time, or they just don’t care. When being approached by a creep, fake a smile, try to be polite, do not make too much direct eye contact and move away QUICK! As much as you really want to say “Out of my face, creep!” you never know who this creep really is, who he knows and he might just know where you live… Once you have a bodyguard and hired security for your home like Taylor Swift, you can say whatever you want to whoever you want.

6. Love yourself and your boobs!

The saying “you cannot love anyone else until you love yourself” is ridiculously true! We all have our good days and bad days, our fat days and “ugly” days. These are the days when you should use “The Girls” to your advantage, that’s right ladies HIKE ‘EM UP! Boobs are a wonderful thing; they can make you feel like a million bucks! If you were not blessed with these beauties (hey, it’s all good), go out and find the hottest padded bra you can find.

But seriously, love yourself for who you are no matter what shape or size, don’t listen to what the media says is standard. For some people it’s just not realistic, be yourself. - The Sound Alarm

Name: Wise Girl (Abby Weitz - Singer/Songwriter/Guitar, Chris Fasulo - Lead Guitar/Producer, Harry Keithline - Drums, Sean Kane - Bass, Abby Lee - Back-Up Vocals/Tambourine)

Sounds Like: Weezer, Letters to Cleo

History: After I [Abby Weitz] abandoned my old punk band The Lookaways, I took a few years off from performing and stayed in my clam shell of an apartment writing lots of new material. I Decided to start a new project Wise Girl and recorded the first self-titled EP with Chris Fasulo who produced it and once it was finished to begged him to join the band. There was absolutely no way I was going to find anyone who could play all the guitar parts he came up with and I certainly wasn't about to try. Somehow the begging worked and he is now my partner in crime. I stole Harry, our drummer from a band who played in a venue that I work at part-time. Abby Lee and I bonded while working long grueling hours as hostesses at restaurant together and when she told me she could sing I asked her to sing back-ups. Sean Kane played guitar in my old punk band, The Lookaways. Were currently finishing up our first full length which will be titled, You'll Just Have to Wait and were super excited about it! Just about all of the songs are super catchy and "sing along"-ish.

Something Special: I love cats and everyone I know calls me a crazy cat lady because I live alone in a studio apartment in Manhattan with my two cats, Joani and Chachi. I am 6 feet tall. Chris sells real estate aside from producing and I have one of his little real estate calendars with a creepy picture of him in a suit on my fridge. He also has the biggest head I've ever seen on such a little person in my whole life.

Where to Find: www.wisegirlmusic.com and facebook.com/wisrgirl

Future Plans: We will be releasing our first full-length You'll Just Have to Wait later this year, it's gonna rock. Hope to be touring soon to support the album :)

UC Takeaway: "Honesty is the best policy, honestly." It may not be the most creative or original thing to say, but that advice from Wise Girl's Abby Weitz is more critical than you'd think. Look, to have a career in music you need to turn your art into a business, but at it's core it's still just that - art. And let's face it, very little good art has come without criticism. Critiques are a part of the growing process. While you certain don't have to (and shouldn't) take every piece of advice given to you, you need to be able to listen to what people have to say and discern which suggestions to dismiss and which to incorporate into your music. In this sense, honesty really is the best policy. It's not always easy to tell bandmates or artist friends exactly what you think about their work. But without feedback from others, how can any musician ever truly progress? So say what you mean and mean what you say, and check out Wise Girl below! - Unsigned Corner

Hailing from NYC, Wise Girl is a new indie power pop band who released their debut self-titled EP this year and will soon be following it up with a full release later this year.

By clicking the link below you can enjoy the track 'Wishful Thinking' by Wise Girl. It is energetic and catchy from the beginning featuring splendid female vocals combining well with the power pop rock backing. Check out the track here!

If you would like to learn more about Wise Girl and like what you hear from the clip, please check out the band's pages below. - Hearty Vibes

I started Wise Girl in 2009 after taking a 2 year break from performing with my old punk band, The Lookaways. I was sick and tired of being judged on my appearance and it really started taking its toll on me, I needed a break.

At first it was cool, I started the band at 18, I got to travel, write songs and play some really epic shows. I could talk to any guy I wanted after shows and I loved it. Eventually it started getting to me, people shouting things at shows like “you’re hot” and even the negative stuff, mean things written on message boards got me upset and angry and I started taking it really personally. What the fuck does this have to do with the music?

I am a woman in the music industry and I front the band, Wise Girl. I play guitar, sing, write the songs and I created this project with the “I don’t give a fuck” mentality. I knew what I had to do and was prepared to change the world, or at least try without all the doubts and insecurities that come with being young. I wanted to be taken seriously for my songwriting while still keeping it fun and universal. Those two years that I took off from performing, I wrote everyday, I taught myself to play piano, I studied other songwriters that I respected intensively and reformulated my “writing formula”. I got a band together and have had to hire and fire quite a few people, I was the boss.

I am currently lucky enough to have found two awesome guys on the same page as me musically, who click with my personality. Chris Fasulo is my producer and the guitarist in Wise Girl and Harry Keithline is our drummer and they rock. They can handle working with a woman who is outspoken, powerful, has a giant personality and is a giant in general (I am 6 feet tall). They pick me up when I am feeling down and I know that I can count on them to be there and be myself, even when I’m on the rag. Our long running joke revolves around my period, yes I said it.

It is tough being a woman running the show especially on the business side of things but can also be kind of fun watching the show some of these idiots put on. I came from a family of Jewish doctors so if anyone has learned about business it’s me and it’s pretty easy to tell when someone is bullshitting you. When someone tells you something that sounds too good to be true, it usually is. I like to call those people “talkers”, they usually name drop a lot as well.

Future women rock stars, steer clear of the “talkers”, perfect your craft so you don’t make the rest of us look bad and don’t ever let anyone tell you that you’re not pretty enough, skinny enough, cool enough or any of that bullshit and you’ll be fine. Keep pushing through; I know that I will be….



Read more: http://www.infectiousmagazine.com/guest-blog-beating-the-boys-at-their-own-game/#ixzz2WfvWzuQP
- Infectious Magazine

Wise Girl is a pop rock group originating from the busy city of Manhattan, NYC. If you live in NYC, then you can probably or have already caught the band performing in many venues of the area. They have played Van’s Warped Tour in the past and have also been featured on Kate Spade’s website. They are currently in the studio creating a new album that is set to be released sometime this year. If you haven’t listened to their self-titled EP yet or are wondering what it’s like, then read on if you are interested in some fast-paced and upbeat music.

Set in Stone starts off with a very catchy guitar riff that hooked me into the song right away. This song is VERY upbeat and makes me want to get off my feet and just dance. The tone is very bright and this track definitely demonstrates the potential that vocalist Abby Weitz has to offer. This track sounds like the typical pop rock song and has a modern, yet retro feel to it (most likely influenced by Weitz’s 60’s rock background). Its fast paced style reflects the city from where the band comes from. This song is definitely one that you want to blast from your speakers in the summer. This is a hit that many people would probably listen to.

Wishful Thinking is significantly slower and darker compared to Set in Stone. The beginning with the guitar riff reminds me of Rihanna’s Shut Up and Drive. This song has a ballad feel to it and it got me swaying back and forth. If you are expecting this song to be another version of Set in Stone, you may get bored listening to this one. Because it is a slower track, its lyrics are much easier for listeners to catch on to and for them to sing along to.

Roles Reverse is different from the other two tracks. This one has more a southern and country feel to it, making this song more laid back and fun to listen to. The band toned down on the guitar in this song and the spotlight is shifted on to the bass. This third song is a lot less catchy than the group’s other two and is also a tad bit of a turn-off for pop rock fans.

I found that the band used a little too much guitar in most of their songs and that no lyrics particularly stood out. The instruments took away from the meaning of their lyrics, making it very easy for people to just play their songs and focus on other things (sort of like background music that you can find in a coffee shop).

Overall, Wise Girl has the potential of being very popular. Their music is catchy and upbeat and is bound to catch people’s attention. If you’re the type of person who likes to just dance around or is looking for some new music to put onto your upcoming summer playlist, then you won’t be disappointed. I’m looking forward to their new album and would definitely love to hear some slower songs. - Into the crowd magazine

Driving power pop/rock band Wise Girl will soon release their self-titled three-song EP on iTunes. The New York fivesome is equipped with straight forward talent and no need for gimmicks. The Wise Girl EP showcases the perfect combination of poppy melodies, rockin’ guitars and quirky songwriting technique all wrapped together in a no-nonsense attitude.

After two years in the making Wise Girl is the brainchild of songwriter Abby Weitz (vocals, guitar). Wise Girl includes Chris Fasulo (producer, lead guitars), Abby Lee (backup vocals, tambourine), Harry Keithline (drums) and Sean Kane (bass). Growing up, front woman Abby Weitz was such a music fanatic that she had to listen to The Beatles in order to fall asleep at night. At age 11 she started taking drum lessons which then led to her interest in learning to play the guitar at age 13. Born to lead, Weitz started a Strokes cover band in high school followed by an original band under the name of Drella, playing basement/garage shows in her hometown of Long Beach.

After dropping out of college six weeks in because “it wasn’t her thing”, she started a punk band with her best friend Liz called The Lookaways. Determined to take over New York City, The Lookaways played notorious clubs around Manhattan such as Sin-E, Lit Lounge, Don Hill’s, including the legendary CBGB’s and on a mini East Coast tour, played a few shows on the Van’s Warped Tour. After The Lookaways split, Weitz decided to start a music publishing company called Wise Girl, stemmed from her strong belief in “Girl Power” and she ended up using the name for her current project.

Elements of Wise Girl’s music can be attributed to their influences drawn from some of Weitz’s favorites such as The Ramones, The Beatles, The Muffs, Letters to Cleo, Weezer and 60's girl groups. The band’s feisty single, “Set In Stone” is a perfect example of how the band creates a rhythmic blend of catchy melodies, gritty guitars and witty yet matter-of-fact lyrics. Produced by Chris Fasulo, the Wise Girl EP’s content centers on love gone wrong and the battles that we face when caught in the middle of it.

The internationally known designer Kate Spade featured Wise Girl on their website and blog as a runner up in a Battle of the Bands contest to open for The Vivian Girls at their SXSW showcase. They were also chosen as one of the 15 bands to represent Manhattan in New York’s Annual “Battle of the Boroughs,” sponsored by New York Public Radio in June of 2012. Picking up a consistent following along the way, Wise Girl has performed at notable NY music venues such as Mercury Lounge, The Bowery Electric, Piano’s and The Knitting Factory. The band has recently opened up for major pop punk band The Dollyrots and Rock ‘n’ Roll sensations, Prima Donna and performed as a part of the 2010 and 2011 CMJ Music Marathon.

To add to the list, Wise Girl did a performance/interview on the national television show Beta TV and earned a mention in an American Songwriter’s article (“How Does an Independent Artists Stay Relevant While Creating New Music” – Sept. 2012). In September of 2012 Weitz scored an endorsement deal with guitar company, Daisy Rock Guitars.

With success at their fingertips, Wise Girl is ready to take it to the top! For more information, visit their website. - Music News Nashville

When asked about music piracy, Wise Girl front woman Abby Weitz contemplates the issue delicately, pausing for a moment before weighing in with an answer that spans the viewpoints of the consumers, musicians and record labels and finishing with a prediction for the future of the music industry. This careful consideration is the key to Wise Girl’s punk/pop sound. In Wise Girl (a feminine take on The Stroke’s “Wiz Kid Management”), Weitz’s meticulous nature is clearly present in the writing and production of her carefully crafted songs. The album, recorded at the Engine Room in New York, was produced by Weitz’s partner in crime Chris Fasulo who laid out all of the drum tracks on a beat machine before the drummer even entered the studio. An ardent student of music Weitz saw Wis Girl as an opportunity to be taken seriously as writer, “When Wise Girl started, I wanted to get more real. Punk, I think, isn’t taken that seriously, and I wanted to be taken seriously as a songwriter. But I ended up trying way too hard. I would write songs that had like four different key changes and were really intricate and not as accessible to the average listener. So I sat down and just studied Top 40 pop and the punk rock structure and the thing that stuck out to me the most was the simplicity. I try to write songs that are real, but still universal and understandable.” Wise Girl’s first full length album will be released later this month. In the meantime, you can catch the band at The Bowery Electric in New York City on April 6th. - Creative Spotlights