The Deli: How did the band start?
 
Brenda: Depends on who you ask – to some, Brenda started in a basement in Mt. Pleasant with two coworkers named Steve Kane and Otis Quincy who only practiced one song for two years. They called it "The Song", as in, "Ok, do you want to practice The Song tonight?"
 
For others, it was in a living room in Petworth, or a sidewalk outside the Velvet Lounge.

But DC is definitely our home.

What's the story behind the name Brenda?
 
Brenda is breezy, it starts with a hard syllable, it's short, to the point. And we were drunk.

Who are your biggest musical influences?
 
Talking Heads. B-52s. David Bowie. The Stooges. The Police.  Gang of Four.  Sonic Youth. Echo and the Bunnymen.

What artists (local, national and/or international) are you currently listening to?
 
Presto Bando. Art Brut. Fire & The Wheel. The National. Clair Morgan. The Sea Life. Devo. Edie Sedgwick.
 
What's the first concert that you ever attended and first album that
 you ever bought?

Some dirty punk rock show in someone's basement back in high school. Those were the days. Ace of Base’s The Sign.
 
What do you love about DC's music scene?
 
The people.
 
What would you like to see change in the local music scene?

More practice space that’s affordable and accessible. Brenda is lucky now to have such accommodating roommates and neighbors, but we've been kicked out of a couple stuffy DC row houses in the past. It's hard to play music in a city sometimes, especially since there are almost no practice spaces for rent at affordable prices in DC. 

Also, we'd LOVE to see more venues. There are several popping up now, DIY spaces and bars up 14th street.  Brenda’s played her fair share of Ethiopian restaurants, no doubt. But the more, the better - that helps fight a tendency within DC (and probably any city) for exclusion and exclusivity of smaller, lesser-known artists coming up.

What are your plans for the upcoming year?
 
Write more music, play more music, eat more sandwiches.

What was your most memorable live show?
 
Brenda loved playing the protest outside the Russian Embassy last summer. We all got to wear dresses, which totally makes sense considering how hot it gets here.

Is there someone who has helped your band grow through support?
 
Tony Porreco of Hometown Sounds (and Black Checker guitarist) is a huge support and encouragement for local bands, Brenda included. He comes to all of our shows.
 
And Mark Kennedy from Möbius Strip. He believed in Brenda before she believed in herself, and comes to all of her shows too.

There’s Jon Weiss from The Sea Life, who asked us to play with them at the Black Cat – we almost fainted. And all the neighbors, roommates, and friends who put up with our noise. Al's dad for letting him play his prized guitar at his first show when Al was 16.  And our band stylist Tricia Aung. And Dave's mom.
 
Is there a piece of equipment you couldn't live without and why?
 
Tequila and ear plugs. Because.  And that guitar Al broke in half, then glued and nailed back together.

The Deli: How did the band start?
 
Brenda: Depends on who you ask – to some, Brenda started in a basement in Mt. Pleasant with two coworkers named Steve Kane and Otis Quincy who only practiced one song for two years. They called it "The Song", as in, "Ok, do you want to practice The Song tonight?"
 
For others, it was in a living room in Petworth, or a sidewalk outside the Velvet Lounge.

But DC is definitely our home.

What's the story behind the name Brenda?
 
Brenda is breezy, it starts with a hard syllable, it's short, to the point. And we were drunk.

Who are your biggest musical influences?
 
Talking Heads. B-52s. David Bowie. The Stooges. The Police.  Gang of Four.  Sonic Youth. Echo and the Bunnymen.

What artists (local, national and/or international) are you currently listening to?
 
Presto Bando. Art Brut. Fire & The Wheel. The National. Clair Morgan. The Sea Life. Devo. Edie Sedgwick.
 
What's the first concert that you ever attended and first album that
 you ever bought?

Some dirty punk rock show in someone's basement back in high school. Those were the days. Ace of Base’s The Sign.
 
What do you love about DC's music scene?
 
The people.
 
What would you like to see change in the local music scene?

More practice space that’s affordable and accessible. Brenda is lucky now to have such accommodating roommates and neighbors, but we've been kicked out of a couple stuffy DC row houses in the past. It's hard to play music in a city sometimes, especially since there are almost no practice spaces for rent at affordable prices in DC. 

Also, we'd LOVE to see more venues. There are several popping up now, DIY spaces and bars up 14th street.  Brenda’s played her fair share of Ethiopian restaurants, no doubt. But the more, the better - that helps fight a tendency within DC (and probably any city) for exclusion and exclusivity of smaller, lesser-known artists coming up.

What are your plans for the upcoming year?
 
Write more music, play more music, eat more sandwiches.

What was your most memorable live show?
 
Brenda loved playing the protest outside the Russian Embassy last summer. We all got to wear dresses, which totally makes sense considering how hot it gets here.

Is there someone who has helped your band grow through support?
 
Tony Porreco of Hometown Sounds (and Black Checker guitarist) is a huge support and encouragement for local bands, Brenda included. He comes to all of our shows.
 
And Mark Kennedy from Möbius Strip. He believed in Brenda before she believed in herself, and comes to all of her shows too.

There’s Jon Weiss from The Sea Life, who asked us to play with them at the Black Cat – we almost fainted. And all the neighbors, roommates, and friends who put up with our noise. Al's dad for letting him play his prized guitar at his first show when Al was 16.  And our band stylist Tricia Aung. And Dave's mom.
 
Is there a piece of equipment you couldn't live without and why?
 
Tequila and ear plugs. Because.  And that guitar Al broke in half, then glued and nailed back together.