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with The Veronicas By Lindsey Ramsey, Jayplay writer
Specializing in pop-punk harmonies with a hard edge, 20-year-old identical twins, Jess and Lisa Origliasso hail from Brisbane Australia and are ready to take over the U.S. Since the age of 5, the girls have loved music. And they say when they were 12, they saw Michael Jackson perform and knew that music was what they had to do. Their debut album, The Secret Life of The Veronicas, is a culmination of 15 years of performing. It's a cross between Avril Lavine, Ashlee Simpson and Kelly Clarkson but with a more worldly flair. Here, The Veronicas talk touring, fashion and Crocodile Dundee.
Q: What three words describe your music?
A: Jess: Energetic, meaningful and emotive
Lisa: Fun, eddy and rock
Jess: Friend, because you're never too old or too young to rock the 80s
Q: Who are your influences (musically, fashion-wise)?
A: Jess; Musically, Michael Jackson, Skyhooks, The Used and The Vines. Fashionwise, Gwen Stefani and Keira Knightly.
Lisa: For fashion, the Olsen Twins and Sienna Miller. For music, ACDC, Michael Jackson and The Muse
Q: Legwarmers: friend or foe?
Lisa: Friend, a funky pair can make your outfit. Plus they keep your legs warm.
Q: What do you hate about performing live?
Jess: Bad audio.
Lisa: Same.
Q: What was a time you felt like a complete fool on stage?
Jess: I went on with my costume on backwards once.
Lisa: I fell over once and I have forgotten words a few times.
Q: What was a time when you felt like a real rock star?
Lise: We played with Jessie McCartney at Boston Hatch Shell show in front of 35,000 kids
Q: What was a time where you absolutely did not feel like a rock star?
Jess: NRL (National Rugby League) final. We performed at the opening of the show, in front of 80,000 people in the stadium and 3 million people on TV. It was the equivalent of the Superbowl!
Lisa: Getting off a long flight in our pajamas and Ugg boots and people recognizing us.
Jess: I broke my foot while just before embarking on a two-month national radio promotional tour.
Q: What is the most annoying thing your sister does?
Jess: Steals my clothes and make-up
Lisa: Steals my make-up and my clothes
Jess: Love him.
Q: What are your feelings on Crocodile Dundee?
Lisa: He's our answer to David Hasselhoff.
Q: Air guitar or air violin?
Jess: Air violin
Lisa: Who does air violin? What the beep are you talking about Jess?
Q: Who is Veronica?
Jess: Me
Lisa: Me. Are you?
Q: If you two found the yellow brick road, what you want to find at the other end?
Lisa: Food and a hed.
Lisa: Food and a bed.
Jess: Food and Johnny Depp.
Q: Are you two the wonders from down under?
Jess: I think Tim Tams (an Australian chocolate biscuit) and beer could be the wonders from down under.
Lisa: Yes.
The Veronicas are coming to Kansas City's Uptown Theatre on Oct. 25 with Ryan Cabrera. Check out their music at www.theveronicas.com.
The Hawk 1340 Ohio St.
Deny it all you want, but the Hawk, 1340 Ohio St., is Lawrence's pre-eminent college bar. Established in 1919, the bar has been getting KU undergrads loaded (and laid) ever since Woodrow Wilson was in office. "The Hawk is my homeboy," says Kelly Meisi, Chicago sophomore, and with good reason: the bar, an alcohol-soaked ziggurat that's packed with patrons every weekend (weekends start on Thursday),
boasts five separate areas in which to mingle, including the raucous Boom Boom Room and the more refined Martini Room. You think The Hawk is only for those on Fraternity Row? Think again. "You have the Greeks and you have the non-Greeks," says Brittani Johnson, Denver sophomore, of the bar's oft-ignored diversity. "You're insured to have a good time."
- Dave Ruigh