Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker of the indie rock band Wussy stop by Excursion for a stripped-down performance and friendly interview with host Niki Dakota.
Wussy formed in Cincinnati in 2001 following the breakup of Cleaver’s previous group, Ass Ponys. The group released its debut album, Funeral Dress, in 2005, and followed it with a string of critically acclaimed records. Wussy’s latest album, Strawberry, was released in late 2011.
Here, Cleaver and Walker chat with Niki Dakota about their upcoming show at Canal Street Tavern, as well as their Dayton-area roots (interestingly, both were living in the Miami Valley during the Xenia tornado in 1974). As Niki points out, Midwestern themes are strong in the group’s music, which is jangly with Americana undertones. The duo performs four spare versions of tunes that span Wussy’s entire career, including “Little Paper Birds,” “Mayflies,” and “Grand Champion Steer.”