Chrissy Tashjian began playing the guitar in fifth grade.
“I grew up on The Beatles. My dad was in a cover band, so I loved Alice Cooper and all sort of stuff like that,” Tashjian said.
Now the lead singer of the Philadelphia-based punk-rock band Thin Lips, Tashjian plays guitar alongside bassist Kyle Pulley and lead guitarist Chris Diehm, who also sings back-up vocals. Chrissy’s brother, Michael Tashjian, plays the drums. The band came out with their first EP, “Divorce Year,” in May 2015. Their first full-length LP, entitled “Riff Hard,” debuted this past May.
During their tour this summer opening for bands Joyce Manor and Modern Baseball, Thin Lips helped to sell out two back-to-back shows in late June at New York City’s Irving Plaza. It was at this venue in a small room with creaky hardwood floors located above the stage that Tashjian spoke to PGN about how her life experiences have shaped the band’s music.
“Well, I’m queer, and it’s definitely heavily influenced the way I make music and where I play music and what I want to write about,” she said. “Also, I’m a very anxious person, so I’ve kind of worked through a lot of it by playing, and also touring has helped a lot.”
Beyond her own experiences, Tashjian discussed navigating self-identity in the wake of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla.
“Well I think that the thing that’s important to remember, especially about Orlando, is that was a safe space for people, especially queer, trans, gender-fabulous, mostly people of color. Which is a margin of people [that] already deals with so much fear because of the institution of racism, and police violence and brutality. Turning that safe space into a not-safe space for people that already don’t feel safe feels really fucked up.”
Tashjian said she’s shared her persective on the Orlando massacre with audiences.
“I’m also a white person and I deal with far less oppression. However, I will say that I’ve been talking every night about Orlando and being a woman and being a queer to these huge rooms of young people and I’ve connected with a lot of people who were really shook up by Orlando and who are very grateful that this already-safe space that Modern Baseball is trying to create also involves queer people. And, you know, Modern Baseball are amazing. They have gender-neutral bathrooms every night when they can. They have a hotline if you don’t feel safe. They do so much. But, yeah, I’ve connected with so many kids who are so excited to meet an older queer person, so excited to hear people not just sweep it under the rug.”
The conversation shifted from the persistent problems of our nation to the congeniality of the band members.
“We know each other really well. I think we’re really supportive of each other. We get along; we’re able to talk out our differences,” Pulley said. “As crazy as we all are, I think we’re all similar people. We’re all sensitive and thoughtful and introspective.”
Tashjian added that the queer acceptance from her bandmates has been motivational.
“Being such a weirdo, freako queer where at home I mostly hang out with my queer friends, gender weirdos … being in a band with Mikey, who is the first person I came out to and therefore my first ally, and Kyle and Chris, they’re some of the best allies I could possibly ever have,” Tashjian said. “I love that I get to laugh with them and create a lot of music.”
Despite the transitory nature of touring, Tashjian pointed to specific places and nutritional choices that remedy the wearied feelings associated with constant travel.
“I take a lot of B-12. We’ve been trying to go to Whole Foods every day. I’ll get two salads so that I’ll have breakfast and lunch so that I’m not eating garbage. I feel a lot better doing that.”
She added that the West Coast leg of their tour has so far been her favorite.
“It’s like being in a wonderland. It’s like every city we went to is like a different level in Mario [Cart] or something.”
With all the joys and difficulties of being on the road, Philadelphia is still home for the band, Tashjian said.
“I don’t think I could relocate if I still wanted to be a musician. All of my friends own studios and all of my friends are in great bands who I get to play music with. It’s so inspiring to be around so many people that I admire so much all the time. Philly rips.”
To learn more about Thin Lips and to listen to their music, check out the following social-media platforms:
Bandcamp: https://xxthinlipsxx.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XThinLipsX/
Instagram: @thinlips
Twitter: @xthinlipsx