Thee Psych-O-Daisies

(November 2001) 

THEE PSYCH-O-DAISIES - Talk About Their Generation

“Our first gig was like dying and going to heaven,” says Nancy Neon, Thee Psych-o-Daisies combination go-go dancer/tambourine thumper. “It's absolutely the most fun that a human being can have while vertical!” Heaven on earth for this nutty little band is beat generation rock, centered around the holy trinity of Clapton, Beck, and Page, from the moody psychedelic to the R&B to the three-chord garage punk.  No matter what time of year it is, Thee Psych-o-Daisies have got your Summer of Love right here.

“I'm deeply, deeply into the British 60s stuff,” says guitarist Jacques Thibodeau, “so naturally I dig the Yardbirds and Small Faces.” Nancy calls herself the punk of the combo and “while Rachel likes the moody, psyche stuff, I go wildest for stuff like ‘Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White’, and the Chocolate Watch Band version of ‘I'm Not Like Everybody Else.’”

Thee Psych-O-Daisies (despite having the most cumbersome band name to come along in awhile!) are an easy-going, breezy group of friends who simply love to play the songs they grew up with.  They got together when the band that Rachel and John were in together went extinct before ever leaving the rehearsal space.  Non-plussed, Rachel, the primary energy behind the Daisies, forged ahead.  One thing she did was to bring the irrepressible Kenne Highland on board.  Kenne describes himself as “not much of a singer” but nobody cares; Kenne does it anyway, with wild abandon.  And all the band members share a desire to revive the old favorites.  “I believe most people in general enjoy our shows,” says Jacques. “There are so many people in this town who have a genuine appreciation for this type of music, I think they really enjoy hearing things that perhaps they haven't heard in years or never saw live. I'm not saying we're the Yardbirds, but I know I personally try to evoke the spirit of what I believe the original song was trying to get across.”

The best part about being a Daisy? “Having our friends show up and have fun at our gigs is the ULTIMATE!” says Nancy. “It's just a big party.  Kinda like a high school reunion with people who actually share musical sensibilities.”  And in future, Thee Psych-o-Daisies may not get to be part of a story about cover bands—they’re hoping to eventually start playing originals. “I personally would like to have a set of about 50% covers and 50% originals,” says Jacques. Peace, brothers and sisters.