A Chat with Cassidy Fleeman of Anti Groupies

Meet Cassidy Fleeman, the guitarist and vocalist of Anti Groupies - an amazing all girl band on the rise. Their debut single Blessing In Disguise has just been released with a new one on the way. Cassidy and Anti Groupies are really making a name for themselves on the local Los Angeles music scene, and recently played at the world famous Whisky A Go Go on the Sunset Strip. Cassidy is also the recent addition of a band called Side Chicks, who are also ready to break it out above and beyond the City of Angels. Highwire Daze recently caught up with Cassidy to find out more about her participation within the ranks of Anti Groupies and Side Chicks. Read on...

Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Anti Groupies, and how long the band has been together.

My name is Cassidy Fleeman, I actually turned 20 the day this issue is coming out! I play guitar and I am the lead sing in the Anti Groupies and we have been a band for a little over

2 years.

What do you think about the local Los Angeles/OC music scene? Who are some of the local bands in the area you could recommend?

I love the local scene. Everyone is so positive and supportive and it has been such a pleasure getting to know and work with everyone and build each other up. Some of my favorite bands are Speed of Light, Familiar Faces, Poppy Harlo, Jordi, Black Rock Candy, and I could go on forever.

Where did the name Anti Groupies come from and what inspired you to use that moniker?

When forming the band I always had the name idea “not your groupie” and I actually have a song I’m writing called that, but the name didn’t flow as well as I had liked. Our original bassist and my good friend Riley came up with the term “Anti” and then we came up with “Anti Groupies”. The whole concept for the name came from an experience I had going to one of my first gigs and the bouncer wouldn’t let me inside the gig because he told me “groupies weren’t allowed in yet” and didn’t believe that I was in one of the bands that were playing that night and I knew if I were a guy that he would have a completely different attitude. I even had a guitar on my back.

What was the inspiration behind Anti Groupies first single Blessing In Disguise? And select any other Anti Groupies song and what inspired the lyrics. The inspiration and message about Blessing in Disguise is about people who treat you like your disposable and once you bounce back and are thriving they realize you are better off without them. I feel like the best Karma is proving people wrong and succeeding and them having to watch you succeed without them.

“So you got your Karma, losing the best you ever had. And everyone warned you , that you’d regret that.”

Our next single coming out in the next couple months is called “Read the Room” and it was actually the first song we wrote together as a band. It’s a more punk inspired song and it is about women being underestimated in the rock music industry and in life in general. The first line of the verse says:

“You told me that I can’t so when I got the chance I went ahead and proved you wrong” https://www.instagram.com/theantigroupies/ https://www.instagram.com/sidechicksbandofficial/

I think this really sets the tone for the whole song. The phrase “Read the Room” is pretty much to stop being ignorant and to become self aware. I love how high energy this song is and I think it is really relatable to our younger audience.

What could one expect from a live Anti Groupies show? You could expect to hear a wide range of rock and alternative with originals. We feel like anyone can listen to music, but if you come out to see us, we put on a show! We definitely feed off the audience’s energy and we love when they dance and sing along. I think when you watch us you can tell on stage that we are all best friends that love to spend time together and you’ll see some face melting solos, and a kick ass set list and hopefully at some point a MoshPit!

If Anti Groupies could open for any band either now or from the past, who would it be and why?

Id say from the past we would have loved to open from Motley Crue. I like to envision us as an all girl version of Motley Crue because we love that 80s hair metal style. We are also HUGE fans of Paramore and Halestorm as they have powerhouse front women.

How did you become involved with Side Chicks?

Jordi and Marilaine originally formed the band as they have been friends for years since they were originally together in TemperMental and then they asked Fiona after Ti85’s EP release party and I got thrown into the mix just from having so many mutual friend and as I mentioned, everyone in the scene is so cool and we are all friends and it has been so much fun!

What was it like performing your very first Side Chicks show at The Whisky?

It was super exciting but very intimidating. I had only performed my first time at The Whisky with my band the Anti Groupies a month before hand and that had been after being a band for 2 years. We had only been a band for a month before playing at The Whisky so it was late nights of practicing till 12am and driving 2 hours to Monrovia on a school night, but it was so much fun. It is such a power band since each member of Side Chicks is in their own band, so as soon as we made the band we had an instant following. To be able to play in a place that helped shape the history of music - it’s such an opportunity. From Blondie, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica and the list goes on and on. But I was really excited because I knew this was only the beginning! Staff is amazing!

Are you involved with any other bands or projects outside of Anti Groupies and Side Chicks?

I am not involved with any other musical projects but I do go to Cosmetology school full time Monday- Friday 7:30-3:30 so I have a jam packed schedule, sleep when you’re dead as they say!

What was it like doing a photoshoot with legendary photographer Jack Lue?

Jack Lue is absolutely INCREDIBLE. Not only is he an amazing photographer but he is one of the most generous hard working people I have ever met. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him have a day off. He always helps us load our gear, gets his pictures back by the next day, travels to most, if not all our shows, he is literally a super hero. I don’t know how he does it. I love seeing all his pictures from the 80s and 90s of some of my favorite bands such as Guns N’ Roses and Motley Crue. It is an absolutely honor that he believes in us enough to take pictures of us. I can see how he is so appreciated in the industry because he not only is incredible in his field but an incredible person.

What up next with Anti Groupies and Side Chicks?

Both bands are writing and recording music and music videos which has been so much fun. We are really trying to grow our following and trying to make it as all musicians are. Our long term goals are to be on the radio and go on tour. We appreciate all the support we have already been given by our families, friends, other artists etc.

Any final words of wisdom?

I would say to anyone who wants to play music even if you don’t know how to play an instrument, pick up one and go start a band! Go to shows and meet people and make friends that have similar interests with you. Always be kind and go support local musicians! To all my fellow female musicians out there, don’t let any man make you feel small or take away your power, you’re voice is meant to be heard!!!