"My mother gave me three pieces of advice for being in a band," said Jessica Jurgens, guitarist and vocalist for Tempe's The Billy No Mates. "First, she told me, I needed to learn how to play my guitar. Second, I had to look at the crowd when I played. And third, I need to give onlookers something she called 'The Sexy Eye.'"
How, exactly, is this "The Sexy Eye" maneuver administered?
"That's why you'll have to come see us play," she said. "It's top secret."
You might recognize Jurgens from campus. A fan of costume jewelry and all things bedazzled or rhinestoned, the tall woman is hard to miss. When the sun hits her neck or wrist directly, a brilliant light show is projected onto her immediate surroundings.
Some have likened Jurgens to a walking mirror ball — this lofty creature milling around the northwest side of campus, near the art buildings. She's the one casting "Sexy Eye" glances at strangers, perfecting the skill her mother swore her to hone.
Jurgens, along with bassist and vocalist Allison Wear, are The Billy No Mates founders. The two share an unusual history — both are former members of Tempe's trash rock outfit The Peeps. Wear held vocal and guitar duties for the band during high school, and Jurgens briefly took over after Wear's departure.
During their individual stints with the band, however, the two were never introduced. It wasn't until almost two years after Jurgens had left The Peeps that the women met up and decided to collaborate.
"I saw Jurgens in Urban Outfitters and asked her if she wanted to be in a band," Wear said.
Jurgens, probably fingering a rhinestone tennis bracelet at the time, quickly agreed. And so, amidst the Chinese lanterns and baby tees of Urban Outfitters, The Billy No Mates were conceived.
The two women recruited Krista Ruet, formally of short-lived Tempe bands Go By Go and The Horses, to be their drummer. Brandon Canfield, a Portland, Ore., transplant and ASU chemistry grad student, joined up shortly thereafter.
Brandon, the band's second bassist ("I play fuzz bass," he said. "Wear is lead bass"), is also responsible for the synthesized blips and hums you'll hear during a No Mates set. Between bass assaults, Brandon can be spied in some shadowy stage corner, tinkering with his sound wave modulator.
"I think we incorporate a lot of different styles into our music," said Wear, who cites Albuquerque's The Rondelles as a big influence. She also mentioned The Cars and Duran Duran.
"Basically anything corny," Jurgens said. "I like a lot of 80s New Wave (music)."
Since their conception less than a year ago, The Billy No Mates have kept busy trying to make a name for themselves in the Tempe music scene. The band released a four-song CD demo EP entitled Rock No Evil, which is sold at their shows. They're also planning to record a 7" at the end of the month.
"We're looking for a label or a sugar daddy," said Jurgens, and after thoughtful pause: "Yeah."
In the mean time, the No Mates have tried to stage dynamic live shows for their fans, sometimes incorporating their New Wave roots. At one performance, under the disco ball of Tempe venue The Lucky Dragon, the band employed amateur roller skaters to execute tricks while they played. The event was entitled "The Billy No Mates Roller Skate Dance Club."
"We have a song called 'The Carson Daly Scooter Gang,'" said Wear of the roller skating spectacle. "I don't know why, but we wanted to have people roller skate to it."
"No," Jurgens interrupted. "It's about going to the roller skating rink."
"Oh yeah, I forgot," Wear said. "I always think it's about scooters. I don't even realize what I'm thinking."
Whether The Billy No Mates are singing about scooters or roller skates, it's certain they always have a good time in mind. You can see them live this Friday night at The Lucky Dragon when they open for The Butchies. For those wary of Jurgens's hypnotic "Sexy Eye," sunglasses are an optional accessory.
