It looks like D.C.’s love affair with Teen Cobra was simply starting.
Since the spring of 2018, the husband-and-wife punkabilly duo has introduced their hooky scuzz rock to venues like Slash Run and Black Cat. They additionally dropped an EP (Social Piranha) that packed extra dopamine into its six minute runtime than lesser bands handle in 60. Alas, after simply 4 years, Teen Cobra is packing up and leaving the District for Tampa, Florida.
“It’s hard because we’re moving to be closer to family,” Veronica Magan, who performs drums and sings, tells City Paper. “It’s not like, ‘we’re moving to Florida, yay!’”
Magan has been in D.C. for 10 years, after pursuing a grasp’s diploma in Syracuse, New York. She met Neil Enet, her husband and bandmate, of their hometown of Caracas, Venezuela. The two started relationship in 2009. Eight months later, Enet moved to D.C. for work. He’s known as the District house for 13 years. But lengthy earlier than D.C. was his house base, Enet began his first band in Caracas when he was 15.
“It was like heavy metal,” Neil says, grinning. “Very poorly played.”
Being so distant from family and friends brought on the couple to spend most of their time collectively after they each moved to D.C. Finally, in 2018, they determined they ought to seek out separate hobbies. Instead, Magan says, “Two weeks later we started Teen Cobra. I’m sure some mental health professionals would find this very concerning. We’re 100 percent in a codependent relationship … But funny enough, it was actually through Teen Cobra that we finally found our tribe in D.C.”
Before leaving for Florida, Teen Cobra performs a farewell present at Black Cat on May 26. City Paper sat down for an interview with Magan and Enet to speak D.C., music, and benefiting from it in Florida.
The interview has been edited for size and readability.
Washington City Paper: What did the choice to begin performing music collectively appear to be?
Veronica Magan: Neil has had bands earlier than, since ceaselessly … I haven’t. As a child, you’re taking music classes and issues like that. But I by no means caught with something.
Neil Enet: She’d all the time wished to play an instrument. You tried taking part in the guitar.
VM: Hated it.
NE: You additionally tried taking part in the bass.
VM: Also hated it.
NE: So then, in a rehearsal apply room, she began banging on the drums. And then you definitely noticed this band.
VM: Gooch Palms.
NE: There was a man taking part in the guitar and a lady standing up taking part in drums … And she was like, “I can do that.” I had this Teen Cobra concept for writing brief punk, quick, very primary songs. And then, you mentioned, “Hey, I want to play drums in a band. But just standing up, playing the two drums …” I used to be like “Yeah, let’s do it.” Logistically, it’s one of the best determination. Sometimes we’re simply in mattress, about to sleep, someone sends an electronic mail, and it’s like “OK, band meeting. Do we want to play this show? Yes? Awesome.’”
WCP: What’s your favourite present you’ve performed in D.C.?
VM: The first time we performed with Ar-Kaics at Slash Run … We love Ar-Kaics. So to play with them was superb.
WCP: Probably the obvious influences in your music are the Ramones and the Misfits. But do you have got another main influences that people won’t guess?
NE: I grew up listening to my dad’s document assortment and that was all ‘50s rock and roll. You know, Sun Records and the Everly Brothers. Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis … And generally I feel most of our songs are simply that with tons of distortion. And sooner, and poorly performed.
VM: For me it’s extra just like the bands I can see in particular person and get some concepts [from]. I actually like Faunas. They’re from D.C. And then Daddy Long Legs as properly! That’s the place I received the maraca factor.
WCP: When you met, did your musical tastes already overlap?
NE: It was 2007 after we met. We favored the Strokes, Interpol, the Killers.
VM: We met as a result of Neil had a band … In Venezuela it was well-liked … I labored in radio and in addition for a digital publication … I by no means did write about his band, however I’d go along with mates from that web site when somebody was masking a present.
NE: You had been extra into punk than I used to be again in these days.
VM: I feel I nonetheless am.
WCP: What do you suppose it might be prefer to play a present in Venezuela now?
NE: The loopy factor, and right here we get on the political facet of issues a bit, is that every one of our mates aside from like two have left the nation … Sadly, due to the scenario over there, if you’ll be able to depart the nation, you allow the nation. The humorous factor is … When we went to play Barcelona [while touring Spain in the fall of 2021] it was full of mates we haven’t seen for years. But proper now, if we went to Caracas, nobody would know us.
VM: We did have individuals who we all know from ceaselessly in the past there, but in addition … We’re so related when it comes to our tradition … In Spain, it’s a Hispanic tradition, so persons are simply very animated. They let you recognize that they actually prefer it … Here, I really feel such as you play a present and persons are simply standing nonetheless. And then on the finish they’re like “Oh my god, I loved it!” And I’m like, “Really? Because you didn’t even move a hair!”
WCP: Outside of music, do you guys have day jobs?
NE: Oh yeah, they’re very punk. I work within the IT division for a U.S. authorities contractor in worldwide growth.
VM: I used to be doing enterprise journalism, however within the pandemic, I switched. So I’m doing content material advertising and marketing for a software program firm.
NE: It pays the hire and it pays for the guitars.
WCP: What do you suppose you’ll miss most about D.C.?
VM: I’ll miss museums. And meals … Coming from Venezuela, my palette was not developed in any respect … Here in D.C., persons are like “Let’s go eat food from Laos!” Like it’s the commonest factor! It’s simply so various. I by no means felt like a foreigner right here … It’s simply such a welcoming metropolis.
NE: We’ll in all probability be again twice a yr or one thing like that … We love this metropolis.
WCP: Is there extra Teen Cobra music coming?
NE: For certain. We positively have just a few songs already recorded … I’ve already began following punk bands in Tampa. Actually, a terrific punk band known as Gino and the Goons, they’re from Tampa, and I’m actually excited to be residing within the metropolis the place Gino and the Goons rock. And I’m enthusiastic about beginning in a special setting. And seeing a brand new crowd, new viewers, new venue. It’s a problem.
VM: And a chance.
Teen Cobra’s farewell present begins at 8 p.m. on May 26 at Black Cat. DJ Mad Squirrel and Front Royal’s Thee Delux open. blackcatdc.com. $15.