<\/p>\n

I met with Thundera<\/a> on January 19 at Smash Studios in Midtown, where they practice weekly. I got there a few minutes late and could hear through the door that they were in the middle of a song. I awkwardly stood outside, debating whether I should wait for the song to be over. Even muffled through the door, they sounded great- hard, steady rock that gives a nod to punk without relying on the simplicity that is sometimes\u00a0a cliche\u00a0of the genre. Finally, I walked in.<\/p>\n

Thundera formed in 2011, their first practice sessions starting that Spring. After a string of bad luck with bassists, they decided to stop looking for one about a year ago, and remain a trio: Rissa on vocals, Marianna on guitar, and Bruni on drums. Rissa and Marianna met at City College of New York, where Marianna is finishing her last semester, and Rissa just graduated. After some hesitation (\u201cI get nervous about these things\u201d), Marianna answered a flyer that Rissa put up. Marianna\u2019s sister then found Bruni on craigslist. \u201cShe was looking for a used car, though,\u201d Bruni jokes. <\/span><\/p>\n

We could faintly hear the sounds of a cover band start practicing in the room next to us – it sounded like they were playing a bad version of \u201cRoxanne.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Bruni said that she had been looking for a band for awhile before meeting the rest of Thundera, but hadn\u2019t had much luck. \u201cSome Craigslist ads are really weird\u2026\u00a0 <\/span>there was always some weird angle to it. Some people get really specific. Like – we really love Meg White or whatever. So you have to kind of look like her. And you have to play this way, the way she did in this concert. It\u2019s not a costume party!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Rissa\u2019s flyer mentioned the bands she was hoping to find a common interest with potential bandmates: Joan Jett, The Clash, (Well, I<\/b> like The Clash,\u201d she clarified) Iggy Pop, and Bikini Kill. Though those groups are the band\u2019s foundation, Marianna admits a love for grunge acts such as Soundgarden and Nirvana, and Bruni has eclectic tastes – except for thrash metal. After a brief discussion about whether early Metallica falls under that genre, she clarifies, \u201cThey\u2019re still audible in their early stuff. I mean when people are singing like, rarghgargharhga.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

The way they chose their name fits the trio\u2019s playful, laid-back vibe: they drew names out of a hat. Potential titles include The Swirls and The Electronics, but Thundera, which was Bruni\u2019s suggestion, was chosen. Was it rigged? \u201cMaybe,\u201d Bruni laughs. \u201cIt was her hat,\u201d Rissa adds.<\/span><\/p>\n

The cover band next door began\u00a0an attempt at Daft Punk\u2019s Random Access Memories<\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rissa says they try to play two shows a month; they\u2019ve played venues like the Paper Box, Bowery Electric, The Fifth Estate, and The Grand Victory. When I ask them what their favorite venue is, Bruni\u00a0jokes, \u201cMadison Square Garden. I like the way they treat me there,\u201d before agreeing that it depended on the venue\u2019s sound. \u201cWe\u2019re really lucky, because we know a lot of female bands,\u201d Bruni said. \u201cWe play a lot with the same bands, because we\u2019re kind of all grouped together in the Riot Grrl\/punk scene. Other shows that we book independently, we\u2019re kind of the only girls.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a nice little community to be a part of,\u201d Rissa adds. But, being in a working band takes, well, work, Bruni says:\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPeople want to say that they\u2019re dedicated to music, but because it\u2019s something artistic they also wanna say they\u2019re not tied down to it. But you have to be really serious about it if you want to get anything out of it. It\u2019s like having another job.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I asked Thundera about their recordings on Reverb Nation<\/a>, and they collectively groan and describe the recording process as \u201ca weird set-up.\u201d At the end of 2015 they recorded 11 songs for their next album, were starting the mixing process the weekend after the interview. Hopefully, they said, it would be done by the summer.<\/span><\/p>\n

For a good idea of the band’s sound, check out their\u00a0performance of “Thundera:”<\/p>\n