Chay Vicious is all about capturing the essence of live performance: the warts, the natural energy, the danger, the unpredictability, and all the unbridled emotion that comes out of playing rock n' roll. In a world saturated with computers, artificial beats, and plastic surgery, the aim is to embody that raw intensity that entices audiences towards the live music experience. Once you know that “Chay” is the band's slang for “chill,” you realize the name is a play on the nature of the band's own relationship with itself. Anyone who has the capability of being monstrous, aggressive, and vindictive might not seem to have the ability to be affable, welcoming, loving or even fun. But oftentimes these are simply just two inseparable sides of the same person. In Chay Vicious there's arguments, name-calling, fights, jokes, laughter, disagreements and everything that encompasses the extraordinary and mundane experience of everyday life. 

Nostalgic for the raw-sounding hard rock records of the 90s that defined their youth, Chay Vicious tracks their music live in-studio to capture the energy and spirit they bring to their shows. This results in helping them focus on doing what they do best: feed off each other and let the unique push and pull of each song guide them through the project. 

BIO

The story of Chay Vicious starts with Nick DeLibero: a zealous introverted metalhead guitarist who dreams like a guitar hero and writes songs like he’s getting paid. He's sitting in a local taco joint in Alexandria, VA, with his best friends and bandmates Alex, John, and Ben discussing the uncertain future of their newly formed band. Anyone who’s ever seen Nick play guitar knows this, but he doesn’t play to impress the smattering of friends and family who might come see him at a bar on a Monday night, he plays guitar to conquer the world. Not long after their first meeting, his contagious fervor soon converted the rest of his bandmates to adopt that attitude as well. Now we find them two years later, where personal and creative differences with their singer have come to a breaking point, and despite some recent traction playing local shows and releasing an EP, they have finally come to the conclusion that they need to find a new vocalist or stop playing altogether. What ultimately follows is month upon month of fruitless auditioning while the future of the band hangs in the balance. In a last ditch effort, Alex reaches out to a singer he stumbles across online named David D’Andrea who agrees to meet. He arrives with a folder of Chay Vicious lyrics in hand and after ten minutes of diving into their material, the chemistry is unmistakable. Was the search finally over?

"Growing up as an insufferably awkward homeschooled kid, there was nothing cooler to me than the idea of being a rock singer," Dave reminisces. After years of playing bass and keyboard in various cover bands while dreaming of the frontman position, Dave decided to throw himself in front of a microphone, consequences be damned. Despite his efforts, receptions were mixed from audience members and bandmates alike. "Six years I bounced from band to band until I ended up losing my voice in the middle of a performance, barely able to finish the gig." Dave chuckles, "Afterwards I was confronted by one of my bandmates who I greatly admired at the time, who told me he was quitting the band because, in his words, I was, 'never going to get any better.' 

"After a four year stint of quietly working on my voice, I walked into that audition without any expectations other than having fun singing some kick-ass music. I honestly wasn’t even sure I really wanted to put myself out there again. After playing their originals, they asked me to improvise over some music Nick had recently written and I’m not entirely sure where the melody I sang came from, but instantly I felt the connection. It felt so right. I felt at home."

What followed next came in the form of writing a flurry of originals, recording three singles at Innovation Station with Wammie-award winning producer Dave Mallen, playing a slew of venues including DC9, Songbyrd, and Jammin Java, recording the EP Donate Your Clothing at Weitman Studios, and even getting nominated for best rock song (Skyline) and best rock album (Donate Your Clothing) at the Washington DC music awards.

Chay Vicious is about living a life well-lived to the absolute fullest. Driving full speed into whatever lies ahead because the ups and downs of life are part of the story. Embrace them.

"We might be in over our heads or having the time of our lives, but either way it’s time to play."

Be Chay. Live Vicious.