Viva la Venus Rocks Jay Leno and the Tonight Show

Jay Leno featured rock band, Viva la Venus, on his headlines segment on the Tonight Show.

If you were watching the Tonight Show on July 11, 2005, you saw a picture of the hot up-and-coming band, Viva la Venus. Their band photo was featured during the headlines" segment by Jay Leno.

The original article was featured in the Asheville Citizen Times. Viva la Venus played a show at Freds Speakeasy. The show was sponsored by Go-Girls and featured three bands that had between 1 and 3 female members. The headline read These Women Rock" referring to the women in all the bands. Of course, Viva la Venuss picture was large and right next to the headline. Leno took the opportunity to suggest the long-haired, goatee-wearing male drummer was an unattractive woman. Members were flattered that Leno found most of the band attractive and hope to prove that the headline is correct. These women (and one man) really do rock.

The photo from the paper was taken outside a club called the Handlebar in SC where the group had played a show. Guitarist Susan Darney says, the picture itself isnt the most flattering photo, but it does have a certain energy and people seem to love it."

The band doesnt know who sent in the newspaper article to Leno. But theyre glad that they did. Darney said friends were calling us to tell us that they saw us on TV on the promos for the Tonight Show. We really had no idea we would be on." The band found the skit entertaining and exciting. They are looking forward to the time when they are able to appear in person on the Tonight Show.

Viva la Venus is based out of the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC area. The members originate from PA, NC, and VA but now call the triangle their home. The members are Wendy Brancaccio on vocals and guitars, Susan (Hauser) Darney on vocals, guitars, and bass, Mary Anne Barckhoff on bass, guitars, and backing vocals, and Trey McLamb on drums.

The band is currently preparing to tour to support their latest CD Forget the Fairy Tale". Their first CD The Never Ending Mending Story" included the track Mystery" which was featured on Lifetime TVs Strong Medicine". Both CDs are available at http://www.cdbaby.com and at live shows. For more information on the band or to check out upcoming shows, see their website at http://www.vivalavenus.com.

# # #