Alicia Solombrino is painting her nails Metallic Silver. "I hope you don't mind," she says with a smile. It's hard to wonder how such dainty hands could act as a grounder for the electrical current that surges from her mouth to the microphone.

Alicia Solo, as she is sometimes referred to, is the lead singer and powerhouse behind the self-genre classified "indie punk rock" Kansas City band that is the Beautiful Bodies. Call them "debauchery" if you will, for myspace deems them so, but debauchery isn't the name of the game once Solo takes the stage.

Often alternating between seductive songstress, mistress of musical mayhem, and hometown sweetheart, the 24 year old, born-and-raised Kansas City native leaves you lusting after her lyricism and doing double takes just to catch a glimpse of her once the music takes control.

Alicia Solombrino

Each artist is said to have had a specific moment when they knew they wanted to be a musician. For Solombrino the itch for music started when she was in kindergarten. "I saw Madonna on the (1990) MTV (Video Music) Awards performing Vogue," says Solombrino. And it doesn’t stop there. Where the dreams of most aspiring rock stars tend to die out as they get older, Solombrino's dream kept pumping through her veins, ready to start a riot in good ol' Killa City.

Unlike most VH1 Behind The Music specials, Solombrino did not have the same struggles as many artists you hear about because her parents were her number one fans from the beginning. "My parents are very supportive," she states. "When I was 14, in my first real band, my mom drove me to band practice five times a week, 30 minutes away from our place."

Although the Beautiful Bodies have been staking their claim on our local scene, they were not Solombrino’s first attempt to get the attention of Kansas City audiences. "I started playing with my acoustic band about seven years ago...so I guess you can say I've been in the music scene seven years." She shrugs.

The acoustic band that Solombrino was a part of, "started back in high school when I was 17," she reminisces. "I've always been in some sort of band growing up but this was probably the start of what was to come." In 2005 Solombrino grew bored with the Kansas City music scene and "wanted more to do." Thus the Beautiful Bodies were born. Their concert debut was on June 9, 2006.

The band, which takes its name from one of Solombrino’s favorite reads, the Beautiful Bodies by Laura Cunningham, is said to have to have been introduced through Oprah jokes Solombrino.

The Beautiful Bodies take the ever-present stereotype that musicians now-a-days don't know how to do anything but play their instruments and look pretty, and turn it on its stomach.

Not only is their bassist Luis Arana in another band, Pixel Panda, but Solombrino herself is the epitome of Alicia Keys’ Superwoman, with the titles of videographer, director, photographer, and web designer under her belt. "I do everything," she laughs.

Some of these skills may have been learned while working in the promotions department at Z 95.7 the Vibe, but Solo has the down-to-earth personality that so many artists lack today. Often apologizing in sweet text messages that beg forgiveness for busy tour schedules, Solombrino still finds time to take on new projects. "My next project is directing a music video for the Republic Tigers’ (song) Made Concrete.

When you're a celebrity, you have no room to be shy. After working in promotions and having to mingle, it only seemed natural for Solombrino to dive into performing. When asked if she has ever been star struck when meeting a celebrity, she smiles and says, "Well, I always say a lot of stupid things and talk too much but that's with everyone I meet, so no."

For more information on the Beautiful Bodies, shows, future projects, or information on the music video premiere on December 12th, visit the following websites:

www.myspace.com/thebeautifulbodies
www.thebeautifulbodies.com
www.aliciasolo.com

Copyright 2008 Metropolitan Community College