Over on the Norton Records site (but without a direct link) is a great interview with their latest signing, Mary Weiss, the exquisitely cool lead vocalist of the Shangri-Las. She'll be backed by the Reigning Sound on her first solo disk, coming soon.

For now, enjoy her unfiltered ruminations on matters pop, hair, fashion and cool.

MW: I did purchase a gun once, a little Derringer. I bought a gun after somebody tried to break into my hotel room. There were these glass panels on the side of the door and all of a sudden I see this arm coming through. Not only was I scared to death, but there were large amounts of money in the room. You're on the road with no protection. But, I was a little kid. I didn't know. Back then, you could walk in anywhere and buy a gun. But the FBI came to my mother's house and said, "Will you please tell your daughter she'll be arrested if she gets off the plane with her gun?" We just finished a tour in Florida and I turned it in at the police station down there.