Same Sex Mary

Formation

Adams studied music at Las Vegas Academy where he met Stefanova, who moved to Las Vegas from Bulgaria to study music and photography. The two have been in a relationship since 2005, and lived together while Stefanova pursued her degree in Flagstaff, AZ. After graduating in 2009, Stefanova and Adams moved back to Boulder City where they formed Same Sex Mary as a duo, with Adams on guitar and vocals, and Stefanova on Farfisa and vocals.

With plans for a lengthy recording session, the duo added drummer Mike McGuinness (Dude City) shortly before discovering lead guitarist Tyler Huddleston (Shiny Boots of Leather), who they found busking on the streets of Las Vegas. Two weeks before heading to Tucson to record at Wavelab Studios, James asked bass player Jason Aragon of The Clydesdale to join the lineup, completing the band's transformation from a duo to a five-piece rock ensemble in 2012.

Sex Cells

The band traveled to Arizona at the end of 2012 to record new material at WaveLab Studios, where they performed live, using an analog tape recorder rather than the modern standard of using digital recording equipment. In early 2013 the inaugural Life Is Beautiful Festival held auditions in Las Vegas, with Same Sex Mary rounding out the final chosen lineup that included locals Rusty Maples, and Coastwest Unrest. At that time, the band was undergoing a successful crowdfunding campaign to aid in releasing Sex Cells on vinyl 12". Sex Cells was released in March 2013, with all Kickstarter donors receiving a vinyl copy of the album. In July 2013, the band won a Las Vegas Weekly Award for Best Indie-Scene Mainstay before performing in the inaugural Life Is Beautiful Festival the following October.

XXX

In July 2014 Same Sex Mary released a 3-song digital EP on their Bandcamp page titled XXX followed by the departure of lead guitarist Tyler Huddleston who left the band to pursue a second degree in electrical engineering. McGuinness has also been replaced, with the addition of Aaron Guidry on drums. In August 2014, the band returned to Wavelab Studios in Tucson, with Huddleston joining them in the studio, though the band plans on touring with new lead guitarist Brian Cantrell once their second album is released.

The Second Coming

Returning to WaveLab in August 2014, Same Sex Mary recorded their LP The Second Coming with former guitarist Tyler Huddleston. The band premiered the album 11 months later on July 25, 2015 at the Las Vegas Country Club after the location originally planned for the premiere, The Bunkhouse Saloon, closed its doors for a second time, forcing the band to find a new venue for the event that would see two actors performing alongside a seven-piece choir while the band provided the soundtrack live.

Members

Releases