The Girls! is an eclectic group of shameless kick-ass girls and guys who are unafraid to literally bare it all for their fans, and the exclamation point in their name is pronounced: “bang.”

Lead singer Jessica Wabbit’s enticing vocals bring to life “melodic songs about ex-boyfriends and drinking,” while bringing fans to their feet and occasionally leaving piles of clothes on the ground.

Influenced by bands like The Exploding Hearts and Blondie, this power pop garage band’s explosive sound fights the conventions of current rock music, making them a staple in the Columbus music scene.

Their heartbreak-laced first single "Rodney," released in October 2012, teased fans while a full-length album currently remains in the works.

The Girls!' rising success and interactive showmanship helped them make the list of “bands that blew me away” and ”top 10 bands to see” at the 2012 Comfest.

ACRN had the chance to chat with Wabbit to learn a little more about the band and what they have planned for their ACRN Lobsterfest debut.

ACRN: How did you and your bandmates come together to form The Girls!?

Jessica Wabbit: I met Ryan the keyboardist, Joey the guitarist and Nick the drummer all on one night. It was about nine years ago. I was playing my first show in Columbus with my band at the time, Carson Drew, which was me and my two sisters and my dad. Ryan was running sound and the band he was playing with was Teenage Werewolves. Bent was in a band with Ryan a few years ago called The Reacharounds, so when our last bassist quit he called. Raeghan is in the band cause she was coming to basically every show so eventually we just gave her a tambourine and said here you go you can be in the band.

ACRN: So why name a co-ed band The Girls!?

JW: I just like the name. I was driving to practice and I was like "we’ll be The Girls!" So I told Ryan to go look it up and make sure nobody else was called The Girls. He said there wasn’t, [but] there is. Hence the exclamation point.

ACRN: Does only the band pronounce the exclamation point as “bang?”

JW: It’s whoever. Not everyone says it. We all say it, but I don’t say it when I’m referring to my band, because then people would actually look for that and not be able to find it.

ACRN: What kind of vibe do you guys have onstage?

JW: Crazy. It’s lots of high-energy fun and has smartass elements to it.

ACRN: Smartass elements how?

JW: Well, you’ve heard we sometimes strip down to our skivvies, right?

ACRN: Uh huh.

JW: Well that started out because I was mocking female insecurity. I was like, I obviously don’t have the best body in the entire world, but who does? Even supermodels are airbrushed, so I was just like “Fuck it! Let’s all take our clothes off.” All of my potbelly bandmates and myself.

ACRN: So if you couldn’t play pop/punk rock music, what genre would you choose and why?

JW: I was a classical piano major through most of my life. That was my thing, until one day I was like, I can’t do this anymore. It’s too serious. So I would go back to classical.

ACRN: What are your favorite venues to play at?

JW: My favorite Athens venue to play in is Jackie O’s. I love playing there, but around here it’s Ace of Clubs. We love playing Ace of Clubs.

ACRN: So how did it make you feel being named one of the top 10 bands to see at Comfest last year?

JW: That was exciting. It was the second time I’d played Comfest, but I wasn’t in the same band as now and it wasn’t as much fun.

ACRN: As far as fans go, what makes yours so awesome?

JW: They come to every show and they are enthusiastic every time. They take pictures. Some of them even take their shirts off with us.

ACRN: Does it turn into one big naked fest?

JW: We had a show at Bernie’s last summer. The power went off in most of the city of Columbus and Bernie’s was the only bar in the city with power and we had a show there that night. It was so damn hot out there. It was 100 degrees outside with no power and no air conditioning, so I was like I think everybody should have a beach party. So everybody did.

ACRN: Is this your first ACRN Lobsterfest?

JW: Yes it is.

ACRN: What do you plan to bring to it?

JW: A lot of good energy, enthusiasm and good tunes.

ACRN: Any nakedness?

JW: I mean it depends on how hot it is outside and if it’s raining; definitely if it’s raining.

ACRN: Have you heard of our mascot, Snat the Rock Lobster?

JW: No, but that sounds awesome.

ACRN: It’s a guy who dresses up and dances in a lobster costume and attends all of Lobsterfest. So, do you plan on partying with Snat?

JW: Of course, if he’s allowed to come up onstage with us.

ACRN: We’ll see. I think Snat onstage in a sea of naked people would be awesome.

JW: Yeah it sounds like something we need to make happen!