There's a lot of buzz about Viet Cong right now, and for a lot of reasons, but while their pedigree, controversial name, and recognizable post-punk influences make for easy talking points, it's their ferocious energy and novel songwriting that seems to resonate so strongly with fans and critics alike. Miraculously, the Calgary band, half of whose members come from defunct group Women, maintain their reverence for the past while sounding surprising new. On their recent self-titled LP, the dual guitars of Scott Munro and Daniel Christiansen bristle and serrate like entangling spools of wire as bassist Matt Flegel and drummer Mike Wallace pound complex tattoos on string and skin. Yet as even Flegel howls and growls, the songs remain more melodic than menacing and, no matter how frenetic, entirely danceable. To kick off their tour, Viet Cong ripped up the darkened KEXP studio for one of the most intense sessions that room has ever seen. Check out the videos now:
Even after releasing a pair of EP's, Wolf Alice has yet to show their teeth. The young London four-piece have grown from a folky duo into a gnashing, shoegazy, guitar-heavy band steeped in 90's alternative rock but with a freshly energized take. But their past singles “Fluffy” and “Moaning Lisa Smi…
Based out of Lititz, PA, The Districts drop by our starry live room to share a selection of sincere sounds from their new release, A Flourish and a Spoil. Fans of the band's lo-fi aesthetics will be pleased to know the lads haven’t forgotten what a good melody sounds like underneath the cascading f…
