I just started writing for the blog Indieball. Indieball is the web's best place for outstanding, innovative, eye-opening indie pop. Give us a month and we'll bring your iPod back from the dead. It's our promise to you.
Viva City from Newcastle, UK. No new shows announced as of yet - look for them to come back to the states in the New Year! They are currently playing in Texas - bringing dance-y electro rock with a hard edge guaranteed to get your ass on the dance floor. If they cant do it - you just might be dead!
PRINCE – 5 Purple Days in December went on sale today. The pre-sale tix rather sucked so Im hoping to get some better seats tomorrow (at 10am they go on sale). Looks like December is turning into quite a great month 😀
12/2 Warpaint – $15 @ Music Hall of Williamsburg 12/3 George Clinton & The P-Funk Allstars – $37.50 @ BB Kings 12/3 Freezepop – $10 @ Mercury Lounge 12/4 Body Language – $10 @ Glasslands Gallery 12/4 Jeff Tweedy – $45 @ Bowery Ballroom 12/7 Chief – $13 @ Bowery Ballroom 12/14 Ben Folds – $39.50+ @ The Beacon Theatre 12/14, 15, 17 Prince – $20.10 @ IZOD Center 12/16 Fran Healy (Travis) – $30 @ Bowery Ballroom 12/17 Bear Hands – $13 @ Bowery Ballroom 12/17 Steve Mason (Beta Band) – $15 @ Mercury Lounge 12/18, 29 Prince – $20.10+ @ Madison Square Garden 12/30, 31 Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings $39.50/$55 @ Best Buy Theatre 12/31 Guided By Voices – $72 @ Irving Plaza 12/31 The Roots – $85 @ Brooklyn Bowl 1/1 Gogol Bordello – $35 @ Terminal 5 1/4 Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven – $22 @ Highline Ballroom 2/4 Tapes n Tapes – $15 @ Mercury Lounge 2/13 Pat Benatar – $45+ @ Wellmont Theatre 3/18 Crystal Castles – $25 @ Terminal 5
Its not too often that I’m so lucky that I can see a band 3x in a week. Especially one that hails from Newcastle! You know, that place where ale comes from! Viva City was here for CMJ and then is off on a small tour throughout the U.S. Currently they’re playing somewhere in Texas. Luckily for all of us, early next year this 4-some from the UK will be on this side of the pond.
I discovered Viva City when listening to the plethora of bands that were here for CMJ. Not many stood out, but from the first song I heard – it was HOOK, LINE, SINK! Their electro beats are enough to get anyone on the dance floor and add catchy lyrics and youll be singing along as well. The guitars on most the songs give it a grittier feel adding some edge to something that could have become just another boring keyboard electronic act. Their song ‘Switch’ could be an even better version of Prodigy’s “Smack My Bitch Up” is all that I could think upon hearing it. Its heavy and intense sounding with a pulsating beat that drives the song along. “Hot Wax” is beyond catchy and insanely awesome to hear live. Well – I could say that about a lot of their songs (its always hard to choose a favorite).
Most nights sadly they played to near empty clubs, but at least on most nights there was some dancing. The guys do bring enough energy to each of their shows regardless of crowd size. Trev and Ali dance up a storm on stage and are awesome to watch. Trev is usually glammed up – with glittery make up, black polish and some sorta glittery shirt and dancing like crazy behind the keyboard. He looks the part of rock star but thankfully is quite charming when talking to him. Ali was equally charming and our conversation about SF made me want to spend a few hours with lots of beer chatting the night away.
Cant wait till they come back! Might just be my favorite band of 2010!
Setlist:
Fontana’s – 10/26/2010
(if anyone can fill in proper song titles – itd be most appreciated – no clue on some of their writing 🙂 )
Sound of Youth
Hotwax
C4 (cavalcade?)
Brother
Sleep Together
2 Lazers
Vice Audio Ends
Her Royal Hedonist
Remove Money Maker
Heat It Up
Ends
Some pics from the show. All photos and video by Tear-n Tan! DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION!
Ramblings of a Redhead Music Snob 