Kevin and Anita Robinson formed Viva Voce in their native Muscle Shoals, AL, in 1998. Heeding the call of the woods, they relocated to Portland, OR, in 2001.
Get Yr Blood Sucked Out, their third LP (Barsuk, Sept. 12), is a markedly dark and sultry record, epic in scope and anything but simple in formulation. Anita's rock-god(dess) guitar excursions (she says she hopes this record makes people enjoy guitars again) and Kevin's thunderous drumming combine in an intense, empowering album. An underlying deftness of arrangement and composition supports the band's mélange of fuzzed-out psych, infectious melody, and hand-clap breakdowns (often all in the same song). Viva Voce both continually challenges and stimulates the listener while holding them blissfully entranced.
Listen to Viva Voce's "When Planets Collide" MP3 at this location.
Silversun Pickups’s recently released debut LP, Carnavas, has been hailed by critics and fans alike, and the Angelenos are gladly taking their shoegaze-tinged angst rock on the road. Yet, their secret weapons are the achingly potent melodies of their songs, which poke their lovely, shy heads out and ultimately proclaim their power in rare shades of melancholic ardor. While so many bands oft-claim supreme melody as the underpinning of their noise, with the Pickups it can claim moral superiority. Try as you may, the melodies will lodge themselves in your brain long after the music has stopped.
Transferring the album’s splendorous riot of beauty onto the concert is an effortless task for these dedicated friends, who’re happy to have found each other and make, almost like frosting on the cake, magnificent music together.
Silversun Pickups' "Well Thought Out Twinkles" MP3 is available here.
Viva Voce and Silversun Pickups Fall 2006 Tour:
09/28 - Rickshaw Stop - San Francisco CA
09/29 - Howie and Sons - Visalia CA
09/30 - The Echo - Los Angeles CA
10/01 - Modified - Phoenix AZ
10/03 - Emo’s - Austin TX
10/04 - Opolis - Norman OK
10/05 - Randy Bacon Gallery - Springfield MO
10/07 - Courtyard Café - Urbana IL
10/08 - Southgate House - Newport KY
10/10 - Iota Club and Café - Arlington VA
10/11 - Mercury Lounge - New York NY
10/12 - Mercury Lounge - New York NY
10/13 - Johnny Brenda’s - Philadelphia PA
10/15 - Middle East Upstairs - Cambridge MA
10/16 - The Bug Jar - Rochester NY
10/17 - Lee’s Palace - Toronto ON
10/18 - The Lime Spider - Akron OH
10/20 - Empty Bottle - Chicago IL
10/21 - Maintenance Shop - Ames IA
10/24 - Hi Dive - Denver CO
10/26 - Neurolux - Boise ID
10/28 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland OR
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