We’re only one month into 2015, and we’ve already been graced with one of the best albums of the year. That would be Viet Cong’s self titled album (released via Jagjaguwar), a furious 7-track journey of tightly compressed punk-minded rockers that hits like a ton of bricks. While most people usually turn to sadder folk-related material in the winter, Viet Cong have released a record that oddly enough works perfectly during these drab winter days and nights.
This is indeed the new band of ex-members of the beloved Canadian group Women, but don’t be mistaken. Viet Cong are their own entity, one that have quickly proved that they’re here to stay. Not only is the record a stunner, but their live show is not to be missed. My first taste came last summer where they played under the sun during the annual 4Knots Festival. It was a solid performance, but Viet Cong are the sort of band meant to be seen in a tiny club where their ruckus can be played as loud as possible, bouncing off the walls before destroying your eardrums.
This is what they did Thursday night at Mercury Lounge, during their very much sold out show (fans waited outside in hopes of getting a last minute ticket), which was packed all the way into the narrow bar area. They played the entirety of their album, as well as “Oxygen Feed” and “Unconscious Melody” from last year’s Cassette EP.
Viet Cong have an ability to lock into a heavy riff and play it out to brutal ends, such as during the climax of “March Of Progress” as well as the end of the aptly titled “Death.” Or the excellent “Continental Shelf,” where they amazingly find a way to capture both the throbbing riffs as well as the dreary backing-vocals. They finished things off with a new song, an encouraging sign that Viet Cong have no signs of slowing down.
They’ll return on June 13 when they play Music Hall of Williamsburg as a part of the Northside Festival. New York trio Walk Moon Things opened up the show (I only caught their last song).
Setlist:
1. Pointless Experience
2. Continental Shelf
3. Silhouettes
4. Bunker Buster
5. March of Progress
6. Oxygen Feed
7. Unconscious Melody
8. Death
9. New Song
What Moon Things:
Viet Cong:
Join the conversation