On Friday, April 5th, Rough Trade NYC was the place to be to see two of the most promising bands in this scene at the moment. Swedish punk rockers Viagra Boys and Montreal’s art-rockers Pottery have been touring together and the tour’s stop to Brooklyn very much sold out and anticipated to see both the bands who were hot off some buzzy performances the week prior in Austin, Texas for SXSW.
Pottery is preparing the release of their debut EP No. 1 via Partisan Records, out on May 10th. The band takes a mix of garage and punk with an artful approach that sounds a bit like The Talking Heads on steroids. The band’s opening set didn’t take long to win over me and the rest of the packed crowd. Their sound seemed to warp and evolve throughout the set, with bristling energy that never slowed down but mixed speeds and sounds with an ease that felt dynamic and utterly confident. They have a sound that seems limitless and the live chops to deliver it passionately and effectively. We can’t wait to get our hands on their EP and blast it loud all Spring.
Viagra Boys had a lot of people talking when they made their NYC live debut in early March at Elsewhere (Zone One) so we made it a point to catch them at Rough Trade NYC. Considering the sold out crowd, we were not the only ones and the band didn’t let me down at all. They had the energy and momentum going from the minute they kicked into gear and never let up. The crowd got worked up into a frenzy along with them and the ever-engaging frontman Sebastian Murphy who spent his time singing crawling on all fours, spilling beer, going shirtless, folding said shirt. They have the sort of live energy that is overwhelming in the best way possible and the sort of thing that has you addicted going back for more.
We’re excited to see both Pottery and Viagra Boys whenever they return to us as soon as possible and hope you can catch them soon as both bands are in for an exciting future.
Find photo galleries for both Pottery and Viagra Boys below, along with openers Spiral Heads, who made their first ever live performance that night.
Spiral Heads:
Pottery:
Viagra Boys:
Viagra Boys setlist:
1. Research Chemicals
2. Slow Learner
3. Frogstrap
4. Just Like You
5. Amphetanarchy
6. Down In The Basement
7. Sports
8. I Don’t Remember That
9. Worms
10. Shrimp Shack
Join the conversation