opium dens, sleazy rock bars, dancing/twirling in the desert, summer garden keg parties with electro belly dancers, acid trips, doing nitrous, boogie-wiggling
opium dens, sleazy rock bars, dancing/twirling in the desert, summer garden keg parties with electro belly dancers, acid trips, doing nitrous, boogie-wiggling
Viva K – Viva K
www.stinkyrecords.com www.vivak.net
Viva K create trashy punk emo rock/industrial psychedelic music that is heavily saturated with an Indian/middle eastern vibe. What comes from this is like nothing I’ve ever heard combined before.
This Silver Lake, California-based band is comprised of Ween Callas, Ravi Dhar, Evan Haros, Skoda. According to the bio, Viva K formed after meeting for a drink and, as stated, "the mutual love for the late George Harrison", an influence which is especially evident.
Other roots influences are be traced directly to PJ Harvey, Sonic Youth, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s and Siouxsie and the Banshees but with the addition of the hypnotic eastern twist, the influences become in a way completely immaterial. Lead singer and cofounder of Viva K, Ween Callas sings as well as play tabla (Indian drum). Evan Haros plays a sitar that he bought at a pawnshop, which supposedly belonged to the late Brian Jones.
Things that were running through my head whilst listening this self-titled debut from VIKA K were opium dens, sleazy rock bars, dancing/twirling in the desert, summer garden keg parties with electro belly dancers, acid trips, doing nitrous, boogie-wiggling and other sixties dance moves and of course jumping around and moshing. Song highlights for me included No Better Time and Does it Matter?, We Are Safe, Splendour, Porch Rags and Just One More.
Words: Zoe Gottehrer.