Preoccupations
| Preoccupations | |
|---|---|
| Preoccupations
Preoccupations performing at Le Point Ephémère in Paris, France, 9 February 2015
|
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | Women |
| Website | preoccupations |
| Members |
|
Preoccupations are a Canadian post-punk band, that formed in Calgary, Alberta in 2012 under the name Viet Cong. The group consists of two ex-members of the rock band Women, vocalist/bassist Matt Flegel and drummer Mike Wallace, as well as guitarists Scott Munro and Daniel Christiansen. The group's musical style has been described as "labyrinthine post-punk".[1]
Contents
History
In 2010, the band Women entered an indefinite hiatus after an onstage fight.[2] That band's guitarist, Christopher Reimer, died in 2012.[3][4] Following Reimer's death and the disbanding of Women, ex-Women bassist Flegel decided to form a new band with Munro, the live guitarist for Chad VanGaalen. They recruited ex-Women drummer Wallace and guitarist Christiansen (the latter previously performed in a Black Sabbath cover band alongside Flegel and Wallace).[5]
The band's debut EP, a self-released cassette, was issued in 2013.[5]
The band performed at SXSW festival in 2014,[6] and then signed to Canadian record label Flemish Eye.[7] The band's cassette release was reissued by Mexican Summer on vinyl on July 8, 2014.[8]
The band released their debut album, Viet Cong, on January 20, 2015 on Jagjaguwar/Flemish Eye.[9] The band announced plans for a North American and European tour to promote the album.[10]
Musical style
The group's musical style was mainly described as "post-punk".[1][11] The band's debut cassette was described as a combination of "crooning post-punk vocals, distant-sounding harmonies a la Nuggets-era psychedelia, noise-addled punk, and Blade Runner-style instrumentals".[1]
Controversy
The band frequently faced controversy over their original name, involving accusations of both racism and cultural appropriation because of the name's association with the original Vietnamese Viet Cong.[12] In March 2015, the band was set to perform at Oberlin College, but the show was canceled due to their "offensive name".[13]
In September 2015, the band announced that they were going to change their name: "We are a band who wants to make music and play our music for our fans. We are not here to cause pain or remind people of atrocities of the past".[12] On March 29, 2016, the Canadian music magazine Exclaim! reported that the band were still booking shows under the name Viet Cong, and began running a real-time "Days since Viet Cong promised to change their name" counter on the magazine's website.[14]
On April 21, 2016, Flegel announced in a Pitchfork interview that the band would henceforth be performing and recording under the name "Preoccupations".[15]
Band members
- Matt Flegel - bass, vocals
- Mike Wallace - drums
- Scott "Monty" Munro - guitar, synth
- Daniel Christiansen - guitar
Discography
Studio albums
- Viet Cong (2015, Flemish Eye/Jagjaguwar)
EPs
- Cassette cassette EP (2013, self-released)
- Cassette 12" EP (2014, Mexican Summer)
Singles
- "Throw It Away" (2013, self-released)
- "Continental Shelf" (2014, Jagjaguwar)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Viet Cong to change its band name". CBC Music, September 21, 2015.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Viet Cong Are Still Booking Shows as Viet Cong". Exclaim!, March 29, 2016.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.
