Viagra Boys

Viagra Boys

May 19

THE WORM TURNS

When: 16 May 2019

Where: The Art School

Support: Squid; Objectified

Knowing very little about the band before tonight I didn’t really know what to expect – what we got was a full on Swedish anarcho punk rock delivered with relish, humour and energy in spades.

I am one of those unusual people who like brass in their rock/pop and so was in my element with VB’s sax player. His squawking, honking horn was central to much of the set and to these ears gave the band welcome echoes of Pigbag and Blurt. And loved those bass lines (thanks Henrik Höckert!)

The whole band delivered but it was difficult to take your eyes off charismatic lead singer (and non-Swede) Sebastian Murphy. Before the first song had ended his shirt was off and his tattooed body on display. His beer belly both a comment on the band’s ironic name and a nod to their inherent humour – why don’t all macho rock stars just let it all hand out?

Their recent debut album, Street Worms, dominates proceedings and the crowd lap up its sarcastic, mocking humour – a sort of Scandinavian Sleaford Mods with added jokes and more instruments. But the really impressive thing is that underneath all the anarchic rumbustiousness the sextet are a very good live band.

Word of this had obviously got out as the venue was upgraded twice and the almost 500 people in The Art School were given a treat – as we left the venue most still had a smile on their face.

Band page

Sample video