The Mod Violets “The Mod Violets” 2018. Violet Groove Records. Jangly power pop from Milwaukee. Despite being pretty good friends with the bass player and having this LP for awhile now, our first opportunity to see The Mod Violets play live came this past weekend. They played their set at Puddler’s 2nd Annual Block Party in our Bay View neighborhood from a flatbed truck; it was a lovely afternoon with cheap drinks, good friends (but not too crowded) and perfect summer weather.

The Mod Violets at Puddler’s Block Party, July 30th 2022

The Mod Violets is according to their own description “Musically complex, [with] lyrically deep songwriting and a crack rhythm section.” I agree! One of my favorite lines comes from the song “Mirror” – “Let me be your mirror [nice Velvet nod there] so I can show you the hippest chick that’s in this one-horse town.” Musically the bulk of the songs are extra jangly, super-melodic with lots of good harmonization; as their name suggests, they are heavily influenced by 60’s sounds so there’s a fair bit of garage and psychedelia swirling around. My top tracks include the opener “Playground,” the twangy psychedelic rocker “Not Come Back,” the extra-hallucinogenic and exotic “Control” and the soaring, harmonic loud-quiet-loud “In Your Window.”

And just because I can, here’s a shot from the Block Party that really is peak Bay View: our friend John (who played later that evening with Two and a Half Stars) and local personality The Milverine (google it).