Viagra Boys “Consistency of Energy” 2016, the Swedish post-punk weird as s**t dance band’s first release, a 4 song EP on Push My Buttons Records. We saw Viagra Boys perform at the Salt Shed last week, our first outdoor show at that venue. It was sold out and pretty insane; we made the conscious choice not to go up front (though our friend Keeley snaked through the crowd to get a couple of photos including this one; mine all suck as they’re way too far away). Glad we did as we saw several folks getting pulled out with mild to not-so-mild medical emergencies due to…well, they were probably too drunk or high to deal. I really love Salt Shed for shows – they really know their business well and have a lot of amenities that make being there pleasant and easy – but I really wish I would have seen Viagra Boys two years ago when they played a smallish club for a Riot Fest afterparty show; seeing them in a smaller venue would have been a much better experience.

Like their show, this first release is throbbing, pounding and hypnotically hard, occasionally accented with weird squawky sax and synth interludes; perfectly crafted for awkward dancing and body passing. My top track is “Research Chemicals,” which may have been released as a single. The other three tracks are great as well: dark and brooding with tons of growl from singer Sebastian Murphy, especially on “I Don’t Remember That.”  “Can’t Get it Up” totally wins for funniest lyrics (though also sad/pathetic, but satirically/bitingly so) and “Liquids” wins for weirdest, grossest, most f**k’d up lyrics (though it’s got a fantastic beat).