Vinyl Notes

Last week VinylNotes reviewed the “No Child Left Behind” EP from Nico Vega. Last night we had a chance to see the trio from the MySpace Records burn the Viper Room down with a fired up performance.

The air was heavy, damp and electric. A voice from behind the curtain said “One minute to showtime,” and I looked around, glad I’d chosen to sit on the edge of the stage. As curtain opened, Aja took the stage, barefoot and clad in leggings and a leotard, the audience screamed in excitement. Starting the show on a relatively mellow note; Aja sat on a stool, center stage, with the mic in her face. It wasn’t long before Aja to hopped off the stool and used it as a percussion device before discarding it on the side of the stage as she stomped and strutted ’round, and growled into the microphone.

By the time the trio launched into “Medicine Man” - only the second song in the set - everyone, both the crowd and the band, knew this show was going to be full tilt. Aja, Rich and Dan - vocalist, guitarist and drummer respectively - could not hide their joy as the audience sang along to every word, rocking and swaying, hands in the air. As Aja stomped her foot to the sound of the kick drum and sang, “I don’t need no medicine man to chop my wood…” she grinned big - almost as if in shock - as the crowd pumped their fists and raised their voices in the air. “Gravity” and “Be Giving” sent the Viper Room into a frenzy with the audience jumping and banging their heads as Aja, Rich and Dan played for each other as much as for the concert goers.

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I’ve been hooked on Nico Vega since I heard about them six months ago from a friend at Listen In. Instantly I fell in love with vocalist Aja’s throaty, growling voice, and the infectious, high energy rhythms. I bought their EP No Child Left Behind the very same day.

The opening track “Gravity” is an anti-depression anthem and ode to anyone who has had people use words to tear them down. The negative energy, is like gravity… “a parallel on words” that eventually hurts.

Over time you could kill me
But I’ll resurrect so
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
You ain’t never gonna thrill me
But you can kiss my ass so
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na.”

You are can’t help joining Aja as she declares in a frustrated frenzy

Oh-oh-oh, you’re bringing me down!
Pick it up, pick it up pick it up, pick it…
Oh-oh-oh you’re bringing me down!

“Be Giving” is nothing short of rockin’. Three minutes and 36 seconds of a guitar and drum heavy, throw your hands in the air, bang your head rockin’ goodness. Almost cinematic in quality, the music swells and retreats with martial abandon.

I’m gonna drive off naked with the top down
Even if I don’t make it to the next town
I gonna sleep on the floor tonight ‘cause
I don’t need a damn dime to survive on

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