Viagra Boys - Squid - Mice On Mars at The Boileroom

Support from Squid and Mice Ön Mars

V**gra Boys is a Swedish punk band from Stockholm. Formed in 2015, the 6 man band started exploring their very own lane in what would become to be called ugly gonzo post punk genre. With a wide range of influences such as Screaming Jay Hawkins, Butthole Surfers, Suicide, Dead Kennedys they’ve created a melting pot that we know as V**gra Boys.

The name V**gra Boys may make you think of failing sexual abilities, and that’s kind of what it’s about. The name was chosen as a pun to mans’ failed role in society.

It all started out when Henrik “Benke” Höckert and Sebastian “Sebbe” Murphy, who knew each other from the world of tattooing, had a rowdy night out. They ended up in a karaoke bar where Benke for the first time heard Sebbe singing, and he instantly knew that he had witnessed something special. He woke up the next day knowing that this was the start of something real. Anyone who has seen Sebbe perform will know exactly why.
�They started writing songs together and after contacting guitarist Benjamin “Benis” Vallé, with whom Benke had been playing with for over a decade, and finally Sol Tor Sjödén on drums, the Viagra Boys were a fact.

After a couple of sessions at their rehearsal spot, making songs in their living rooms, countless recordings on their phones, their first recording project, the 12” “Consistency of energy” began to take shape. It was recorded in Studio Cobra in Stockholm.

From the very first gig it was a buzz, almost like a fever. Quickly the band got a reputation of being a one of a kind, real, unapologetically raw live act, and their unique sound spread contagiously through the underground scenes of both punk, hip hop, experimental electronic music and even jazz circuits.

Sebastians lyrics, wild energy and stage persona was compared to greatness like Iggy Pop, Gibby Haynes and Nick Cave.
“Consistency of energy” was reviewed on all of Swedens largest TV networks and newspapers, and it didn’t take long until the band was playing abroad.

After the release of their 2nd 12” ”Call of the wild”, the band was nominated for a Swedish Grammy. They played, amongst others, Leeds Festival, Reading Festival, Roskilde Festival, Öya festival.

2017 the band started working on their first studio album ”Street Worms”. The first recording session took place at Studio Rymden with Daniel ”Fagge” Fagerström as a producer and the second session took place at Ingrid Studios with Pelle Gunnerfeldt as a producer. The record was released in September 2018 on the label YEAR0001.

“Street worms” has put V**gra Boys on the map after critics around the world praised the grand introduction of what they called Swedens best kept secret. Pitchfork named the lead single “Sports” the “Best new track”, while Annie Mac played it regularly on her BBC Radio show.

With an extremely successful release the band played a quickly sold out London tour, including Rough Trade and the already legendary night at Shackwell Arms.

https://www.vboysstockholm.com/

Squid

"Spunky art punk tunes that are supremely enjoyable"- Paste
"Angular grooves that explode into a spacey crash"- Stereogum
"They take a steady motorik rhythm and step on the gas" - The Guardian
"They’ve got the whole urgent, propulsive post-punk thing nailed"- NME
"Mad, eclectic, stupidly exciting new noise"- DIY

Formed in Brighton, Squid is the brainchild of Ollie Judge (Drums & Lead Vocals), Louis Borlase (Guitars & Vocals), Arthur Leadbetter (Keyboards), Laurie Nankivell (Bass & Brass) and Anton Pearson (Guitars & Vocals).

The hotly tipped post-punk, disco-funk phenomenon Squid recently released their incandescent new single called Houseplants which saw them team up with producer Dan Carey and emerge with a powerful, intensely angular track. Houseplants recalls the finest corners of late 70s post-punk alongside a propulsive motorik drive and glimmers of early noughties disco with the end result being an effortlessly exciting ride.

Houseplants which has had great support from BBC Radio 1 and 6 Music as well as being featured in The Guardian, The Quietus, NME, So Young and The Line Of Best Fit and many more publications.

Squid recently performed at SXSW and received rave reviews for their performances from The Times, Paste Magazine, DIY and Steve Lamacq who introduced them for their 6 Music showcase at the festival.

Previous singles The Dial and Terrestrial Changeover Blues (2007 - 2012) were both released in 2018 and proved to be pivotal for the band in setting up 2019 as their breakthrough year.

Squid are fast becoming known for their incendiary live shows; they play with an energy and conviction that is positively transcendent in its chaos and fever. Having performed their first festival shows and sold out headline shows to rapturous audiences, Squid are set to make 2019 their own with a summer full of festival appearances and their first shows outside Europe.