Monday Morning Wake Up Call
My Friend's Band Feature - Versus the World
Whoever said punk rock is dead hasn’t heard of Versus the World. A shining gleam of light in the darkness of the “dying” punk scene, VTW has revived my hope in rock n’ roll.
Versus the World is a combination of post-hardcore and punk rock with a splash of positive. They’re from Santa Barbara, California and they love pizza, wine, whiskey, and being way too awesome for their own good.
With my current status being totally heartbroken, hearing Versus the World’s energetic rock sagas have put me on the up and up.
For all you old punk rock fans out there, if you’ve ever heard of the Ataris, Lagwagon, or Crooks and Liars, you might recognize a few faces. This band is a conglomeration of a grip of super talented dudes.
Singer and guitarist Don Spence has way with words. His catchy hooks keep the songs playing in your head over and over again. With heavy guitar riffs and quick beating drums, lyrics about drinking with friends and living in the moment, and hilarious/awesome sound clips from movies – this record makes you want to party in true rock n’ roll fashion.
It’s light-hearted enough to be fun, yet spirited enough to carry emotion. This record has a song that can resonate in any situation. I highly recommend checking out the songs “Mama Sang the Blues,” “Lullabye” and “Amsterdam.” I’ve had some rad moments listening to these tunes, and I know that you all will too.
I saw this band for the first time when they opened up for Authority Zero at the Marquis Theater a bit ago and could immediately tell that they were passionate and radically grateful to be playing music. When I chatted with these gents after, they were extremely welcoming, excited, and all-around excellent guys.
It’s their kind of passion and outlook which is the essence of the music they compose. Live, laugh, love, drink, sing – and be in the moment. Their message lacks the common political negation which most punk music incites, which is super refreshing. A prime candidate for a road trip album, “Drink. Sing. Live. Love.” is definitely on my list of summer jams.
Check out My Friends’ Band – Versus the World. Grab some wine or whiskey and let “Drink. Sing. Live. Love.” become your new favorite album. It quickly became one of mine! Cheers!
-Autumn