Viet Cong, Girl Band (Dublin), and Pale Hound @ Sinclair // BOSTON HASSLE

On Tuesday June 16th Pale Hound, Girl Band (Dublin), and Viet Cong played at the Sinclair in Harvard Square.

Local favorite and Allston natives Pale Hound opened with jangly indie hard rock, reminiscent of Speedy Ortiz. Vocalist Ellen Kempner sang soulful songs with hyper-personal lyrics about betrayal, showering, and rich lovers over folky guitar. This group is one to watch, check out their “Bent Nail” EP. “Pet Carrot” starts with the lackadaisical lamentations of a lonely girl talking to her pet, but builds into a scorned lovers’ anthem. Kempner writes catchy lyrics about being hurt, sad, and mistreated, “my heart’s a beginner but your love was a sinner… bundled up in summer, but your love was a bummer” she sing-songs over light guitar strumming.

Pretty boys Girl Band followed serving up cocky hardcore tunes with punchy lyrics. Vocalist Dara Kiely alternated between singing and scream-singing punctuating his sentences by screeching the last word of his verse. The hardcore band kept up a lively performance and got the crowd to start its first of many small mosh pits. Kiely continued charming the audience and laughing into the microphone to keep spirits high as he delivered the news that this was their very first show in Boston and very first show at the Sinclair. Dara Kiely had a solid singing voice. The bass and guitar were equal parts distorted on many tracks to deliver alluring yet raucous songs. I particularly liked their trance-inducing “Cha Cha Cha” a short hardcore jam that got the audience to the brink of moshing before the song came to an abrupt end after thirty seconds.

Viet Cong played with enthusiasm their experimental post-punk. Three of the four-piece wore thick flannels in muggy New England weather, their aesthetic was sweatiness. After playing nonstop, continuing without missing a beat into their next track as if too excited to stop for half their set, they took a breather to explain themselves. Matt Flegel confessed, “so the secret is out… we’re Canadian! What do you think of our trio of plaid? What do you think of his clear guitar? It’s to see more plaid!” he yelled to the crowd. The most impressive part of their performance was to see how multitalented Viet Cong was; the vocalist Matt Flegel sang and played bass simultaneously and one guitarist occasionally played keyboard with a guitar still slung around his shoulders. Grainy distorted guitar lead into distorted vocals while the drummer Mike Wallace bounced his blond bowl cut in tune to the beat of his snare.

Check out their self-titled album, “Viet Cong”, and single release “Silhouettes”.

Girl Band Photo by Ben Stas