Preoccupations

Preoccupations

Preoccupations

Preoccupations performing at Le Point Ephémère in Paris, France, 9 February 2015
Background information
Origin Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Genres
Years active 2012–present
Labels
Associated acts Women
Website preoccupations.bandcamp.com
Members
  • Matt Flegel
  • Mike Wallace
  • Scott Munro
  • Daniel Christiansen

Preoccupations are a Canadian post-punk band, that formed in Calgary, Alberta in 2012 under the name Viet Cong. The group consists of two ex-members of the rock band Women, vocalist/bassist Matt Flegel and drummer Mike Wallace, as well as guitarists Scott Munro and Daniel Christiansen. The group's musical style has been described as "labyrinthine post-punk".[1]

History

In 2010, the band Women entered an indefinite hiatus after an onstage fight.[2] That band's guitarist, Christopher Reimer, died in 2012.[3][4] Following Reimer's death and the disbanding of Women, ex-Women bassist Flegel decided to form a new band with Munro, the live guitarist for Chad VanGaalen. They recruited ex-Women drummer Wallace and guitarist Christiansen (the latter previously performed in a Black Sabbath cover band alongside Flegel and Wallace).[5]

The band's debut EP, a self-released cassette, was issued in 2013.[5]

The band performed at SXSW festival in 2014,[6] and then signed to Canadian record label Flemish Eye.[7] The band's cassette release was reissued by Mexican Summer on vinyl on July 8, 2014.[8]

The band released their debut album, Viet Cong, on January 20, 2015 on Jagjaguwar/Flemish Eye.[9] The band announced plans for a North American and European tour to promote the album.[10]

Musical style

The group's musical style was mainly described as "post-punk".[1][11] The band's debut cassette was described as a combination of "crooning post-punk vocals, distant-sounding harmonies a la Nuggets-era psychedelia, noise-addled punk, and Blade Runner-style instrumentals".[1]

Controversy

The band frequently faced controversy over their original name, involving accusations of both racism and cultural appropriation because of the name's association with the original Vietnamese Viet Cong.[12] In March 2015, the band was set to perform at Oberlin College, but the show was canceled due to their "offensive name".[13]

In September 2015, the band announced that they were going to change their name: "We are a band who wants to make music and play our music for our fans. We are not here to cause pain or remind people of atrocities of the past".[12] On March 29, 2016, the Canadian music magazine Exclaim! reported that the band were still booking shows under the name Viet Cong, and began running a real-time "Days since Viet Cong promised to change their name" counter on the magazine's website.[14]

On April 21, 2016, Flegel announced in a Pitchfork interview that the band would henceforth be performing and recording under the name "Preoccupations".[15]

Band members

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Singles

References

  1. 1 2 3 Zoladz, Linsay (March 20, 2014). "Viet Cong - "Bunker Buster" [Rough Mix]". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  2. ↑ Dombal, Ryan (November 1, 2010). "Women Cancel Tour After Clashing Onstage". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  3. ↑ "R.I.P. Christopher Reimer (of Women)". Consequence of Sound. February 22, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  4. ↑ Pelly, Jenn (February 22, 2012). "R.I.P. Women Guitarist Christopher Reimer". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Rising: Viet Cong". Pitchfork. March 13, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  6. ↑ Garrett, Jonathan (March 15, 2014). "SXSW Friday Round-Up: Bully, Happy Diving, Viet Cong, Gang Of Youths". NME. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  7. ↑ Adams, Gregory (March 10, 2014). "Women Offshoot Viet Cong Sign to Flemish Eye". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  8. ↑ Minsker, Evan (May 6, 2014). "Viet Cong Announce "Cassette" EP Reissue, Share "Oxygen Feed"". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  9. ↑ Minsker, Evan (October 15, 2014). "Viet Cong Announce Debut LP, Share "Continental Shelf", Announce Tour". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  10. ↑ Terry, Josh (October 15, 2014). "Viet Cong share new song “Continental Shelf” — listen". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  11. ↑ Friesen, Devib (October 17, 2013). "Post-punk in the corner pocket". Fast Forward Weekly. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  12. 1 2 "Viet Cong to change its band name". CBC Music, September 21, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Viet Cong Show Canceled Due to "Offensive" Band Name". Pitchfork.
  14. ↑ "Viet Cong Are Still Booking Shows as Viet Cong". Exclaim!, March 29, 2016.
  15. ↑ Gordon, Jeremy (2016-04-21). "The Band Formerly Known as Viet Cong Announce New Name". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2016-04-21.

External links

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