Viva City

Artist Information

Biography

UK-based Viva City mash electro beats with gritty electric guitar riffs and synthesizer-heavy basslines. “the band have drawn comparisons with The Faint, Prodigy, LCD Soundsystem, Depeche Mode and Justice. The band dropped their debut album ‘Phobia’ last month with great response from industry and fans alike.

“I fucking love this band and everything about them. You might say
these guys were some of the “bad boys” of the British Music
Embassy.” (ClickDagger Blog @ Viva City’s SXSW Embassy Performance 19 March 2011).

Viva City have gained international acclaim, making a huge imprint on the US scene following commanding showcases at SXSW in Austin, Texas and CMJ Music & Film Marathon in New York City. They were also recently invited back to perform at ultra-hip LA hang-out The Viper Room, previewed as “A must-see in Hollywood” by the LA Examiner, and described as “bad-ass hard electro...do not miss these guys” by SuperGoodMusic.

Their latest single, the out of the box smash 'Remove Moneymaker' has been described as “An urgent mix of velvet guitar, fused with Viva City’s trademark electronic wizardry, this storming track is a surefire club hit”. The band’s previous releases have been cited as “sheer genius” by Tom Robinson of BBC 6 Music, and “as if the Prodigy suddenly discovered how to write good tunes” by David Sinclair of The Times.

Back in the UK, the band has an impressive list of gigs across the country to their name, including Rockness Festival, Evolution Festival, Liverpool Sound City, Camden Crawl, Channel 4 Television’s Outside In Festival and a virtual gig streamed live on Second Life. The track “Hotwax”, mixed by Kosheen DJs, was recently used for a British TV commercial in association with leading British fashion retailers Schuh, USC and Topshop.

Viva City caught the eye of Dutch DJ maestro Don Diablo, and following a collaboration Diablo released a mini-album of Viva City tracks as part of his mix-compilation, Sellout Sessions 02 (which also features tracks & mixes by Public Enemy, Justice and Boys Noize). Diablo has also released a remix of Viva City’s track ‘Audio Endlessly’ in Europe and the USA to rave reviews, and their video made the MTV Europe playlist. Don Diablo comments that “Future superstars Viva City are creating a new sound for a new era”.

Unleashing blazing support sets during 2009, including for The Futureheads at the iconic Sage in NewcastleGateshead, and in 2008 for superstars Kosheen at London's Koko and Islington Academy (both sold out), Viva City’s awesome performances blow fans away with their audacious mix of genres, unique style and in-your-face raw energy. With headlining residencies for London club nights at Egg and the Scala, these rising electro indie stars are winning new fans across the country and the globe.

So, what’s next for Viva City? Having just played with BBC Radio One DJ Kissy Sellout on his UK-wide San City High Tour, Viva City have also recently toured the US across New York, Maryland, California, New Jersey, Arkansas and Texas. The band are about to tour the UK to promote their album, and have been invited to perform at Evolution Festival, Liverpool Sound City 2011 and Britweek in California.

Instrumentation

Ali Allerdyce - Vox & Guitar
Trev Stardust - Vox & Samples
Bruce Tate - Bass & Synths
Chris Cairns - Drums

Discography

License releases:

1. Messed Up (Tech Itch Remix) Jun 2009
2. Hotwax (Kosheen DJs Remix) Oct 2009
3. Audio Endlessly (Don Diablo Remix) Apr 2009
4. Phobia (Album) Mar 2011

Links

• MySpace
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Audio Endlessly Video

Audio

• Crisis (Phobia Album Sampler)
  Listen  
• Western Front (Phobia Album Sampler)
  Listen  
• HotWax(RadioEdit)
  Listen  
• Mad Love
  Listen  

Video

Viva City @ SXSW 2010

Photo Gallery

Press

• Viva City Is A Must See Band In Hollywood [+ Show ]
  

  “Viva City are gaining critical acclaim from fans and journalists alike as the new darlings of the e...“Viva City are gaining critical acclaim from fans and journalists alike as the new darlings of the electro scene. The Newcastle-based band just released their third single 'Behold' which is laced with a fusion of drum and bass breakbeat and electro indie-pop. The recent collaboration with club music icon Don Diablo to produce 'Audio Endlessly' exemplifies how the new breed of electronic music is constantly evolving into something better. The fresh alternative that Viva City offers sounds like a throwback from the New Wave and Industrial music of the early 90's; think Fad Gadget, early Nine Inch Nails and Prodigy meshed with Pendulum. Tracks like 'Hotwax' and their second single, 'Have You Ever Felt So Messed Up?', are infectious anthems that scream to be danced along to.”

• Spread The Word - Viva City Rocks! [+ Show ]
  

  “Have you heard Viva City yet? A UK electronic-rock band that will blow your mind. Currently we only...“Have you heard Viva City yet? A UK electronic-rock band that will blow your mind. Currently we only have their 2010 music sampler with six tracks, but those six tracks provide a dance party you can't resist. They played our HIGH VOLTAGE event last night at The Viper Room and if their recorded music wasn't enough, their live show took the band to a whole new level in our eyes. With a high energy stage presence, glam rock style and electronic flare it's possible this band might be music's best kept secret at the moment. However, that won't last long... SPREAD THE WORD - VIVA CITY ROCKS!”

• Best live band I’ve seen in a long time [+ Show ]
  

  “Best live band I’ve seen in a long time” After supporting him on his San City High Tour, Sep 20...“Best live band I’ve seen in a long time”
  
  After supporting him on his San City High Tour, Sep 2010

• Best Band In Newcastle [+ Show ]
  

  Viva City are a local band we really like & we think they will make it really big. Having seen bi...Viva City are a local band we really like & we think they will make it really big.
  
  Having seen billions of really good local bands we feel there is something special about these dudes. We don’t know them well or anything like that, they just played at the Club recently & we were stunned by how good they were. They are quite hard to put into words but we shall try…
  
  They have a kinda early Roxy Music vibe, are more than just a bit glam & seem to approach modern electronic music with a sort of James Brown meets Led Zeppelin type swagger. The sound of now for sure. Hard to imagine..?
  
  
  
  Go & see them live, you will be amazed & in our opinion they are by far the best live band we have seen from Newcastle. We were stunned, which doesn’t happen often.
  
  In terms of the impact they made in the Club, they are running close to The Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra from New York (who totally smashed the Club in the Summertime, when they were over in the UK), for the title of WHQ live show of the year.
  
  They have got a little myspace site going on & the address is something like myspace.comvivacityuk so check that out, but for the real deal make a point of going to see them live & you’ll see what we mean. Honestly Viva City are tremendous.
  
  WHQ, Newcastle

• As if the Prodigy... [+ Show ]
  

  "As if the Prodigy suddenly discovered how to write good tunes". David Sinclair, The Times, Dec 2009..."As if the Prodigy suddenly discovered how to write good tunes". David Sinclair, The Times, Dec 2009.

• Home-turf gig for Viva City [+ Show ]
  

  Viva City are about to say goodbye to Tyneside for a US tour, but not before a send-off gig, as Ente...Viva City are about to say goodbye to Tyneside for a US tour, but not before a send-off gig, as Entertainment Editor GORDON BARR reports
  
  THEY’RE making a name for themselves in their native North East.
  
  But soon the name and sounds of Viva City will be resonating much further afield.
  
  Newcastle’s hot new electro-rock stars play a home-turf gig this Thursday before jetting off to play the hugely influential South By South West international music industry showcase in Texas next month and their first USA tour.
  
  The four-piece will be travelling across the States playing at iconic music venues such as The Roxy in Los Angeles and celebrity hang-out The Viper Room in Hollywood, previously owned by film megastar Johnny Depp.
  
  But first Viva City revisit The Cluny in Newcastle to unleash their storming tracks which mash dirty guitars, throbbing drum & bass basslines and anthemic vocals with electronic wizardry.
  
  Viva City are hotly tipped as a band to watch in 2010.
  
  Produced by the Kosheen DJs, the innovative four-piece have had a great start to the year and supported The Sugababes, Pixie Lott and N-Dubz at Channel 4’s new festival Outside In at The Sage Gateshead at the end of last month.
  
  As one of only a few UK bands invited to play at the high-profile South By South West event in Austin, Viva City are poised to explode on to the world stage.
  
  Last year they celebrated the release of their single Have You Ever Felt So Messed Up with a ‘virtual’ gig at The Cluny.
  
  The performance was streamed live on to a virtual Baltic Square stage by Newcastle/Gateshead-based company Vector76. It followed the highly successful Vector 76 virtual gig by Little Boots, brought live from Tyneside’s Evolution ’09 Festival.
  
  Have You Ever Felt So Messed Up was the follow-up to their debut single Kate Bush, which charted last year at number four in the official independent charts.
  
  Formed in 2005, Viva City have also supported The Futureheads, toured with Kosheen and played last year’s Evolution festival.
  
  They also impressed industry judges at the Camden Crawl, reaching the finals of the 2009 Indie Idle competition.
  
  Winning critical acclaim for their first three singles, they continue to garner fantastic support.
  
  Viva City are at The Cluny on Thursday. Doors open 7pm, under-18s are welcome, and entry is £3.
  
  Their US tour sees them play Colorado, Hollywood and Texas, before they return to Tyneside for a gig at Roxy at Offshore 44 on Newcastle Quayside on April 7.
  
  Gordon Barr
  

• US REVIEWS - Links [+ Show ]
  

  http://www.internetdj.com/article/uks-viva-city-spread-electro-rock-to-us-1180 http://www.pluginm...http://www.internetdj.com/article/uks-viva-city-spread-electro-rock-to-us-1180
  
  http://www.pluginmusic.com/news/article/uks-viva-city-head-stateside-for-new-dates
  
  http://musicremedy.com/v/viva-city/videos/audio-endlessly-ft-don-diablo-41130.html
  
  http://frantikmag.com/blog/2010/01/26/uks-viva-city-spread-their-electro-rock-wizardry-to-us-with-new-dates/
  
  http://www.antimusic.com/news/10/jan/26Viva_City_Announce_U.S.Dates.shtml
  
  http://www.greenshoelace.com/gsl-music-box/2010/02/04/viva-city-coming-to-the-us-with-new-tour-dates/http://www.internetdj.com/article/uks-viva-city-spread-electro-rock-to-us-1180
  
  

• Viva City to play worldwide virtual gig [+ Show ]
  

  HOMEGROWN music scene buzz- makers, Viva City are releasing their follow-up single on Monday. And...HOMEGROWN music scene buzz- makers, Viva City are releasing their follow-up single on Monday.
  
  And to celebrate, they’ll be playing a ‘virtual gig’, live from The Cluny in the Ouseburn, Newcastle, at the weekend.
  
  The performance by the North East electro four-piece: Ali Allerdyce, Trev Stardust, Bruce Tate and Chris Cairns, will be streamed live onto the virtual Baltic Square stage on Saturday, courtesy of Tyneside-based virtual world development company Vector76.
  
  It’s one in a line of promotional activities the band are undertaking in support of the single Have You Ever Felt So Messed Up, which follows their critically-acclaimed debut, Kate Bush. They’ll also be doing an in-store performance (and a signing session, one would expect) at HMV on Northumberland Street, Newcastle, on Monday at 5pm.
  
  Formed in 2005, Viva City (whose members hail from Whitley Bay, Washington and Seaton Delaval), have supported The Futureheads, toured with Kosheen, played at this year’s Newcastle Evolution festival and impressed industry judges at the Camden Crawl in London, reaching the finals of the 2009 Indie Idle competition.
  
  Oh, and Glen Matlock from the Sex Pistols told them he thought they were ‘wicked’. And that’s a direct quote.
  
  For more information on their gigs and to hear what the band are about, visit www.myspace.com/vivacityuk

• The Mix Video Of The Week [+ Show ]
  

  THE SUNDAY SUN, 19 July 2009 THE MIX VIDEO OF THE WEEK North East band VIVA CITY are making a ...THE SUNDAY SUN, 19 July 2009
  
  THE MIX VIDEO OF THE WEEK
  
  North East band VIVA CITY are making a name for themselves in the music world.
  The four-piece, who hail from Newcastle, release Have You Ever Felt So Messed Up on July 27. Here is Viva City in action with the official video of the track. See it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD8Loz-ppC4.

• Sheer Genius!
  

  “Viva City’s Kate Bush is a storming two minute slice of electropop… Sheer genius.”

Setlist

TBC

Basic Requirements

Calendar