The Vivs: Blurt’s Best Kept Secret

Latest pick of cool emerging artist in our ongoing collaboration with Sonicbids.

By Fred Mills

The BLURT staff put our heads (and ears) together and we have the latest (October 2009) pick for our Blurt/Sonicbids "Best Kept Secret": it's Boston rockers The Vivs.

Featuring a lineup comprising assorted veterans of the Boss-town scene - several of the players gained regional fame in the ‘90s with Tribe, while early this century the Vivs initially came together under the moniker Edith - the group has a tough-as-nails sound that tilts towards distaff powerpop (think Patti Smith meets Bettie Serveert) while deploying stealth hooks a la classic postpunk outfits of the early ‘80s.

The lineup:

Karen Harris- Guitar/Vox
Terri Brosius- Keys/Vox
Matt Magee- Guitar
Jim Collins- Bass
Scott Rogers- Drums

On Sept. 22 they issued their debut album Mouth to Mouth, which they proudly describe as frontloaded with "songs you want to play loud" - indeed, that pretty much nails it, from the anthemic grandeur of "Falling off the Wagon (Onto You)" and the strummy, Beatlesque psych of "Waking Up" to the soaring girlgroup-styled pop of "Eiffel Tower" and the sassy, swaggering "Better Now." Throughout, frontwoman Karen Harris and keyboardist Terri Brosius serve up what they call "yin/yang vocals" and that's an apt description as well ‘cos there's a whole lotta chemistry going on here. Fun fact for all you Boston scenewatchers: producing and guesting on guitar on Mouth to Mouth are Eric Brosius from Tribe and David Minehan from the late, great Neighborhoods.

We'll have an interview with the band posted to the site shortly. Check out the band's MySpace page for song samples, tour dates and more. And congratulations to The Vivs. They're one of the good ‘uns, trust us.

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Bands, go to www.sonicbids.com/blurtonline to submit and have us review your materials for feature consideration.

>Our November Best Kept Secret: The Handcuffs, from Chicago.

>Our December Best Kept Secret: Black Swan Green, from Brooklyn

>Our January Best Kept Secret: stephaniesĭd, from Asheville

>Our March Best Kept Secret: Polly Mackey & the Pleasure Principle, from England

>Our June Best Kept Secret: Wiretree, from Austin

>Our August Best Kept Secret: Bulletproof Vests, from Memphis