Last updated: 3 days ago
"Tweaking the blueprint for 21st-century UK power pop" - Sound On Sound
"A wonderfully commercial mix of clever, lyrical pop…
It's about as perfect as pop gets." - West Briton
Hailing from the dark interior of Cornwall, Grip-Like Vice started life as a high energy power-pop trio and evolved into a distinctive and original quartet developing their own brand of powerful art-rock. The band list XTC, St. Vincent, They Might Be Giants, Everything Everything, The Wannadies, Elliot Smith and Elvis Costello (whose ‘Party Girl’ lyrics inspired the group’s name) as influences, but the chief inspiration is a desire for originality.
The common thread in Grip-Like Vice's evolution is melodic, carefully-crafted and catchy songs delivered with drive and urgency, fusing rowdy rock energy with the lyrical intelligence of quality English pop. Their EP's have received critical praise, and the musicianship and razor-sharp delivery of their stage performances mark them out as one of the most engaging live acts around.
In recent years founder member and songwriter Beren Matthews has lent his talents to pop royalty Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin in headlining shows in Tokyo and London, the latter alongside poll-winning drummer Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree, The Pineapple Thief, King Crimson). More recently, Matthews' emergence as an exceptional guitarist has led to an invitation to join The Pineapple Thief as guest guitarist, with mooted tours of Europe and the USA to come.
"A wonderfully commercial mix of clever, lyrical pop…
It's about as perfect as pop gets." - West Briton
Hailing from the dark interior of Cornwall, Grip-Like Vice started life as a high energy power-pop trio and evolved into a distinctive and original quartet developing their own brand of powerful art-rock. The band list XTC, St. Vincent, They Might Be Giants, Everything Everything, The Wannadies, Elliot Smith and Elvis Costello (whose ‘Party Girl’ lyrics inspired the group’s name) as influences, but the chief inspiration is a desire for originality.
The common thread in Grip-Like Vice's evolution is melodic, carefully-crafted and catchy songs delivered with drive and urgency, fusing rowdy rock energy with the lyrical intelligence of quality English pop. Their EP's have received critical praise, and the musicianship and razor-sharp delivery of their stage performances mark them out as one of the most engaging live acts around.
In recent years founder member and songwriter Beren Matthews has lent his talents to pop royalty Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin in headlining shows in Tokyo and London, the latter alongside poll-winning drummer Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree, The Pineapple Thief, King Crimson). More recently, Matthews' emergence as an exceptional guitarist has led to an invitation to join The Pineapple Thief as guest guitarist, with mooted tours of Europe and the USA to come.
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