Viagra Boys at Electric Ballroom

Two years after their last London show, Swedish post-punk sensation Viagra Boys touched down at Camden’s iconic Electric Ballroom last night as part of their UK tour to promote latest album Welfare Jazz, taking in other key cities from Brighton to Manchester.

The sold-out show was a reflection of the sentiments and sonics of the new record: a genre-defying post-punk album steeped in dark humour and satire and rejecting society’s normalisation of racism, classism and self-obsession. As singer Sebastian Murphy described the album in the NME: “I’m not good at talking about politics, but everything is political when it comes down to it. We wrote these songs at a time when I had been in a long-term relationship, taking drugs every day, and being an asshole. I didn’t really realise what an asshole I was until it was too late, and a lot of the record has to do with coming to terms with the fact that I’d set the wrong goals for myself.”

The concert  kicked off with one of Viagra Boys’ earliest tracks, Research Chemicals, a groovy fusion of minimalistic hard rock and funky ska jazz, filled with with eerie discordant sounds.

As any fan will well know, the band are far from conventional, often channelling the more subversive elements of punk’s yesteryear to make for a raucous and unpredictable experience – and this performance was no exception. Frontman Sebastian Murphy in particular was on top form, with his captivating stage demeanour dialled up to full-throttle as he performed tracks shirtless, wearing his tattoo-covered paunch with pride while shouting out lyrics to his adoring crowd or writhing on the floor.

And he did a fine job of bringing his fans with him on his rollercoaster journey of a set, hyping up the packed venue to a giant mosh pit with crowd surfing breaking out left, right and centre. He chatted to the throngs of concertgoers about their athleticism as they were “dancing for their lives”, recalling his own more agile days and sprinting prowess.

A tender moment among the madness came when a fan gave Murphy a sign saying “Thank you Benis” and the singer then dedicated the show to their co-founder/guitarist Benjamin “Benis” Vallé, who tragically died October of this year.

Welfare Jazz‘s opener, Ain’t Nice, made an appearance, as did Cold Play, Toad, 6 Shooter, Secret Canine Agent and I Feel Alive. But classics such as Slow Learner, Worms and Down in the Basement featured, too.

The crowd went on fire as sounds of a tennis match began to play throught the PA. It was the moment everyone was waiting for, a storming rendition of their hit Sports. Then the Stockholm hailing group finished up the wild gig skanking out on Shrimp Shack with the sounds of the sax playing out amid a blaze of strobe lighting along with the poignant lines: “I’m surfin’ / Surfin’ with your mom / Surfin’ through life / Give a shit about anything.” Not a bad note to finish on.

Sean Richards
Photos: Filippo L’Astorina

For further information and future events visit V**gra Boys’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Ain’t Nice here: