VIAL "GROW UP" ALBUM REVIEW

Bittersweet lyrics hidden in distorted guitar hooks and crashing drums, VIAL’s “Grow Up” will having you singing along to their emotional venting for just under twenty straight minutes. Toxic exes, perpetually negative and overly dependent friends, and Mercury in retrograde; “Grow Up” deals with gloomier side of adulthood. Starting off with calm, sweet vocals and a clean guitar, the first track “Therapy” kicks in the bass and drums at the thirty-five second mark, and it’s pure driving distortion and passionate vocals until the end of the song, ending the track with a big ole “Fuck You.” VIAL does a fantastic job of condensing some difficult adulting topics into eight tracks that are each clock in under three minutes. “Therapy” deals with a toxic ex, “Dog Days” and “Cut Me Off” both go into complicated and unhealthy friendships, and the more bitter than sweet “Tension” dissects and reflects on a failing relationship. Every track on “Grow Up” has a touch of the bittersweet, but “Tension” is the stand out when it comes to true melancholy vibes, with it’s understated singing and mellow instrumentation, track number six it’s a chance to catch your breath on an album that keeps the tempo high and energy aggressive. Another high point on the album is the penultimate track “DIY,” a song with multiple nods (or rather finger wags) to the DIY music scene, venues, and gatekeepers around the Twin Cities. The song is “A big ole roast of the DIY community and its tendencies” according to the band, and I’ll leave it to you to pick out all the references, but it’s definitely one of my favorite tracks. The lead single “Rough” is an absolute hit and some how gets even better when paired with the music video parodying one of the most iconic movie scenes of the ‘90s, the intro scene to “Scream.” “Rough” is, as the title implies, about going through a rough patch in life, and I love the lyrics “I’ve been sleeping on my couch for the entire year, and I’ve been waiting on all my friends who just seem to disappear, And I’m feeling kind of rough, feeling kind of rough, as fuck, as fuck.” Mercury in retrograde seems to always get me down as well, so I can’t help but smirk at that reference. The second single and title track “Grow Up” is a perfect end-cap to the album as it’s a bittersweet nostalgic yearning for a time before bills, jobs, and the stresses of adulthood. The video for “Grow Up” is also a lot of fun, and makes me want to go back to being a kid again. VIAL released “Grow Up” today, November 29th, so go check it out and stream it on all platforms, and make sure to grab a physical copy at the album release show November 30th at Rowhouse.

VIAL:
Taylor Kraemer - Keytar/vocals - she/they
Kate Kanfield - Bass - she/they
KT Branscom - guitar/vocals - they/them
Katie Fisher - drums/vocals - she/her

(Melodic Noise) How's your day going?
(VIAL - Taylor Kraemer) Good :) Can’t complain!

(MN) What is your formed/origin story?
(VIAL – Taylor Kraemer) It first began as a project from around six years ago that Kate asked me to join. We could never shake the idea of creating an all-femme band! At the beginning of this year, I asked Kate if they wanted to rekindle the band.
(VIAL – Kate Kanfield) When Taylor approached me I was very excited, personally it had been a long time since I’d played music seriously so I had absolutely no idea what I was in for (in the best way).
(VIAL – KT Branscom) From there, Taylor and Kate asked me to join! We wanted a non-male person on drums so we started thinking of ways to find one. We posted fliers around town but didn’t get any promising responses. After that we thought “Hey, why not post an ad on Tinder as a joke?” but it actually ended up working! We found our amazing drummer Katie on there.
(VIAL – Katie Fisher) I was like, “What do you know? That’s me!” It’s such a fluke thing that they thought to advertise on Tinder and I was single at the time and using Tinder, and now they’re my best friends. Life’s weird.

(MN) Genre?
(V – KF) Who knows, man? Depends on the day.
(V – TK) Maybe power-pop, sometimes punk!
(V – KK) Genre is boring, we just do whatever feels right in the moment!

(MN) How did you get involved with Brace Cove?
(V – TK) Brace Cove originally messaged us over social media, then again approached us after a show. We loved their lineup and way of doing things so it was a no-brainer we hop on board with them for our debut album!

(MN) What is the story behine the album name?
(V – KF) Grow Up is named after one of the songs on the album. We realized a lot of our songs are very much based on nostalgia. We knew we wanted some sort of birthday theming, and Grow Up just made sense. We’ve also written quite a few songs about people using childish tactics or manipulation, so it’s sort of a double entendre for telling someone they need to grow up as well.

(MN) Lyrically what stands out on the album?
(V – KB) Our lyrics are either sad or angry or both in all of our songs.

(MN) What was the inspiration behind the album?
(V – KF) The songs are rooted in our lives and issues we’re facing in our late teens / early 20’s. Relationships, sexism, struggling to find balance, independence.
(V – KB) I was inspired by all of the wonderful bands and music in the DIY scene around me and especially by other femme bands.
(V – KK) I was inspired by the chaotic energy that comes from so many changes and things happening over just a few years while growing up. You change so much as a person and have so many experiences in such a short period of time and I hope the album captures some of that chaos.

(MN) What do you hope people take away from the album?
(V – KF) Honestly, we just hope people enjoy it. If a group of friends plays it in their car and sing along, we’ll be over the moon.
(V – KK) I hope people enjoy it and find a piece that they can really relate with. Especially non-male listeners, I hope they find some shared experiences in our music.
(V – KB) I hope people take away that women/femme-presenting people can make music just as well as men can.

(MN) Is there something that connects the songs together?
(V – TK) All of our songs are really bittersweet; They usually have cutting lyrics masked by happy, poppy instrumentals.

(MN) Are you locals or transplants?
(V – ALL) We are all Minnesotans!

(MN) What are some influences and Minnesota influences?
(V – ALL) Bikini Kill, The Tuts, Pup, Nirvana. Our influences are really all over the place.
(V – KB) From Minnesota, specifically, definitely Lizzo and Bruise Violet!
(V – KK) The Riot Grrrl movement has been a huge influence and from Minnesota, Babes in Toyland!

(MN) Favorite current Twin Cities artists?
(V – ALL) Dadbod, Keep for Cheap, Gully Boys, Shackeltons, Natalie Fideler, Bugsy, niiice., Torquemada, Sapphire, Harper’s Jar, Alien Book Club, Kitten Forever... The list goes on and on.

(MN) Favorite venue to play and see shows at in Twin Cities?
(V – TK) Any venue as long as it’s a house!
(V – KF) Rowhouse, for sure. It’s basically our home at this point, they hosted our first local bill and our first mosh pit. House shows have such good energy compared to bars, honestly.
(V – KK) I love Rowhouse! Outside of houses I’ve really enjoyed playing and seeing shows at Moon Palace Books.

(MN) What can fans expect when they come to your show?
(V – ALL) Piss.

(MN) Do you have a favorite/crazy memory of playing a show?
(V – KB) Anytime someone moshes to our music.
(V – KK) I’ll never forget when Taylor started moshing at The Rowhouse during our cover of “Territorial Pissings” and came back covered in beer.
(V – TK) I can’t wait for the day I literally die in a VIAL pit. It’s my preferred mode of passing at this point.

(MN) Who are your dream tourmates?
(V – KF) Lizzo. I think if I even got to be in the room with Lizzo I would explode.
(V – TK) I second Lizzo! Either that or Bikini Kill. I think I’d die.
(V – KK) Absolutely Lizzo and Bikini Kill
(V – KB) Paramore but that’s a long shot, man.

(MN) Other hobbies?
(V – KB) Spending time with my friends and having chill nights.
(V – KF) Maybe this is a boring answer but I absolutely love reading. Playing piano is also high up there.
(V – KK) Like Katie I’m a huge reader, I also really enjoy cross-stitching to destress!
(V – TK) Does stressing about school count?

(MN) What do you like about living in the Twin Cities?
(V – TK) A lot of people in Twin Cities’ DIY scene are dedicated to lifting other artists up, we love that a lot. Music can get really catty, but there are a select few locals I feel like anyone could depend on.
(V – KK) The beautifully and efficiently maintained roads

(MN) Anything that sets the Twin Cities scene apart from places you've toured?
(V – KF) I’ve never been to a show outside of the Twin Cities!
(V – TK) We actually only played our first show around 4 months ago. We have tentative plans to begin touring next summer so we can meet new people and see new places!

(MN) What is your favorite places to grab food or drink in the Twin Cities?
(V – KF) Hideaway Burger Bar, Blue Door is also delicious
(V – TK) I feel like I’m legally obliged to say Hard Times Cafe. I love that place.
(V – KB) My grandma’s house.
(V – KK) Trio Plant-based!!

(MN) Day jobs?
(V – TK) We’re all full-time students! I work throughout the summers at She Rock She Rock but am currently studying music business at Augsburg University.
(V – KF) In the summer I work at Hideaway Burger Bar, but I’m currently a full time student studying computer science and neuroscience!
(V – KB) After school, I work as a child care center worker at Lifetime.
(V – KK) I’m a full time student studying Global Studies and History! I also work as a barista at Starbucks

(MN) What are the band's plans for the future?
(V – TK) We’ve already begun writing for our next album! Maybe a tour in the summer of 2020!
(V – KK) Ideally I’d like to take a nap within the next 3-5 years but who knows!

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Review and Interview by: Andrew Perrizo