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The Band
Kate Hockenhull - Vocals
Stuart Timms - Drums
Simon Humphreys - Guitar)
Steve Whalen - Bass & Backing Vocals
Viper88s (formed in 2004 while Steve Whalen and Simon Humphreys staggered around dodgy sticky floored indie clubs and central London boozers. They, like most drunksters, believed they could make far better music than at least half the bands being played by the DJ's and decided that a band must be formed from the collection of songs and scribbling they had complied over the recent years. Soon they brought their friends Kate Hockenhull and Stu Timms into the fold. This group of friends put their pride where their mouths were and rehearsed in a fury for six months until their debut performance. All went well and from this buzz they decided to continue to gig with the focus of making an album "How To Be Alone" (2006).
Now at the start of 2007 the bands focus is on a new as yet untitled EP to coincide with the Urban Lawns Festival. Four tracks are to be recorded at the end of March that have been tailored and honed over the cold winter months.
The album and the new EP (on release) can be bought on line at www.viper88s.com and will fund continuing adventures in the studio and heavy drinking…
“We could run off the usual list of bands we would love to be compared against but the simple truths is there’s diversity in musical tastes from each band member which reflects on the debut album.”
“How To Be Alone” was recorded and mastered in central London @ Studio Sonic, all the members live, work and play within the big smoke and this album draws from these experiences, but also influences of the music they love. Their track T.I.D.B.A. (Token Indie Disco Beat Anthem), a ska/disco charged free download on MySpace, takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to being single in the city. With other tracks on the album ranging from the punk (Eggshells, Wide Open) to early 70's rock and folk (Alive, Fight Song, Sometimes) to 60's guitar pop (Blue Eyes, Broken Beats) and understated anthems (How To Be Alone, No More). 'House of Sleep' shows Viper88s in a more groove orientated mood, with the drums leaning towards hip-hop, the guitar riff that could almost be a melodic looped sample and at times dub bass building over beautifully rhythmic vocals.
The new EP will continue to envelop on foundations of the album with a leaning towards the likes of TIDBA and House of Sleep, rather than the raw punk sound, showing an enhanced ability to construct songs above the 2min mark, but the vipers will still keep their bite!Discography
2006 - How To Be Alone (Album)
Due Spring 2007 - Hands On (EP)
What the Press Say
“ …Rock and Roll, melodic folk…” and " ...menacing and cock sure RocknRollio… " Bugbear Promotions
"femme-fronted rock band of choice" dancetech.com.
“Bombastic indie rock with the glittering femme fronted panache of early Blondie, spiky, driving and utterly enjoyable throughout…” Subba-Cultcha.com
