Etched in rock

Times New Viking put Ohio back on the map

Times New Viking doesn’t really sound like the name of a band, it sounds most like the name of a font. If it were, it’d be “something Nordic-looking, I guess,” drummer Adam Elliott says.

But the band doesn’t reveal any deeper Scandinavian roots in their sounds. In fact, the sound that the band creates fits nicely in the lineage of rock from their hometown of
Columbus, Ohio.

With the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame just up the road in Cleveland, it’s somehow fitting that the central part of the state has its own hierarchy of sound, with Guided By Voices being the only band to skip above the underground. With local rock heroes playing regularly in town and ruling the record stores, it’s no surprise that the raw Midwestern aesthetic has been passed down to new bands.

“Being from Ohio means you are subjected to a lot of rock bands making music for other rock bands,” Elliot observes. “It’s an odd, sometimes positive, and sometimes redundant context in which to hone in on inspiration.” 

A bit of touring and releases on Siltbreeze Records brought the band to the attention of Matador Records. The revered indie label released the band’s “Rip It Off” earlier this year.

The trio of Jared Phillips, Beth Murphy, and Elliott revel in the lo-fi nature of their sound. The overdriven vocals and gritty sounds are not just a product of the studio. When the band plays live, those elements are pushed to the absolute extremes of both abrasiveness and endearment.

While the band has some harsh sounds, the hooks are rarely lost amidst the noise. On the other hand, the grittiness is just a façade. When asked what part of their hometown they wish could be with them on tour, Elliott admits it’s their cats.

Times New Viking
Sunday, 9 p.m.
Great Scott
1222 Comm. Ave, Allston
MBTA: Green B Line to the Harvard Ave.
$10, 18+, 617-566-9014
www.greatscottboston.com