A wannabe- badass rock band with soul.
From the first track, “Burn Burn,” L.A. trio Nico Vega is clearly a wannabe- badass rock band that gives you the feeling you should be enjoying them at a dive bar while wearing a cropped leather jacket. Aja Volkman is the soulful, bold, and sometimes screaming voice of Nico Vega, who manages to rise and fall dramatically with the catchy riffs of Rich Koehler’s guitar and the backbone beats of Dan Epand’s drums. I love “Gravity,” which will have you shouting, clapping, and busting out dances, even if they are too-cool-for-school moves. The album’s less memorable songs are still abrasive and emotional, and it’s hard to resist chanting along with all the trio’s “na-na”s and “la-la”s. Falling somewhere between the White Stripes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Nico Vega will find a place on your musical shelf.