by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
You might know Alex Petralia from bands like Oakland’s Nopes, Meh, and Stunted, and yet none of those efforts will prepare the world for the introduction of Vincent Reese. With his debut album Embarrassingly Hard due out April 20th via Tallahassee’s RIP Records (Psychic Flowers, Pena Maxima, Squeeze USA), we meet Reese aka “Vicious Vinnie,” a project that’s as much sketch show as it is punk band. Drawing influences from Beastie Boys, Le Tigre, and Viagra Boys, there’s a sordid comedic sense to his stoned brand of anything goes charm. Character driven and ready to party, Vincent Reese has arrived, bringing the sleaze and the irreverence straight to you. Don’t take it too seriously, and you just might have some fun.
It feels important to take in Vincent Reese’s first single together with the video, with both the audio and video painting one side of the coin. “Running Wild” sets the tone with a clip, directed by David Flores, that’s as strange as it is hilarious, when a workplace internet pop-up turns feral. It’s time to “unleash your inner beast” and Reese is ready with the soundtrack, a pounding dose of chaotic and repetitive electro-punk, noise rock, and dance floor beats. The whole song pulsates and slams like a cocaine fueled bender into the wild. The video, a real must watch, becomes further unhinged as the story unfolds, with our protagonist on the hunt. Throughout his journey there’s vehicular assault, animal prey, a trophy ceremony, shrink-rays, and a damn fine airborne sequence.