Fresh off the release of their new album Memory, their first album in eight years, Vivian Girls kicked off their tour in Los Angeles, with their second show of the tour at the Regent Theater in Downtown LA. But in the past eight years, frontwomen Cassie Ramone and Katy Goodman have not been inactive — Goodman started her own project La Sera and Ramone, along with Kevin Morby formed the band Babies. Fans packed in the Regent Theater, excited for the long-awaited reunion performance from the Vivian Girls.

“This is our first show in LA in over five years!” Bassist and singer Katy Goodman shared with the crowd who cheered for their reunion. They played a mix of songs off the new album, as well as classic fan favorites that had everyone singing along. Their new song “Sick” which had the crowd bobbing around to the beat. The vocals glided softly over the noisy distortion. The feedback from the stage was ear-ringing and made it sound like one constant chord was blasting from the guitar. The energy from the song was there, but there was only one chord ringing in our ears at the end. They really got everyone’s ears ringing with a heavier new song “Sludge,” which had the crowd slightly banging their heads along.

Some of the crowd sang along to “Wild Eyes,” and the first gentle mosh pit finally formed for “I Have No Fun” the fastest song of the set yet. They slowed things down with a softer but still feedback-laden song “Lonely Girl.”

“Did anyone come to our last show ever five years ago? Goodman addressed the crowd again before going into another new song, the dreamy “Something To Do.” She then led the crowd in a clap-along for “Tell The World.” They exited the stage and the crowd held their ground, patiently awaiting an encore.

The trio came back on the stage and the crowd cheered for their upcoming encore. “Who wants to hear a Jay Reatard cover?” Goodman asked the crowd, who took a minute to understand what she said, but when they started to play “My Shadow,” the crowd seemed to get excited.

Their new album Memories brings their raw punk sounds with a modern take, incorporating dreamy shoegaze and delving into new territories for them. Catch Vivian Girls on tour this fall! Performances from Great Grandpa and Reckling opened the night.

Setlist:

Walking Alone at Night
Never See Me Again
The End
Sick
Sludge
Lake House
At It Again
Wild Eyes
Memory
I Believe In Nothing
I Have No Fun
Lonely Girl
I’m Far Away
Something To Do
Before I Start to Cry
When I’m Gone
Tell The World

Encore:
My Shadow (Jay Reatard cover)

Reckling

Great Grandpa

All Photos: Boston Lynn Schulz