Words by Sean Moeller//Illustration by Joshua Johnson
This could just be a reckless comparison or it could be the spawn of revisiting that big and brawny Secret Machines record Ten Silver Drops from earlier in the year, but Viva Voce’s Get Yr Blood Sucked Out shares some of those same cavernous ambitions as that Texas band’s monster record about unraveling, dissipating relationships. The subject matter on Get Your Blood Sucked Out jags more toward the silvery buds of those relationships – the breathing caught in a chest like a bear trap, the irresistible urge to have another person as close as the length of a hand – than the crumbs of what used to be. Then you throw in some sinister songs that drag the well for the most threatening aspects known to man (the ass kicking and the generic challenge to meet your match) – with names and sentiments that rival the latest Yo La Tengo full-length I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass. There’s the title track that’s a hymn for the antagonist out for some wanton revenge. There’s the preview, theme song We Do Not Fuck Around. Enough of the same shoegazing 70s and 80s rock that The Secret Machines coat their marathon-length songs in is in the Viva Voce stir to give one the debatable feeling that two people couldn’t do this on their own. You’ll see the shadows this married couple wrangles out of their throats and hands with your ears. What it takes to make such sounds is a good diet of shadows. They must be eaten to be made audible on the other side. Anita Robinson’s guitar counters her cloudy sweet voice with enough crunchiness to outfit every Major League baseball stadium’s warning track. And she howls with her instrument too, roosting the devil dogs as her husband punishes his kit, connecting with a moody sunset.

Viva Voce’s Kevin Robinson gives Daytrotter a slice of what he dug the last seven days:

1. Jetlag
Jetlag is awesome! I love it. Since we spent the last week in France & the UK, Anita and I have been loving being wide awake at 2 a.m. and ready to pass out at lunch time. Confused most of the time. All your clothes smell like airplane fuel. Carrying around a softball size wad of Euros in your pocket. Trying to explain your live set-up through a mental fog to people that can barely understand you – it rules!

2. French food
I don’t think they make shitty food in France. Everything is fucking delicious, yet the people are skinny as hell. Our “fast-food” sucks ass, and we’re leading the pack in obesity? Completely unfair.

3. Leather journal
We had a day off in London & hung around Camden town. They have these booths where people sell random crap. I bought a leather bound journal that’s so cool that I’ve been too afraid to write in it. I wrote “the” and stopped. I’ll eventually keep my magic spells in it.

4. Hometown
We had a show in Portland the day we arrived home. 18 hours total in flight. 36 total hours travel time without sleep. Enough time to shower then pack up gear to play with The Shins. Threw up in my mouth a little while we were playing. Well worth the pain to be in front of our folks again! Awesome. Passed out for two days. Barely remember the drive home.

5. Christmas sentimentality
Seems like around Christmas time, no matter what crap comes out of your mouth – as long as you follow it with “happy holidays,” it makes up for it. End on an up note, you know?
“I’m sorry sir – your flight has been cancelled. We have you on another flight in four hours with 50 other pissed-off people waiting for 10 available slots like your pathetic ass. Oh, and it will be an extra 200 dollars each. Happy Holidays!”
“I’m aware of the fragile stickers on your equipment sir, but Schmelta Airlines can’t be responsible for damage our ‘throwers’ cause. Mmkay? Happy Holidays!”
“Sorry man, was this your bathroom? When you gotta go, you know? Right on, happy holidays!”

Viva Voce
Barsuk Records