Band of the Week: Bad Veins

Bad Veins is an indie/alternative-rock duo out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Benjamin Davis and Sebastien Shultz create very distinct sound through their use of less than traditional instruments, including telephones, megaphones, and various other gadgets. Their overall style is very similar to The Killers and Davis's voice is much like that of The Killers' lead singer,  Brandon Flowers.

In 2009, Bad Veins released their self-titled debut album on Dangerbird Records. The album was well received, being named #7 on ABC Amplified's Best Albums of 2009 list, the album's final track "Go Home" was listed on the USA Today's  Top 20 Songs of 2009, and the single "Gold and Warm" was featured on the blockbuster movie, Chronicle. The EP, Outliers, was released in 2010. In April of this year, they released their second full-length album, The Mess We've Made. Both Bad Veins albums are meant to tell a story of perspective and self-acceptance. "The first album feels a little bit like I'm dwelling on my own instability, whereas in the second record I'm confronting the instability and the issues. There's been a total evolution of Bad Veins since it started. If you listen to the first EP, and then the first album, and then the second album, they seem somewhat linear, [like] chapters in a story," says Davis.

The band has recently been listed on Paste Magazine's 50 States Project: 500 Bands+ on the Rise, along with their fellow Cincinnati local band, Pomegranates. Bad Veins has had a fairly extensive US tour this year and just got back from their first UK tour with We Are Scientists.

I had the chance to see Bad Veins live about a month ago at Bunbury. I had not heard of them before this and I imediately fell in love with their music. It was a wonderful concert. Fun, but simplistic. What amazed me most was variety and amount of sound this two man band produced. Incredible, to say the least. I will be seeing them again this Sunday in Atlanta at The Masquerade. I am expecting another fantastic show from Bad Veins!

(Bad Veins live at Bunbury)

Below are some tracks off of Bad Veins' full-length albums. Go on, give them a listen. They will make your ears happy! You can find out more about Bad Veins on their band page or on their Facebook page.

"If Then" - The Mess We've Made

 

"Afraid" - Bad Veins

 

"Don't Run" - Mess We've Made



"Falling Tide" - Bad Veins

"Go Home" - Bad Veins

"Dancing On TV" - Mess We've Made