Is it a betamax or vhs?

What do you get when a band forms in the midst of a punk and hardcore scene that substitutes keyboards for guitars? You get VCR, a five-piece (Mya Anitai, keyboards; Chad Middleton, keyboards/lead vocals; Christian Newby, drums; Steve Smith, bass and Casey Tomlin, keyboards) from Richmond, Virginia, who's sound they themselves call "adventure funcore." Great punky lyrics, a storming rhythm section and a massive wall of synths. With their synths, they remind me (a little) of bands like Moving Units or the Faint, only without the posing or retro sytlings. At the same time, their insanity and spastic energy also brings to mind early Hot Hot Heat, the Thermals and Les Savy Fav.

They have been playing live for just about two years and supposedly their shows are an outrageous spectacle (including the use of homemade 3D cardboard signs, which I love) for their insane fans, where people try to stagedive by climbing anything they can. The shows usually end with splintered furniture, stomped-on stage props, airborne fistfuls of kiddie cereal, and footprints on the ceiling of the venue.

Their EP, which they recorded in their friend's barn, was originally only sold by the band at their shows, but LA-based independent label SIDEONEDUMMY has reissued it with a couple of new songs on it. You can buy the EP direct from the label here. The label is also going to be releasing VCR's debut full-length this fall, which they recorded in Amsterdam, and then went on the road and hit Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, and Italy.

Here's hoping they come to NYC sometime soon!