Times New Viking Play Boozeless College Event

Lo-fi trio Times New Viking isn't the first band you'd expect to play a coffee shop, what with their hissed-out, fantastically loud sound and the druggy, sexual material of their songs. But that's exactly what the group did last Friday night at University of Illinois' Courtyard Café, a venue that, according to the student worker taking tickets, acts as "a non-drinking option for students." When we asked her if she thought the boozy, reckless vibe of TNV's live shows conflicted with the café's mission, she just seemed confused.

So did TNV. Drummer Adam Elliott, having a smoke before the gig, told Spinner just how ironic the booking was by pointing out that his two bandmates were currently pounding drinks at a bar somewhere (he tries to not get too rowdy before a show as it screws up his drumming). And when the rest of his band returned, they decided to head out for one more round of whiskey shots before taking the stage.

"I hate college towns," guitarist Jared Phillips said while passing a crowded frat bar, dismayed that they were supposed to play the more appropriate Canopy Club, but Blitzen Trapper was already booked there. During their set, which included raucous versions of 'My Head' as well as material from their excellent new LP 'Born Again Revisited,' Elliott addressed the small crowd of undergrads, saying, "It's Friday night. Are any of you drunk at all...or on acid?" After the WTF response from students, TNV pummeled through some more songs, and a sweaty Elliott ended the night by telling his band, "Alright, let's go to a bar."