Song Premiere: Kill Vargas, "What We Don't Know"

Youth and creativity burn equally bright in Kill Vargas’s new 10-song LP Laugh It Off. Recorded and mixed by Micajah Ryan (Guns N’ Roses, Bob Dylan, Megadeth), the band’s sophomore full-length presents them at their songwriting best–tight arrangements meander dynamically while spinning a cohesive, stylistic thread throughout and creating an airy and untroubled atmosphere.

Formed in 2013 by brothers Logan Bush (drums) and Griffin Bush (guitar, vocals) along with their childhood friend Austin Engler (bass), the group quickly became a fan favorite in their hometown–and throughout the Midwest–due to their adamant DIY mentality and rigorous tour schedule. This comes as no surprise considering their penchant for crafting catchy power pop tunes delivered with electrifying stage antics.

Though Kill Vargas’s early material was more in line with straight ahead punk bands like FIDLAR and Wavves, the new album, though no less energetic, carries a looser and more polished feel in the vein of Pinkerton-era Weezer. That carefree feeling makes for a record that offers both sugary sweet melodies and pummeling guitar riffs.

Recording took place at Wichita’s Air House Studios under the watchful eyes of engineer Micajah Ryan and fellow musician William Erickson (Team Tremolo), who lent a guiding hand throughout the production process. Adding to the freshness of the LP is the arrival of Trent Gaddie (Tideway) on second guitar.

While many people previously saw Kill Vargas as a typical group of young punk rockers, Laugh It Off cements the band’s maturity and musical prowess without any caveats relating to age. Having grown into not only their sound, but their physical bodies as well, the members of Kill Vargas have a lot to offer with their newest release.

Laugh It Off will be available to stream everywhere April 2, 2019, followed by a CD release show on May 3 at Norton’s Brewing in Wichita, Kansas.

Today, Ghettoblaster has the pleasure of premiering “What We Don’t Know” from the LP. Enjoy it below.

Catch them live here:

3/22 – Manhattan, KS @ Bingo Brondson’s

3/29 – Hutchison, KS @ SK8FRM

3/30 – KC, MO @ Voltaire

3/31 – St. Louis, MO @ Foam

4/1 – Chicago, IL @ Subterranean

4/2 – Mansfield, OH @ DayTrip Studios

4/3 – Cincinnati, OH @ Top Cats

4/4 – Detroit, MI @ 510 Building

4/6 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Well

4/11 – Knoxville, TN @ Preservation Pub

4/12 – Nashville, TN @ The Mess Hall

4/13 – Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone

4/14 – Little Rock, AR @ Cosmic House

4/15 – Fayetteville, AR @ The Backspace

4/16 – Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck

5/3 – Wichita, KS @ Norton’s (CD Release Show)

5/4 – Denver, CO @ 7th Circle

5/5 – Alburquerque, NM @ The Toy Barn

5/6 – Tucson, AZ @ The Sh*t Dungeon

5/7 – Phoenix, AZ @ 51 West

5/8 – San Diego, CA @ Navajo Live

5/10 – Lancaster, CA @ The Britisher

5/11 – Sacramento, CA @ Cafe Colonial  

5/12 – Portland, OR @ The Waypost

5/13 – Seattle, WA @ The Brunchbox

5/14 – Boise, ID @ Grainey’s Basement

5/15 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Underground

5/16 – Colorado Springs, CO @ The Triple Nickel

5/25 – Omaha, NE @ O’Leaver’s

5/26 – Sioux City, IA @ Whiskey Dicks

5/27 – Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium

5/28 – Lincoln, NE @ Couch House

5/29 – Norman, OK @ The Deli

5/30 – Tulsa, OK @ The Vanguard

5/31 – Dallas, TX @ Ruins

6/1 – Shreveport, LA @ Minicine

6/2 – Denton, TX @ House Show

6/6 – Wichita, KS @ Riverfest

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