Viagra Boys drop some new material. We examine “Blue Bone” and the band, we also talk about what it means to me.

Welcome back to the ROX-TV website. As always, thanks for stopping by to see what we are talking about. Today I am examining some new material from a band that I dig…the mysterious and wonderful Viagra Boys. I first came across these guys like I always do, drifting hard on YouTube after hours. Sometimes there isn’t shit to do but get altered and go searching into the forest of music. You could say that it’s one of my favorite past times and you wouldn’t be wrong. I find relief in music, much like some others might in religion, community, or identity. Music, for lack of a better word is my religion and I practice it daily. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t indulge in my favorite “drug” of vibrations and sounds, fixed in time. Yes, music is my go-to when things are going right, when the world is slipping away from me, and everything in between. If I’m not listening to music, then you need to start to worry I suppose. It gives me hope, inspires me, allows for different perspectives, brings people together for a common bond, and so much more. Music is my religion, and I am a hopeless devotee.

I first came across the Viagra Boys, floating around after midnight. At the time I was working pretty hard with Medical Marijuana, and I found them to be unique. I could relate to their lyrics and the sound they created was something that I had been longing to run into. They have a way about them that is all their own. Almost like some crazy free jazz scene, mixed in with a rebel heart, and a love for chemicals. At least that’s what I’ve come to understand. This is my opinion and I welcome anyone to decide for their selves. I’m no kingmaker and I don’t like to impose on others. I find value in the sound and if it strikes a chord with you, then maybe we are from the same tribe. If not, that’s ok too. Everyone is different and coming from their own places and experiences.

My first introduction to these guys was the song “Sports”. It had a driving beat and sound that immediately spoke to me on some molecular level. The weed didn’t hurt I’m sure, but when I encounter “special” songs, usually what happens is that the center of my head goes white with fuzz and the hair on my arms stands up. It’s always been that way. Music that I love has an actual physical effect on me. When I was young, I didn’t know really what that meant, but as I’ve grown older, I’ve learned to use the changes as a compass of sorts. If I start to experience this kind of thing when hearing music, I stop everything and start paying serious attention. Sometimes its the lyrics, or the music, sometimes a combination of both, and perhaps the type of head space that I’m occupying at the time. Whatever it is, I fucking listen and learn.

I remember that the band was as interesting as the song was simple. Simple but highly effective in moving my spirit. I got hung up on the song for months and when this happens, I don’t usually go any deeper into the band’s other works until I’m “satisfied” with that meal. Sometimes the band that I’m digging on has nothing else I want, but sometimes when I push into the vastness of the discography, I find more gold in the vein. I’m forever searching and when I find a good supply, I rejoice and thank the vibrational gods of sound. Music is truly a gift and I encourage anyone I can to do the same. When someone says they don’t like music, I immediately start to think “what the fuck is wrong with this person”. It’s just what I do.

After “Sports” I was ready to see if Viagra Boys had anymore earth moving shit for me. Turns out they did, and it was in no short supply. The next song that I located was called “Research Chemicals” and it was like “Sports” in a way, but amped up with electricity. Obviously, the content is about drug consumption and personal experience and I’m ok with that. Over the years I’ve dabbled in whatever seemed to be right at the time. When I find things that get me moving, it’s very hard for me to break away. I’ve been an alcoholic since my late teens, had trouble in the past with rehabs, moderation, and just being a happy person. In my time on earth, I’ve self-medicated for most of it, for many reasons which I am not ashamed of but don’t feel like deep diving into here. But it needs to be said somewhat so that the readers can understand or at least see where I’m coming from. I’ve tried everything under the sun to help with these ongoing issues and I’ve come to a point where I don’t really care anymore. I do the best I can, when I can. There is nothing else to say. I don’t shy away from this and if you see me going through a tough time, say a tiny prayer for me and treat me like it’s just another day. I run on cycles and some days are better than others, some days are nightmares, and some days I’m just happy to be alive.

“Research Chemicals” turned into an anthem of sorts, although chemically I’m more inclined to nitrous, booze, or downer type situations. I’ve kicked around mushroom mountain for fun and also to combat depression. I read somewhere that mushrooms could improve certain disorders…and it seemed to work, but you can’t eat mushrooms every day for months on end without other side car affects, which overall eventually I stepped away from. Micro-Dosing is ok and works, but if you’re in a bad head space, sometimes even a mushroom mountain can’t help, at least not for me. I find with psychedelics that they can be very dangerous if you’re not in a good mental location prior to ingesting. Just my own views from years of here and there. If that helps great, if not, discard. I have no hard feelings. To each is own.

The Viagra Boys didn’t solely sing about rampant drug use from what I could tell and the next song I found that spoke to me was “Just Like You”. It’s a song that I would describe as “blue” (almost sad but still functioning) and like the other songs, it spoke to me on a level which I understood and sometimes embrace in my own life. I get down man, but I don’t want that to be my defining characteristics. Sometimes I love life, the thing is, sometimes it’s hard for me to love life. I have all that I could ever want, so I know that “it” is some type of chemical imbalance or mental thing. I’ve tried professional help over the years, God how I tried.

And in the end, nothing really ever helped much. It turns out that I’m the same person that I was when I was born and that I will die as. An individual, that doesn’t really respond or enjoy universal conformity. I don’t appreciate “national narratives” and a one size describes all experience for people of this country. I don’t care what the people in power want for me, I want what I want for me. I only believe in the things I’ve seen and heard with my own eyes. I refuse to let the television define my life and how they want it to be. Because to be honest, most of the shit that gets blasted across the mainstream has not been in my experience, but again, that’s just me. I speak for no one else and demand that no one concedes to whether or not I’m right. I don’t care anyway.

I kept moving deeper into this band and I kept hearing shit that I enjoyed. Now I’m not saying I’m an expert on this group or that I own everything thing they’ve ever done. Not even close. I’m only talking on what I’ve found on the YouTube universe, late at night, when a man needs a song and a little break from reality outside my door. The next song that spoke to me was “Girls and Boys” off of the “Shrimp Sessions 2” (whatever the fuck that is). The song was somewhat in the same bottle as the others, but the tone was slightly different in message. The song was upbeat (in my view) and hard charging, with a wonderful Sax player, who really adds a lot to all the songs. The song is almost eight minutes long and just seems to roll on and on. I can’t say that it doesn’t sound good on NOS. After these tracks I was convinced in a way, that maybe I had seen all there was to see. But I was wrong.

The next encounter I had with Viagra Boys was the song called “In Spite of Ourselves” and it threw me for a loop, but in a good way. I was used to a hard charging drug anthem, or a solitary sad track, but never would I have guessed the bizarre range in which these guys keep showcasing. I seen the video on YouTube and was like, “what the fuck is this”. The lead singer had on a cowboy hat and had some obnoxious looking blond bombshell hamming it up behind him. This was something that I had to see, so I hit play and was amazed. There was my hero and a ridiculous back drop, walking along with a great sounding track. He comes on strong with this country hillbilly singer type scene and the song is a “heart song” for his woman. The crazy blonde, who is pretty hot in her own way, starts to serenade about her old man. The two love each other and are expressing it. I love this song. Normal people fall in love and that includes every part that makes each other desirable to one another. This song is that. I fucking love it. I can’t get enough of it. It’s a pan on itself and also a declaration of love and not giving a shit, especially what some fucked up critic in the hills thinks. The critics hate that, when you do what you want in spite of their hard work to deter you. I don’t listen to critics and never have. I think for myself and like what I like. I leave the sheep gig to someone else.

From “In Spite of Ourselves” I was again convinced that I had seen all there was to see from Viagra Boy’s mountain, but I was wrong. Thank God. A few hours ago, the Viagra Boys dropped “Blue Bone” and I had to see what the hell was going on with them. It comes on slow with a soft touch at first, then leans into a blue’s song of sorts. The singer is having trouble sleeping and eating, just “up late nights smoking and drinking”. The guy is starting to see the “shadow” people dancing on the walls. Then he turns to “up late nights fucking tweaking”. He’s talking to somebody “about nothing at all”. No sleeping, up late nights…thinking and thinking. “How could I end up in this situation again”. The guy takes a pill stop thinking, every night is the same, “I’m so fucking bored man…”.

Although I don’t fuck with “go fast” drugs really, I feel every word that he’s singing about. I can relate to not being that healthy, staying up late, not eating, maybe drinking too much, taking too much, getting in a weird head space, and being so, so, fucking bored with life. This shit hits home like a thousand-pound bomb, squarely on my head. I drive myself crazy sometimes, just hoping for a change, or to not feel the way I’m feeling. Obviously, anyone with any resources is going to try and help change the disposition, with chemicals or whatever else that works. I do and I’m no longer ashamed to try for a better seat on the bus of happiness. I do not advocate drug use or taking things too far, drinking yourself to death, or going dark at times….but it does sound good from time to time. Take that for whatever you want. The “Blue Bone” is a great song, the group Viagra Boys is a great band. Free of the trappings of “acceptable” norms pushed on the shitty television. Check it out.

Signing Off,

Mike Shepard

ROX-TV Head Writer