The VSS was an American rock band from Boulder, Colorado, United States.
History The VSS formed in 1995 after the breakup of the hardcore group Angel Hair.The VSS, Epitonic.com Vocalist Sonny Kay and guitarist Josh Hughes had both played in Angel Hair; the rest of the lineup consisted of bassist Andrew Douglas Rothbard and Dave Clifford.Unsung Heroes: The VSS. The Fix, June 5, 2008. They quickly released several 7" records and toured the United States, achieving nationwide notice among the underground punk scene with acclaim from publications such as Maximum Rocknroll and Flipside.The VSS Enterprise. Westword, August 16, 1995. Midway through their career, the band relocated to San Francisco.Review of Nervous Circuits. Aversion.com. Their only album, Nervous Circuits, was released on Honey Bear Records in 1997, and the group broke up shortly thereafter.
Sonny Kay went on to sing with Year Future and founded the label Gold Standard Laboratories, which re-released their Gravity 7" records as a CD entitled 21:51 in 2000.[ Review of 21:51]. AllMusic Dave Clifford, Josh Hughes, and Andrew Douglas Rothbard formed a new group called Slaves, which changed its name to Pleasure Forever, and released two full-length LP's on Sub Pop records. Dave Clifford later played with Red Sparowes. Josh Hughes went on to form the band Rabbits, and Andrew Douglas Rothbard has released several solo albums.
Their use of synthesizers and keyboards in a hardcore punk setting was uncommon for its time,Ahead of Their Time . Colorado Daily, June 6, 2008. but has been recognized as an influence on bands such as The Faint and Death From Above 1979.Daily Lick: The VSS. East Bay Express, July 4, 2008.Review of Nervous Circuits. Pop Matters, August 19, 2008. In 2008, Hydra Head Records re-released Nervous Circuits on CD with a bonus DVD, as well as an additional bonus CD with the first 1,000 copies.Hydra Head Reissues the VSS's Nervous Circuits . Pitchfork Media, March 26, 2008.Review of Nervous Circuits. Scene Point Blank, June 18, 2008. In 2013, Sargent House issued a remastered version of "Nervous Circuits" as a limited-edition double vinyl LP. The second LP consists of tracks from "21:51" and other rarities.
Members Sonny Kay - vocals Josh Hughes - guitar Andrew Douglas Rothbard - bass and synthesizer Dave Clifford - drums
Discography The VSS 7" (Strict Records No. 4, 1995) The VSS/T-Tauri Split 7" (Titanic Records No. 8, 1995) The VSS 7" (Gravity Records No. 25, 1996) 21:51 CD (Gold Standard Laboratories, No. 7 1996) The VSS/Rye Coalition Split double 7" (Super 8 records No. 13, 1997) Nervous Circuits LP and CD (Honey Bear Records, No. 16,1997) 21:51 CD (Gold Standard Laboratories, No. 7 re-released with different artwork, 2000) Nervous Circuits CD/DVD reissue (Hydra Head Records, No. 158, 2008) Nervous Circuits 2LP reissue (Sargent House, No. 081, 2013)
References