6.10 A wknd w/ TVOD
The band outlines their standard weekend: group graffiti, Sunday Sauce and some very TMI texts from Tyler
!TGIF WITH TVOD!
Go see most bands live, and you know based on genre, venue and the performance style of the artist(s) themselves basically what you’re gonna get.
Some singing or swaying or shimmying or shredding. Maybe some spins or a stage dive or a serenade-n-stroll situation. Some groups groove, some bands boogie. Some musicians get low, others have hops.
Of course, there are often surprises—that’s what makes for the best live show—but more often than not, even if something seems spontaneous, there’s a sense that it was probably practiced or planned out to a certain extent. That there’s some theory behind the theatrics and the performers have at least a vague idea of what they’re going to do before they hit the stage.
But then there’s TVOD.
Tyler Wright seems to have made a contract with the crowd: No one knows exactly what’s going to happen when Television Overdose hits the stage—himself very much included.
Drinks, sweat and spit fly, shirts—and occasionally pants—are shed, and the stage itself is a mere suggestion as every surface becomes fair game for the frontman. It’s anarchy. Un-choreographed chaos. Magical mania. Forty minutes of tequila-fueled cardio and a glorious display of sheer shamelessness as in perfect punk fashion the mic-wielding madman puts entertainment above everything else, including his own personal safety. Basically, it’s like watching a car crash—but one set to a super sick soundtrack. And we promise you won’t have more fun anywhere else.
Whether or not you’ve seen TVOD live (and if you’re reading this, you probably have), as every show is different—a new opportunity for Tyler & Co. to rock n shock you—we expect to see you THIS SATURDAY, when the band hits the stage at Mercury Lounge with Mary Shelley and Steele FC (tix available here).
But before we send you off to enjoy your weekend, we want to make sure we make one thing clear. Despite the somewhat insane picture we painted above, TVOD isn’t all style, no substance. The band’s Victory Garden—written during the pandemic “to encourage movement and self-exploration/reflection”—was one of our favorite records of 2021, a collection of songs that feel like rebellion and serve as a rally cry against complacency: a rejection of capitalism, settling down, succumbing to despair and letting love fade away (among other things). Beyond the total mayhem TVOD brings, there’s real meaning. The band has both bark and bite. And for some thoughtful insights on the album’s eight songs from Tyler himself, you need look no further than the track-by-track breakdown he did for us here.
ALRIGHT! We’ve reached our self-imposed character limit for today—and tbh we need to start hydrating for tomorrow. Go forth n read on to get an idea of what a typically chaotic TVOD weekend looks like (and plz pay precisely zero attention to the fact that they neglected to mention Saturday’s show).
We’ll catch you in the crowd at Mercury Lounge tomorrow night! May the lawd have mercy on us all~
[BUT FIRST: PRESS PLAY]
FRIDAY
Morning - Band Dad and TVOD cult leader Tyler arises from his 3 hours of power sleep. He messages a pic to the group thread of the morning bowel movement he just unleashed into his toilet. Potty humor is commonplace in the TVOD group chat and for the most part dominates a lot of the band's conversations. It’s quite terrible. Usually the first to arise after Tyler and respond to the thread is the Sicilian/ Dr. of the crew, Jason. He usually greets the morning chat with an incessant plea to go to Tina’s Diner for breakfast (his second home), but no one ever responds. The third to arise is our newest member, Serge. He is the funniest of the crew and garners much praise with his witty jokes. Fourth to hop in the morning thread would probably be Mem, but only if he hasn’t been partying the night before. His text will usually consist of an insult towards Jason or a thumbs down emoji to Tyler’s unwanted morning cleanse pic. The fifth to hop in is a toss up between Jenna and Nikki. They both like to sleep in and are usually horrified by the graphic content taking up space in the group messages. The potty humor isn’t liked by all. Last to rise and the most likely to not reply, unless someone sends something truly hilarious is Lizzy. If you get Lizzy to laugh you’re killing it.
SATURDAY
Late Night - The band bumbles drunkenly around Our Wicked Lady after just playing their 100th set on the OWL roof. They live for putting on a great show and love to celebrate their conquests by plundering the local bars that Bushwick, NY has to offer. They start to debate if the after party should be held at the dimly lit and usually not so busy Ice House down the road. Once the band chooses to head there, the shameless insanity begins. They have notoriously all been kicked out, then somehow all let back into numerous bars around town. Tonight is no different at The Ice House and a group graffiti competition quickly starts to take place in the bathroom. The game is who can draw the latest penis and Tyler is about to take his turn. However before he claims victory, Narm the bartender sees the villainous activity and runs into the stalls. “Not again!” He shouts as he removes the oversized red marker from Tyler’s grasp. “We’re sorry.” They all say, as they bow their heads and head down the road to the next stop on what is to become another cursed evening. Nothing good ever happens after 2am and TVOD seems desperate to prove that theory wrong.
SUNDAY
Early Evening- Sunday usually involves Jason’s famous Sunday Sauce. He is not only the doctor of the group, but he is also the band cook. You have never tried a meatball until you’ve had one of J’s balls. Just thinking of his balls right now makes my mouth water in joyous excitement. The band usually shows up to his house in the early evening and then share stories about the previous nights escapades. This is the mark of TVOD weekend. Italian food, good friends and some good stories to tell.
Itinerary above written + submitted by TVOD. Follow the band at @televisionoverdose, buy their music on Bandcamp and add their songs to your Spotify playlists!
Feature image provided by the band.
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
While it’s listed below, we want to officially and oh-so-cordially invite you to come get cozy at STRONG LITTLE SONGS 4 — a living-room fundraising show benefitting Planned Parenthood — THIS TUESDAY at BdBK HQ (aka Sam’s apt.). This round features stripped-down performances from LEONE, RONI, Silvia K. and our co-host, Arlo Indigo! BYOB // pay what you can // and we’re matching the first $100 in donations. DM @bandsdobk or email bandsdobk [@] gmail.com for address. Would love love love to see you there <3
RELEASE RADAR
New(ish) stuff from local (+ occasionally, once-local) artists we love, listed in no order whatsoever:
The Night Sky // Eighty Ninety
“Good Night” // Sabrina Song
“Going Through My Head” video // Francie Moon
Lazuleen // Minaxi
(thisbodyisntmine) // LEONE
IT’S HAPPENIN’
Here’s a look at the shows we’ve got coming up this month and beyond. Mark your calendars and come hang!
6.14 BdBK Presents: Strong Little Songs 4 — a charity living-room show for Planned Parenthood— w/ RONI + LEONE + Silvia K. + Arlo Indigo @ BdBK HQ (DM 4 Address)
6.16. BdBK Presents: Cowboy Boy + Long Neck + Bummer Camp @ Misfit Kava Bar
6.22 BdBK Presents: Consumables + Super Drugs + Dead Ringers + Wife Knife @ The Broadway (tix here)
6.24 BdBK Presents: New Myths + Valerie the Vulture + Monarch (EP Release) + Hollye Bynum and Friends (tix here)
+ ICYMI
Around the blog + on the radio + from the archives:
SPOTLIGHT: ‘Dale Jr. Bat Kid’ from Dale Jr. & Bat Kid
WANTED: BAND MEMBERS (GUITAR/BASS/DRUMS)
Thx 4 reading! Find more fun stuff at bandsdobk.com and @bandsdobk. <3
Pre-order the Bands do BK BOOK (out 9/6 via Lit Riot Press) here.