Victims of Circumstance is an American punk-ska band, known for blending pop-hooks with a unique style of ska. Founded in 2005 in
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, United States, northwest of Tampa and St. Petersburg. To the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and to the southeast lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2020 census, the city had a populat ...
, United States, the current line-up includes band members Michael Smyth (vocals & guitar), Glenn Stewart (drums), Lindsey Pittard (bass), Jason Atheney (saxophone), and Devin Johnson (trumpet).
The VOC, as they are known by fans, built a loyal following while playing around their home state of Florida before setting out on a tour that ended with an invitation to
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones (informally referred to as The Bosstones and often stylized as The Mighty Mighty BossToneS) were an American ska punk band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1983. From the band's inception, lead vocalist Dicky ...
tenth
Hometown Throwdown Hometown Throwdown is an annual music festival held in Greater Boston. It is hosted by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. The festival features local Boston-area acts, focusing on ska, punk and hardcore bands. The festival is traditionally held in Dece ...
in
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
,
, in 2007. Victims of Circumstance has performed with numerous national acts including
Voodoo Glow Skulls
Voodoo Glow Skulls are an American ska punk band formed in 1988 in Riverside, California, by brothers Frank, Eddie, and Jorge Casillas and their longtime friend Jerry O'Neill. Voodoo Glow Skulls first played at backyard parties and later at Spa ...
,
Big D & the Kids Table,
The Pietasters
The Pietasters are an American eight-piece ska/soul band from Washington, D.C., with additional members from Maryland and Virginia.
History
In 1990, Stephen Jackson and Chris Watt met at Virginia Tech, through mutual friend Tal Bayer, who was at ...
,
Whole Wheat Bread
Whole wheat bread or wholemeal bread is a type of bread made using flour that is partly or entirely milled from whole or almost-whole wheat grains, see whole-wheat flour and whole grain. It is one kind of brown bread. Synonyms or near-synonyms ...
,
Everybody Out!
Everybody Out! is a rock band formed in 2007 by former Dropkick Murphys guitarist Rick Barton and former The Dead Pets and Lost City Angels frontman Sweeney Todd. Despite Sweeney Todd being from the UK, the band is primarily based in Boston, M ...
,
The Toasters
The Toasters are one of the original American second wave of ska bands. Founded in New York City in 1981, the band has released nine studio albums, primarily through Moon Ska Records.
History
Englishman Robert "Bucket" Hingley relocated to New Y ...
and others.
In 2007 they asked The Mighty Mighty Bosstones' saxophone player and skacore veteran Tim "Johnny Vegas" Burton to produce their first album, ''Do It Yourself.'' At the end of 2008, Steve Foote of Big D and the Kids Table produced their second album, ''Roll the Dice'', released in 2009.
In early 2011, the VOC flew to Japan and recorded their first live album, 2011's ''Live in Japan''.
On October 25, 2011, they released their self-produced album ''Acupunkture'' and received rave reviews such as - "This album is Great!. It stands up with the best in the genre." - Tim "Johnny Vegas" Burton of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
Victims of Circumstance continued touring to support ''Acupunkture''. In July and August 2012, the VOC completed another successful three week European tour which included playing at the world's biggest punk rock festival,
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority.
A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...
, in
Blackpool
Blackpool is a seaside resort in Lancashire, England. Located on the North West England, northwest coast of England, it is the main settlement within the Borough of Blackpool, borough also called Blackpool. The town is by the Irish Sea, betw ...
,
Lancashire
Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly.
The non-metropolitan county of Lancashi ...
, England. The VOC also provided support on their tour for bands such as MXPX, Snuff and the Creepshow.
In the fall of 2012 the band recorded a five-song EP of cover tunes. Titled ''Decades'', it featured one song from each decade from the 1950s through the 1990s. Following that release, VOC returned to the studio to write and record their fourth studio album, ''No More Heroes''.
In 2014, Victims of Circumstance released their fourth studio album ''No More Heroes''. One reviewer noted that the new album "delivers even more of the catchy, fast-paced, horn-driven punk many have grown to expect from Victims Of Circumstance. And as always, there are a few bouncy ska songs thrown in for good measure." Online punk news organization, Dying Scene, selected ''No More Heroes'' as their top pick for best punk-ska album of 2014.
In early 2015 the VOC announced their third European tour to celebrate their 10th anniversary. Victims of Circumstance released their fifth studio album in 2020.
Band line-up
*Michael Smyth - Vocals, Guitar
*Glenn Stewart - Drums
*Lindsey Pittard - Bass
*Jason Atheney - Saxophone
*Devin Johnson - Trumpet
Discography
EPs
*''Self Titled EP'' - 2006
*''Decades'' - 2012
*''Decades. Vol 2 - 2017
Albums
*''Do It Yourself'' - 2007
*''Roll the Dice'' - 2009
*''Live in Japan'' - 2011
*''Acupunkture'' - 2011
*''No More Heroes'' - 2014
*''Five'' - 2020
References
*
*
External links
*{{official website, http://vocska.com
American ska punk musical groups
Third-wave ska groups
Punk rock groups from Florida