Sick show alert! We’re psyched to host synth/electro-pop’s finest Modem all the way from Helsinki, with frikken Clear Channel (members of Downtown Boys, Gauche, Too Free), and Raleigh’s very own Idol Talk with some darkwave/post-punk.
MODEM
Bandcamp | Instagram
Modem is a Helsinki-based synth pop duo formed by Tytti Roto and Ville Valavuo in 2020. Having paid their dues in the Finnish punk and indie underground (in bands such as Tamara Luonto, Plastic Tones, Kissa, Foreseen and Kohti Tuhoa), the duo set out to create electronic pop music and channel their love for the synthetic sounds of the 1980s. The band’s debut album Megalomania analyzes the ambivalent values of the western world. Their danceable synth pop creates a backdrop for lyrical themes such as animal rights, socio-economic inequality, self help culture, the brutal history of European colonialism and its legacy in the modern age. Following the DIY ethos of the punk scene, the band has been very self-sufficient in recording, mixing and artwork, and released everything through their own label Modem Age Records. So far the band has put out two 12” singles – Elokuvia (2022) and Luxuria (2022) before releasing a full length in April 2024. In the past couple years Modem have been touring actively in the Finnish club scene, played some of Finland’s biggest festivals such as Flow Festival, Sideways and Ruisrock, and toured briefly in Central Europe and Scandinavia.
CLEAR CHANNEL
Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
After releasing their debut album, “Hell”, in April 2020 – Clear Channel learned how to write as a trio, maintaining a fluid dynamic with Don and Mary alternating drums and bass over Awad’s spontaneous compositions – these songs were born out of jam sessions to release isolation-era tension, with the three of them meeting in spurts during the pandemic.
IDOL TALK
Youtube | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram | Facebook
Idol Talk is a darkwave/post-punk trio from North Carolina, creating danceable anthems with gothic themes. Their sound echoes 80s synths, basslines, and guitars. Influenced by The Cure, Sisters of Mercy, and modern acts like Drab Majesty and Twin Tribes, their music is rhythmic and melodic. Their debut album, “Allure” (Boared to Death), explores loss, love, and existential longing, offering a pulsing soundtrack for dancing in the dark.
