Acid Dad at Mercury Lounge

Guitarist/vocalist Vaughn Hunt took piano lessons at age 13 before switching to guitar. Based in Brooklyn, New York, he started a band, at first called Twincest, in 2014. He met Sean Fahey, who started playing guitar at age three and wrote his first song at age four. Hunt recruited Fahey, initially to play bass, and changed the band name to Acid Dad in 2015. Fahey is now a guitarist again, JP Basileo is the bassist, and Trevor Mustoe is the band's new drummer. Acid Dad released an 11-track self-titled debut album on March 9, 2018.

At Mercury Lounge tonight, Acid Dad scored with a set of songs that through repetitious riffs or melodies turned shoegaze songs into rock ragers. The spine of each song sounded like it was born in the Television/Talking Heads/B-52's era. Hunt's affectless, nearly monotone vocals initiated a dirge-like foundation. Ringing guitar hooks leaned towards a psychedelic template, as their recurrence crafted an escalating intensity. The instrumental portions then soared with chugging guitar-driven dynamics, droning into a cold, hazy abyss. The relentless bass lines and percussive rhythms were so strong and the guitar chords so vibrant and vigorous that they produced an engulfing, hypnotic groove that demanded respect and response. Fair warning: Acid Dad has the potential to melt your brain.

Visit Acid Dad at www.aciddad.com.