Untoward Children

"It all happened so quickly..." After not seeing her long-time friends Tim Thayer and Brian Schreiber for years after booking their band (Babylonian Tiles) at her club FUNERAL, Veronika Sorrow planned to meet up with them in December of 2010 for a jam - something they'd never done together. Originally, the night was slated as another famous gathering at Brian's "Rancho de Jocko", where a dozen or more artists converged and swapped instruments to create sonic wonder. In a weird twist of fate, the only 2 musicians to show up with gear in hand were Veronika and Tim. Despite the lack of no-shows, the trio immediately plunged headlong into a jam that carried on well into the night. The result was an exalting musical experience that took them uniformly by surprise. Veronika's dark, Gothic and post-punk sensualities meshed perfectly with the boy's psychedelic 60's & 70's rock influences. Her past musical projects included The Chaste, VSoRRoW/SORROW and Nocturna: Homage to Siouxsie & the Banshees. "I remember looking up from the mic at one point and couldn't stop smiling - it really was one of those perfect moments", recalls Veronika. The trio continued to get together to jam. On about their third encounter together, and with Veronika's urging and prodding, they decided to create a new band and begin seriously writing music together. With various instruments strewn about the large room they practiced in, Tim remained on guitar and Brian on drums as they had in the Tiles - leaving Veronika to sing and grab up different sounds at times including a 1960's Roland synth and a 12 string bass guitar. The sound progressed and remained heavy, but they all agreed they needed a "bigger bottom end". Innuendo aside, they tried out a few different friends on bass guitar, but to no avail. They'd have to carry on as a three-piece, sans-bassist, just like the boy's former band had for 20 years. Being caught up in writing together, they realized in 2011, a band name was needed. The names "British Teeth" and "No Prisoners, No Children" were serious contenders, but "Untoward Children" would prove the final choice. It suited these 3 well. With as varied as they were in age, they agreed adulthood had eluded them: they refused to grow up. Somehow, they met on common ground with common interests and a common sense of sonic aesthetic. Thank goodness. "Ya know, this all started as an impromptu jam session, I hadn't even touched a guitar in 3 years. As often happens, things took on a life of their own and Untoward Children were born. You never know when music will sweep you up, bid you follow and say “This is gonna be a blast, let's spray.” With these people and this music, I have never been more inspired as a musician. Cosmic events abound..." muses Tim. It wasn't til after their max-capacity debut show (folks had to stand outside on the sidewalk and watch from the shop windows) on June 8, 2012, at Veronika's vintage rock n' roll shop "MEOWMEOWZ!", had they acquired their missing piece: and he was standing right up front filming. Adriel Mederos officially brought the thunder in August of 2012, solidifying and adding a much needed depth to their already pensive sound. A seasoned guitarist by design, Adriel was handed Veronika's old practice Squire and told "You'll make a radical bassist." As expected, he took to it like a duck in water. After his audition, neither Tim nor Brian said a word regarding whether or not he could join the fold, so Veronika spoke up and asked "So- do you think he passed the test?" At which the boys chimed with an enthusiastic affirmative. It was a no-brainer: the line-up was complete. Untoward Children continued to play out all over Los Angeles, even taking their 7 song set on the road to a music festival in TJ, Mexico. Gaining fans and attention from the Goth subculture via club Funeral and from the Baby Boomers in Long Beach and beyond, interest in UTC was waxing. Late after one of their shows, a fan adoringly referred to them "Siouxsie Floyd". Brian describes their music as "An ever changing eruption of textures, rythyms and voices which take you on a high voltage musical excursion to the shadows within." One year after their debut show, in June of 2013, "the Kids" began recording their debut album in an independent Los Angeles studio called Laundry Room. They believed their tribal, 9-minute epic "Hunt" would best summarize the overall emotion of the album. The other tracks on the album include: Halfsister - a jolting Spanish fling that takes you piggyback riding on a Whirling Dervish, Call the Police - a quirky ditty hammered out on a vintage Roland with a long mid-song tempo and temperature change, Hadu - a post-punk whirlwind of trills with another signature tempo change out of left-field, Minimonolith - a heartmelting, black anthemic piece, Things We Had - pure classic post-punk featuring a strange 12 string bass, and End of Days - a gorgeous doomsday song that fans of the Cure will certainly grasp. 7 months later, 'Hunt' was independently released on January 14, 2014. The CD was designed by Veronika with the front cover featuring an eerie, highly-saturated depiction of a Huntress with blood-thirsty eyes peering out from under shadows. The four eagerly anticipated the physical manifestation of their brainchild, like the expectant parents of a future prodigy. Adriel concludes "It is the nature of this band to strive for continual transformation and expansion. I believe that the best is yet to come." Keep your eye on Untoward Children - the kids are definitely Alright. UNTOWARD CHILDREN are: Veronika Sorrow - vocals, organ, 12 string bass. Tim Thayer - guitars. Brian Schreiber - drums. Adriel Mederos - bass.