Excited to announce the next single “Dull Knife” from my 3rd LP, Period Piece!

***Listen here! ***

and while you’re at it…

grab tickets to my Chicago & NYC record release shows!

- Chicago : 10/15 & 10/16 at The Hideout
- NYC : 11/12 at The Broadway (Brooklyn)
- more TBA

“Dull Knife” is another song from Period Piece that confronts a bad habit of mine: moving too fast and getting hurt because of it. I was pretty clumsy as a kid (still am!) and my mom would always say “Viv, you’re moving too fast!”. She was/is right, so this obviously became the chorus. This song, while maybe the most “boppy” on the album, has a darkness wound up in it. I really deeply struggle with feeling present and being in the moment - no doubt a symptom of late stage capitalism - but it’s also something I’ve been trying to overcome. It’s a dull knife that’s most dangerous.

This song has a little something for everyone - a little beach, a joni-esque vocal stack, a mathy third verse, knife puns, lyrics about thinking I have tetanus, crazy guitar playing from , background vocals from my older brother, rhyming tetanus with Tetris, and a hidden laugh track.

Stan McConnell - background vocals
- bass, lead guitar
Jack Henry - drums
Engineered by Dave Vettraino & V.V. Lightbody
Mixed by Dave Vettraino & V.V.
Additional Production by Dave Vettraino
Additional Engineering by Sam Cantor
Recorded at Jamdek, International Anthem Studios, & Foxhall
Mastered by Greg Obis at Chicago Mastering Service
Thanks to Stan, Emma, and Sam for support and sculpting on this track
Single Art & Photo: Shannon Marks

With love,

V.V.

hello!

A short (& exciting) list of news…

• My 3rd LP Period Piece comes out October 9th on Egghunt Records!

• PRE-ORDER VINYL HERE

• New single & MUSIC VIDEO for “Practice Smiling” feat. FLUTES

• RECORD RELEASE SHOWS ON SALE FRIDAY

  • Chicago - October 15 & 16 - TWO NIGHTS @ Hideout (my dream)

  • NYC - Nov 12 - @ the broadway (yes, a music venue)
    

A longer version for the heads:

I am deeply excited to be able to announce the third V.V. Lightbody album - Period Piece - out October 9th on Egghunt Records. I poured so so much into this record and proudly produced and co-mixed it alongside my trusty friend and engineer Dave Vettraino. I like to say that the general theme is “loosening up the life corset”, and if that tickles you, you should pre-order the vinyl here.

I’ll go much deeper in the coming months - but I feel like the first single “Practice Smiling” sets up the record perfectly - it is breezy and danceable, but there’s an underlying anxiety bubbling beneath the nonchalance.

I started writing this one in 2021 - I went to my first show at Constellation to see Sima play after things had opened up in Chicago after the first shutdown. Even though I was around friends, I found myself feeling stiff and re-learning how to be in public, questioning how to move, how to converse, and even how to breathe. We all danced in the bar after the show, and when I finally relaxed, I ended up throwing out my back when I took off my sweater. “Practice Smiling” is a cry for help in the modern, burning world and goes deep on this anxiety that I’ve been experiencing (and working on) in my day-to-day that feels all too relatable:

NOT TO MENTION…. The frustration I have with the current state of live music, where getting people to leave the comfort of their home and come to a show feels impossible. It makes me sad that at the most beautiful, live, local shows, I look out and I see the same few musicians supporting other musicians. Where are the masses! Chicago music is #1! Come on!

But I’m also sort of a hypocrite? My social battery has gotten so weak in the last few years and my need for alone time/recharge time feels so tremendous that I need to brag about leaving the house:

I hope you Chicago can prove me wrong by celebrating not one, but TWO nights at the Hideout in October 15 & 16 for the record release. And New York on Nov. 12th. Tickets Available on Friday.

love you all very much and can’t wait to share more with you,

xo, v.v.

More on the music video at another time, but for now, here are a few BTS photos:

by Jovana Savic & Robert Salazar

dearest,

I’m deeply excited to bring the V.V. Trio (feat. & Jack Henry) on the road opening for all-star shredder Liz Cooper. She just released a smashing new album called New Day that really hits for me - it’s the right amount of broody, riffy, and intimate. I remember hearing about Liz Cooper (FKA Liz Cooper & The Stampede) ~10 years ago - we were both circling around the midwest in our respective bands and would cross paths from time to time. She puts on a heck of a live show and we’re hitting some of my favorite venues in the Midwest…

MAY TOUR DATES
(tickets here!)

5.1 - Urbana, IL @ Rose Bowl Tavern (V.V. Headline)

5.2 - Louisville, KY @ Whirling Tiger

5.3 - Newport, KY @ Southgate House

5.5 - Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups

5.6 - Indianapolis, IN @ Hi-Fi Indy

5.7 - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle

5.8 - Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club

5.9 - Detroit, MI @ Lager House

I’ve been hibernating a bit, cooking, exercising, finishing up some projects, and prepping for a big year. I promise new V.V. is coming your way.

A few things I’ve been loving lately:

1. New music from pals:

   1. Jackie West - Silent Century: Jackie has a very special blend of ethereal & catchy that I adore… her vocals are so airy and relaxed and wrap around your whole head.

   2. Em Spel - Bird or Snake : Emma is releasing this record on Friday and it’s soo good. Check out Geographic for the stylophone solo. So many interesting and clever textures! Emma plays flute & keys & harms in the V.V. band and a huge flute inspiration.

   3. Ratboys - Singin’ to an Empty Chair - just love this band and these people. the first track makes me want to run really fast and maybe (probably) pull a muscle.

   4. Body Sound - Whitney Johnson, Lia Kohl, & Macie Stewart - tape machines & strings and drones and feelings

2. Fresh Farms Grocery Store and it’s wildly inexpensive & vast spread of international goods that became a huge inspiration for making these sandwiches on some homemade sourdough. These brought me an immense amount of joy. Do not skip the zest!

   

   1. day sandwich: italian mortadella w/ pistachio, burrata, fresh basil, lemon zest, olive oil, flaky salt.

      

   2. night sandwich: pan fried eggplant, ajvar (balkan roasted red pepper spread), imported greek sheep & goat feta, lemon zest, basil & parsley, flakey salt

3. my new heating pad - why have I never owned one? every night is different for my cold feet

4. Ichiko Aoba’s NTS mixes - soothing, perfect, fun

5. Playing piano in the morning

6. Jammy eggs on toast with schmear of mayo & fresh herbs. I truly cannot stop making this simple & elegant egg gift.

   

yours with esteem,

V.V.

Happy new year & exciting news from the V.V. Love Department™:

At the beginning of 2025 I gently challenged to propose to me underwater. Last week he did the closest thing to it without the ring falling in the ocean. I am lucky to have Sam. He makes every day feel expansive and worthwhile. When we first started dating I was convinced I would never write a song again as I was so used to writing songs about breakups (don’t worry - I figured it out and you’ll find out how on VVLP3).

We just happened to have booked a Duo Tour (Victory Lap!) that starts TOMORROW (Wednesday!). If you live in any of these spots or have anyone in these cities that would enjoy a V.V./Minor Moon Duo set, please let them know. We are keeping it cozy with intimate venues and beautiful openers:

MINOR MOON & V.V. LIGHTBODY (MOONLIGHT) DUO TOUR

1.7 Louisville, KY @ Maybe It’s Fate with Maggie Halfman

1.8 Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light with Hollye B. & Run 40

1.9 Durham, NC @ Fuzzy Needle with Peter Horses

1.10 Asheville, NC @ Static Age w/ Julie Odell & Pool Holograph

1.11 Nashville, TN @ Vinyl Tap Nashville w/ Ferguson & DJ Shug

See you soon!

PHOTO JOURNAL…

December was special ~ here are a few favorite moments from the month:

Andrew Sa’s Holiday Special - the most wholesome show in the world - here with Girls of the Golden West.

, , & opening for Andrew Bird at Fourth Presbyterian ~ one of my favorite new groups in Chicago :)

I worked 5 really weird shifts selling pastries inside of Macy’s

Album Doula-ing with Lizzie Kirchner, Quin Kirchner, & Matt Gold :)

hanukkah with bae

my baby nieces’ first Christmas :")

getting really long noodles!! for Christmas

Celebrating Ryan Deffet at DeffJam2026. Our beautiful friend from Chicago who passed a few years ago - way too soon. We cried and laughed and we’ll keep singing his songs. Support the Ryan Deffet Studio Grant & Engineer Apprenticeship Award here.

XOXO

V.V.

I’m so happy to (finally) share a new song with you all today called “Best Problem”. It’s been a minute since I’ve released new music and I couldn’t be more excited about this one. Listen, buy it, share with friend, add to a playlist, repeat, etc. Thanks :’)

Listen to "Best Problem"

Don’t miss the accompanying music video featuring a jacket made of my old YMCA swim team ribbons that my friend Shannon Marks helped me make. The jacket is everything. Don’t be fooled, it has a lot of 12th place and “personal best” ribbons on it. Go Dolphins! Shot by Tim Nagle & colored by Kerry Stevens:

This song is 2 parts advice column & 1 part confessional. The advice is for a friend whose “problem” is that everyone wants to be in a serious relationship with them, but it’s just not what they’re looking for. Everywhere they turn (360 degrees!), there’s someone who is developing goo-goo eyes and wants to settle down… and boy are they stressed!

You spin around, and suddenly you’re in a dark bar watching your friend’s exes flirting. This is great news for everybody! If they can’t be with you, they can be with each other:

The bridge transports you (to a disco?) and also switches to the perspective of the pursuers. It’s almost tragic. BE MY WIFE, they scream:

Based on a true story. Maybe I’ll sell the secret in 30 years a la Carly Simon “You’re So Vain”.

I’ve been playing “Best Problem” live for a while now, but the recording captures something indulgent that I wouldn’t be able to do live and I love it that way. Why wouldn’t we record a Bee Gee’s inspired breakdown with working her string-section magic? Why wouldn’t I add a little wah pedal? No reason not to. This song is a step into a new V.V. Lightbody sound - carefree, groovy, direct.

I was lucky to have a solid crew for tracking ~ Jack Henry Lickerman on drums, on bass, and Emma Hospelhorn on keys and harms. I love them very much. We started this in January 2024 with Dave Vettraino, one of my favorite friends and collaborators. Dorian Gehring and Jack Henry helped with additional tracking and mastered it at Chicago Mastering Service.

Thanks to my brother, Stan, and McGuirk for some gentle lyrical nudging. Thanks to Shannon for the creative direction. <3

XO,

V.V.

UPCOMING CHICAGO SHOW:

Chicago, IL - Liam Kazar’s Record Release at Lincoln Hall
V.V. Trio Set
Doors 6:30 / Show 7:30 / 18+
Tickets

My freshman year I put together a band of my own (Grandkids) and started to hop up to sing harmonies in Santa (the H was added later)… joining the band full time in 2010. First lesson: buy a tuner pedal.

From 2010 - 2017 Santah toured like crazy - and did we play in your town? Probably! This list is wild. We played sold out venues opening for bands we loved (Sylvan Esso, Woods, The Hush Sound) and played to many empty rooms. Breweries, basements, street fests, 4 high school proms, 4 adult proms, a few weddings, and somehow ended up at Carly Simon’s 70th birthday party (story included below). I dropped out of college for a little. We went through two tour vans and lugged around 2 Fender twin reverbs, a Vox AC 30, and a Rhodes (haha ouch!). We spent much of our early 20s making albums in Pieholden Suite Sound in Rantoul & Chicago with Matt Dewine - drinking “Pepper Tea”, trying synths and guitar sitars, recording with precious analog gear. We were early champions of La Croix - I swear we were making empty can pyramids in the studio before anyone was talking about it. We’re now playing in each other’s weddings, having babies, and still are dear friends.

We released a new record called THE LAST WHIRLPOOL and are getting back together for 3 nights. (SW Michigan, Urbana, Chicago) - really hope to see you.

I am so grateful for the years spent with this band and all the people I met along the way, some of them still of my closest friends. I really wouldn’t be where I am now without their guidance, encouragement, sense of adventure, songs, nust3 , and big brotherly support. Stan, Tommy, Steve, Mike, Rico, Otto, & Mack - love you guys. Not everyone is able to tour and sing blood harmonies with their older brother / best friend.

BREAKING: a few of my favorite untold Santah tales below…

~**SANTAH STORIES **~
as told by V.V.

1. Baby’s First SXSW
   Our first year playing SXSW was 2011. We eagerly hauled down to Texas in our old church van Hap and got our little free backpacks. Our drummer Steve offered to park the van while we loaded in the gear, as drums were already set up at most showcases. It took Steve SO long to find parking that we had to start without him even though we were begging the venue to give us more time. THIS WAS OUR BIG BREAK! Disappointed, we started without him - the show must go on! It wasn’t until the end of the first song, we see Steve running in from the back of the room, sticks in hand! He hopped on stage and joined for the epic outro. We played a charged set.
   

2. Seedin’ with Steve
   Steve got obsessed with “seedin’” - the art of eating sunflower seeds. Seedin’ kept Steve focused while driving. If the windows were open, the sunflower seeds would get sucked back into the car and hit whoever was in the back seat in the face.
   

   

   3. High School Proms and “American Girl”
   Fenwick Catholic High School in Oak Park, IL booked Santah as their live prom band 4 years in a row. Go Friars! We used the money from these gigs to make our last record, Chico, and we also hosted adult proms for our friends in Chicago because why not?
   
   All of these proms were so silly and I got really good at tambourine. The most movie moment happened during our “senior year”. During our set, Mr. PrincipalPriest needed to hop on stage to make an announcement because the Girls Water Polo Team had just WON STATE!!!!! The prom went wild! We kept playing and towards the end of the night, we were halfway through Tom Petty’s “American Girl” and the PrincipalPriest flagged us once more to bring down the volume - the Water Polo team was arriving for the last 20 minutes of prom! The whole room got quiet and they made a tunnel - right when the doors open we ripped into the solo (you know the one) . Everyone was crying.

4. I Was a Taxi Driver For a Day In Athens, GA
   Taxis look exactly like band vans in Athens, or at least they did in 2012. I was taking a much needed nap in the van during a 5 band bill when a very drunk group of khaki-boys ran up to the van, knocked on the window, and frantically yelled, “IF HE DOESN’T GET A RIDE HOME RIGHT NOW HE’S GOING TO GET A TICKET - CAN YOU SAVE HIM?”. I negotiated $30 and dropped them off down the block. More kids piled in after he got out and I played it cool. I did a few more trips, made $75 and made it back to the venue in time for our set.

   
   

5. Carly Simon’s Birthday Party
   We played a benefit show on Martha’s Vineyard for the local YMCA (?) and I had just gotten over a case of awful food poisoning. Our Midwestern shabby cuteness charmed someone enough to get an invite to sing at Kenneth Cole’s 4th of July Party that also doubled as Carly Simon’s 70th birthday party. It felt like a dream! Stan and I sang a Dylan cover on the porch and Carly Simon kissed our cheeks. We talked about Venus and Jupiter being 0.3° apart that night, forming what looked like one large superstar. Carly played the first song she ever wrote and tuned her guitar for a long time through the PA. The director of Casper the ghost was there and so was Jim Belushi. Kenneth was nice enough.
   

   

6. Pizza Milkshake - I went to bed early and the rest of the band stayed out late in NYC. I woke up to an offer for a “smoothie” and the band had put a blended up piece of NYC style pizza in a cup in a freezer. I did not drink it.

   
   

7. Our Van Broke Down and Banditos Saved Us

   This one is a tear jerker. We were leaving Opelika, Alabama after an amazing show the night before. I think the band Gringo Starr played. We stayed with a sweetie pie named Jordan (remember him! he comes in later in a big way) and hung out into the wee hours of the night. Jordan told me about a girl named Hamilton that he was falling in love with and how much he hoped it would work out. The next day, our van broke down somewhere in Alabama and we called Jordan to see if he knew of anyone who could help. IT JUST SO HAPPENS… that his friend’s band called Banditos (now a Bloodshot band) was passing through on their way home from a gig and were able to scoop us from a parking lot. They kindly took us in their home in Birmingham - we picked up beer in a milk carton (self-serve) and played cards all night. A really wild detail of this story is that they lived with a film-maker named Joshua Shoemaker who showed me a music video he was working on for a band I’d never heard of called… The Alabama Shakes!
   
   Last year I hopped up to play a flute solo with Fruit Bats at Red Rocks when they opened for Dr. Dog. I had a mini cheering section of some old friends & family that came to the show. After the show, I went out to say hey to them and they had, not surprisingly, made friends with a cute family of four next to them. My friend was even holding their baby. I started talking to them and realize that the dad is someone I recognize... but from where? We looked at each other for 2 minutes until I realize — it’s Jordan. Jordan who saved us from being abandoned in Alabama 10+ years ago and my friend is holding his sleeping baby. His wife? It was Hamilton, the girl he’d told me about all those years ago.
   
   

8. Last Show on Lake Michigan
   We rented a boat called “The Summer of George” - VAYA played the river on the way out to the lake, Divino Niño started in the lock, and Santah got going when we were mid-cruise. It was pretty choppy so it felt a little hard to play, but we leaned into it and found our sea legs. Wish you were there - a few videos below. Can’t wait to play Chicago one more time on 11/25 at the Empty Bottle.

With Love,

Viv

P.S. If you are missing the Chicago show~ I’ve got a V.V. set on 12.12 opening for Liam Kazar at Lincoln Hall. Friday Night - early show. <3 Tickets.

Hello V.V. world ~

My old band Santah (the one who taught me how to rock n’ roll!) is having a few reunion shows in the Midwest and released a new record TODAY called The Last Whirlpool. The album tells the (true) tale of extraterrestrials who land on Earth and learn that love hurts. We are playing in Urbana (our band birthplace) at one of my favorite venues - Rose Bowl Tavern. Empty Bottle will be special because we convinced & Liam Cunningham (Kazar) to whip up a duo set of their old band Marrow. The nostalgia is real and flowing.

Speaking of Liam! I’m excited to open his album release show on December 12th at Lincoln Hall. His album - Pilot Light - is out today! Early show, V.V. trio with Jack Henry on drums & on bass. Liam’s new record is outrageously good and I’ve been mesmerized by his songwriting for a long time. These days I like comparing musical sounds to flavors SO I would give his vocal a charred eggplant quality - smooth, earthy, smoky, etc. See you there.

More V.V. stuff on the way in the next month.. ;)

V.V.

PS - Being A Bully is Not Cool Anymore and You Are A Loser if You Think Humans Should Be Ripped From Their Families When In Reality People Just Want to Live Their Lives… Donate to ICIRR if you can - they’ve been doing some amazing work with immigrant legal support in Chicago.

SANTAH REUNION SHOWS:

• Friday, November 21st - St. Joseph, MI - Nardo’s
  7pm, All Ages
  w. I AM BAND & Onion
  TICKETS

• Saturday, November 22nd - Urbana, IL - Rose Bowl Tavern
  8pm, 18+
  w. Big Daddy Pride & the East Side Five; V.V. Lightbody & Minor Moon
  TICKETS

• Tuesday, November 25th - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
  8pm, 21+
  w. Marrow (duo) & LILY.COM (DJ set)
  TICKETS

LIAM KAZAR & V.V. LIGHTBODY:

• Friday, December 12th - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
  18+ 6:30 PM doors, 7:30 PM show
  TICKETS

I love Joanna Newsom so much. Her album Have One on Me changed my life and ripped me apart. I first heard this album while walking around Urbana, IL in the fall - one of my favorite places to stroll when the seasons change (IYKYK). I walked really far from campus and found a forest preserve and a lake and then I was in a cornfield and somehow in a construction site. It all smelled golden outside and I think I was heartbroken (a standard for this time). This memory is so burned onto my brain and so is this record. I can still listen to this album over and over and find something new while also having very specific favorite moments: getting choked up at the title track at 6:30, the drop in “Baby Birch”, the recorders in “Kingfisher”.. too many to count.

Then there’s “On a Good Day”. A perfect song. 10/10. A breakup song that holds both heart-wrench and hope. I recently uncovered a cover (ha) I made of it in 2020. It’s an early exploration of recording at home and I’m incredibly charmed by the rawness of it. I don’t often mention that Joanna is an influence for my music, but she 100% is and always will be. I’ve included the lyrics to read along, please do.

“Have One on Me” (Joanna Newsom) - V.V. Lightbody:

Hey hey hey, the end is near
On a good day you can see the end from here
But I won't turn back now though the way is clear
I will stay for the remainder

I saw a life and I called it mine
I saw it drawn so sweet and fine
And I had begun to fill in all the lines
Right down to what we'd name her

Our nature does not change by will
In the winter 'round the ruined mill
The creek is lying flat and still
It is water though it's frozen

So, across the years and miles and through
On a good day you can feel my love for you
Will you leave me be so that we can stay true
To the path that you have chosen?

-Joanna Newsom

Do you have a favorite moment on this record? Let me know.

xo,

V.V.

P.S. I made the cover downloadable if you want

P.S. Shoutout Jim O’Rourke & Noah Georgeson on this one… AND the most beautiful album design ever…

Becca Mann – cover art
Annabel Mehran – photographer
Corinna Taylor – calligraphy
Dan Osborn – layout designer

Cool thing about being a musician is that you do sell t-shirts, so I could probably make any silly shirt I want and sell it at shows. I’m playing this Friday at Constellation opening for ’s album release show. I’ve always loved Jessica’s music and her new record is absolutely gorgeous. It will be a flute forward evening!!! There will be shirts.

*** tickets for Friday 9/5 here ***

summer flew by, per usual! feeling nostalgic, per usual! a few sweet moments from the last month in photos:

^ focaccia, burrata, tomato, basil, PEACH, olive oil, flakey salt - unbelievable app that will impress anyone. the peach and tomato fuse together to make a super fruit. t’peach.

^ singing harvest moon with my moon guy at my dear friends’ wedding while they glided in a barn across the dance floor (love you @Steve and Alyssa)

^ okay coleslaw was there too

^ Steve (groom) was drumming his own wedding and I’ve never seen him look so happy. old band Santah got back together (we’re doing a few Midwest reunion shows in November as well )

^ my baby niece Miriam and sister in law Hannah at the Minor Moon show at Bell’s in Kalamazoo opening for Fruit Bats. Miriam’s first concert <3

^ aunt v.v. forcing her nieces to interact because it’s so cute

^ ice cream at navy pier with Sam, Macie, Sima, Zulal, and Paul after Eric Slick’s show

^ me in one of my favorite lakes

with love & see you soon,

v.v.

Favorite place to cry? In the air.

I started writing this while I was on the plane home from Boston, completely exhausted and heart filled to the brim. Sorry to be cringe but, feelings rock and they’re all we have. I've been on the road for almost a month straight (minus a quick 48 hours at home) and I was crying just thinking about the sound of my apartment door unlocking. Crying because this huge month of music is over. Crying, excited to see my new baby niece and make some soup. Crying because our government is filled with maniacal cowards who put profit over people. And yes, I was also crying because I learned that the original Shrek was written for Chris Farley and not Mike Myers.

Next up!!! West coast with Finom April 21 - 27. V.V. is opening solo for this run which feels like a prophecy being fulfilled, or something. We were supposed to do this tour in fall of 2020 (when Finom was Ohmme!) and it obviously didn't happen. I've never played any V.V. shows on the West Coast - can you believe it? Tickets here.

tender tour journal:

Finom tour: tumbleweeds & uncles

We ripped out to Denver and back in 10 days. We saw a lot of uncles. We ate incredible Somalian food in Kansas City (imagine me in the backseat gnawing on a leg of lamb). I found out that there is a “Bright Eyes Optometry” in Omaha. We played Urbana which always feels like home. We storm-chased a blizzard through Kansas. Macie and I played classical flute & violin duets while our tour toddler danced in a tutu.

Huge highlight: True/False Film Festival in Columbia, MO. One of my favorite fests out there. It's one of the biggest documentary film festivals in the country AND they also have live music before the film screenings AND concerts at night (art working together!!!) The fest is heavy yet uplifting: the saddest documentary you’ve ever seen followed by pizza and a rave. I would highly recommend going to this fest if you can or at least keeping tabs on the films that they are playing / try to catch them as they roll through your city.

Nashville: a win/win/win/win

Not sure how many of you all listened to the self-titled Natalie Prass Album, but it was a huge one for me 10 years ago and definitely inspired some early V.V. Lightbody. When (dear friend/genius/drummer of dr. dog/nat's hubs) asked me to play flute at the 10 year anniversary show for this record (and also open solo), 'twas what we call a no-brainer.

Playing and singing with Natalie was unforgettable and a huge honor. The band was totally bonkers (Michael Libramento, Jake Botts, Alec Newnam, Raynier Jacildo to name a few). I was so nervous when I got on stage for my solo set, but the crowd was warm and ready to listen and laughed at my jokes… I just *maybe* warmed them up for James Austin Johnson’s set (SNL).

I spent a few wholesome days with Eric and Natalie and their dog Herbie - they let me be their roommate and are the kindest folks you'll ever meet. I tested out “Kiss By A Rose” for my new karaoke song and realized the lyric was “grey” and not “grave” and felt really shook. We invented a new game called "shrimprovisation" (“shrimprov” for short) using this video - I’m sure you can figure out how to play it:

Eric drove us 11 hours from Nashville —> Delaware (through tornado weather) to start the next leg of the tour. He looked at me during the drive when I asked if he needed a break and he said “I am a machine man”.

Eric / Toby / Macie / VV East Coast Tour:

Eric had the brilliant idea (like I said, genius) to do an acoustic tour with Toby Leaman and bring & me as backup. I wasn’t really sure what it was going to be like… but I was pleasantly surprised and this will be a tour for the books. 4 guitars, 4 voices, 1 kick drum, 1 violin, and flute. MTV UNPLUGGED baby. We had one day of rehearsal all together and I think we absolutely nailed it. Each night we dabbled in everyone’s solo songs plus a few Dr. Dog songs. Learning other musician’s songs is how I learned how to play music & write songs (proud UGU alumni1 ) and it’s been a full month of song learning. I love sneaking into artist’s brains this way - especially when it comes to vocal phrasing. I also loved getting some early 2000s Philly music scene lore from Toby & Eric. By the 5th show we were super locked, and a bit sad that it flew by so fast. I hope we get to do this again.

Lightning round highlights: eating hoagies, soup dumplings in nyc, loading into dock D, watching Anaconda in the hotel room, a day off & 16,000 steps & perfect pasta at macosa trattoria in NYC, New Haven style pizza from BAR, and coming up with flavors for a fictional “death themed” ice cream shop called “Toby & Eric’s Crematorium”.

Last, but definitely not least, there are nationwide “HANDS OFF” protests happening in cities nationwide on April 5th. I’ll be at the Chicago one and hope to see some familiar faces.

With love,

V.V.

Hello everyone!

I will keep this brief as the screen has not been a friend to me. A perfect storm laid me out a few weeks ago and I’m still catching up. Working on my record like a little prawn, the world, an actual thunderstorm, etc. I learned that a migraine is a bell curve and that “postdrome” is the time after the migraine that is almost just as bad as the real thing and babe, this thing definitely ran its course:

I have some really exciting shows COAST 2 COAST in the next few months… grab your tickets if you know what’s good for you.

SHOWS SHOWS SHOWS SHOWS

★ Feb 21st - Berwyn, IL - Robert’s Westside ★
→ V.V. & Minor Moon Duo! → The first night of Sima Cunningham’s residency!
→ Very close to “Chicago”

★ Feb 28th - Urbana, IL @ Gallery Art Bar ★
→ VV & Minor Moon Duo w/ Finom!
→ Where I got my start in Rock and Roll

★ March 1-2 - Columbia, MO @ True False Film Fest ★
→ V.V. Lightbody Solo & Finom
→ The best documentary film festival in the country that also has music!

★ March 3 - 8: Finom Tour ★
→ Plains → Mountains → Back Agains
→ Fort Collins, Denver, Omaha, Davenport, Madison!

★ Mar. 14th - Nashville, TN - V.V. Lightbody w/ Natalie Prass & James Austin Johnson★
→ Celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Natalie’s self-titled album which I loved deeply
→ Expect to see me on the flute
→ James Austin Johnson is the guy on SNL that does proper funny impressions

★ March 18 - 23 - East Coast Tour with Eric Slick & Toby Leaman (of Dr. Dog)! ★
→ Acoustic evenings with , Toby Leaman, , and V.V. - many surprises
→ Philly, New York, New Haven, Boston, Portsmouth NH

★ April 18 - 27 - West Coast Finom Tour & V.V. Lightbody Solo ★
→ Double Duty as the opener and the bass player
→ Seattle, Portland, Sisters, Redding, Pt. Reyes, Los Angeles

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XO,

V.V.

________________________________________________________________

BONUS ★★★★
WWVVD? ★★★★★

What Would VV Do? Watch? Learn? Read? Currently…

• working out my knots on my peanut massager (best $15 I’ve ever spent)

• saying “good!” as my phone dies while I’m using it (a child pretending it’s happy to not have the thing she really wants)

• turning on the oven for a little when it’s too cold to track vocals in my apartment

• reading White Teeth - by Zadie Smith & loving it so far… I had to read something of hers after I heard her interview with Ezra Klein

• preparing to be the best aunt ever (aunt phibian)

I drive a 2003 Buick Park Avenue Ultra. It is my boat, my film star, my hamburger, a family relic, and yes! it’s supercharged.1 It gets me to the gig on time — the trunk can fit all of my gear plus decades of old cassettes and dried leaves. It’s covered in dirt and somehow sparkles. The sunroof is currently out of order and there’s a huge crack on the front window from a high schooler throwing a rock at it. People think I’m driving 10 mph slower than I actually am - a blessing and a curse! I’m not the only musician who drives a Buick in a big city: shout out NYC’s Cassandra Jenkins who has the best song in the universe about learning to drive. I know she’s driving a red truck in the music video, but I really just imagine her Buick that we took on tour in 2022.

While my car is a sturdy & beautiful hunk, it’s also causing me problems and I can’t keep up! I get a flat tire every 3 weeks because of a bad rim - the chrome on the wheels starts to rust and break the seal that keeps the air in. This “just happens” to 20 year old cars, or so I’m told!!!! So THAT’s what I’m doing now, crusty ol’ V.V. is breaking the seal on this Substack and letting out some air…

For those of you who are new: my name is Vivian McConnell and I’m a 34 year old Chicago musician, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. I play under the name V.V. Lightbody, have a synth pop duo called Valebol, and produce records as “Album Doula”. You can also find me playing bass with Finom, pulling my flute out of my sleeve when needed, and making sauerkraut….

Today, I’m calling the junkyard.

I’ve been on tour and in and out of town for the last 3 months and every time I come home, I have another flat tire. Every time, I gather $1.00 from the change jar and fill it up with air so I can cruise another few weeks. Awful, right?

The first flat tire I came home to was after my synth-pop band Valebol’s October tour with Australian groovers Mildlife. They were absolute legends (say that in an Australian accent) and let us use their rototoms! We had a blast out on the West Coast and in Denver, even though our routing had us driving up and flying up and down California 2 too many times. Our Traverse City, MI friend Cindy came along for driving support and energy (her business card literally says Professional Friend, and it’s true).

I went back out a few days later to play bass with Finom for another 10 day loop around the Southeast. We crammed into our van (named Brent) with Chicago’s Moontype. Listening to their Moontype’s new songs every night was a joy - I would recommend keeping an eye on them this year ;) ! An unexpected highlight was playing in Asheville, a show we thought would be cancelled due to Hurricane Helene. The venue’s lights and water came back on and they asked us to come and play, so that’s what we did. It was heavy and beautiful and extremely cathartic - our friend Ryan Oslance (aka aligayytor) played a breathtaking solo drum performance and we raised some money for local relief. On this tour we also went to three (!) Jewish Deli’s, had a daily push-up routine, and visited the American Museum of the House Cat.2

* A real conversation that happened at the American Museum of the House Cat: *

Cat woman/manager: so you’re musicians? like an orchestra?

Sima: no, we’re like a rock band.

Cat woman/manager: oh so like… trans-siberian orchestra?

I returned home to another flat tire, but I knew it was coming.

In between tours, I kept filling my tire up and tried to finish up V.V. LP 3 (which I will not speak about until I am ready, but yes, it’s coming along and it rules). Finom played the Metro for their record release. Some special guests came up on stage , Alex Grelle, and Mary Williamson!) and I wore a blonde mustache for the Oboe Brothers band reunion.*

Finom hit the road for another 10 days, this time to the Northeast and a touch of Canada. We got into the van on the morning of November 6th (hahaha), soothed ourselves with Manny’s Deli (thank you ), and snuggled on our emotional support baby (Sima’s daughter Zulal). The shows were powerful and people really showed up and we were touring with sweeties from Nashville - Meg Elsier. Tour can really be a slog sometimes, but not when you are making a point to visit friends and family across the country and find the best food in town. Finom is *really freaking good* at doing that. I am so grateful for my best friends in that band & van.

Now is the perfect time to call the junkyard.

I am home now from tour for a while, and it’s the perfect time to call the junkyard. I am not afraid anymore. Some of you may be wondering why I’m obsessed with this… junkyard talk? but I’m sure you all can relate… my brain kind of feels like a junkyard after this year. The world is doomy and there are so many things to keep track of and I think we all have brain rot and attention span issues, so I’m trying to clear it out. Maybe all I need is this ceremonious first substack post, or maybe I just need a cheesy metaphor: I can’t keep plugging the leak, putting a band-aid on it, rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic, etc. So here I go…

I am currently on hold with the junkyard.

The hold commercial is a loop of the best Chicago accent I’ve heard in a while. I took a recording (pardon my sniffle) :

They picked up. They don’t have it, but the sweet man suggested I look on Ebay. I found the 17” wheel right away. It doesn’t match my car at all, but I don’t care. My wheel is not leaky any more.

Hoping to carry this energy into 2025 and keep this V.V. Transmission going (last car pun, I promise - I’m not even really a car person.) Subscribe for updates on releases, tours, food, becoming a human, etc.

XO,

V.V.

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UPCOMING SHOWS:

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17 - CHICAGO, IL
TNK FEST: V.V. Lightbody w/ Morinda & Lily Seabird
@ Gman Tavern - 8:30 PM

TICKETS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28th - URBANA, IL
INTER-PYGMALION FEST w/ Finom
Gallery Art Bar - 8 PM

Urbana Tickets

WWVV do? watch? learn? read? I am currently…

• referring to people as m’lord and m’lady - was thinking about trying this out on my landlord but I’m not sure it will hit

• exiting a conversation like they do in a period piece by just stating the person’s name, bowing, and walking away - “Ms. Lightbody…”

• trying to MASTER the art of French cooking with Julia Child - hope to have you over for dinner

• watching the new dune show - benny and the gesserits are back! you go girlies

• seeing Gillian welch and dave Rawlings in Boston - the best show I saw all year* maybe century* with my sweetie

• hitting a deep squat early and often - my hips love it, and I feel like a little bat

• drinking less - surprise surprise, it’s great