Boy from the Crowd

Boy from the Crowd

Boy from the Crowd is an East London alternative rock duo formed by singer, songwriter and guitarist Vinny Piana and drummer Vegas Ivy. Their music combines delta blues, surf rock, punk, rock and roll, and blues rock, with a sound shaped by tension and menace. The pair describe their approach as rooted in instinct and in playing with force and integrity.

Formation and members

The group centres on Vinny Piana and Vegas Ivy, who meet at the crossroads of rock, noise and blues-based music and develop a close musical partnership. Piana is born in the south of France and tours Europe and the UK as a guitarist with several bands before beginning the project. Ivy provides the drum foundation with a heavy, driving style.

Music and influences

Piana’s songs often focus on choices, consequences and self-destruction. The duo’s sound draws a line from Robert Johnson and Howlin’ Wolf through Captain Beefheart and Jon Spencer, while the artist tags also connect the act with dEUS, David Bowie, Dax Riggs and The Birthday Party. Their songs are built from dirty blues, punk attitude, rock and roll swagger and guitar-led noise.

Related work

Before forming Boy from the Crowd, Piana tours with various bands and writes soundtracks for independent films, including LoveSexy, which screens at Sundance. This background feeds into the project’s use of atmosphere, grit and dramatic tension.