Movie Club Release New EP Black Mamba with a Short Film
Movie Club Release New EP Black Mamba with a Short Film
Movie Club is a music duo, featuring guitarist Vince Cuneo and drummer Jessamyn Violet, who just released their latest EP Black Mamba on June 6th.
Their music is riff-laden, mixing psych with surf guitars and Morricone soundtracks. Eschewing vocals and drenched in reverb with copious use of the wah-wah pedal, their songs could belong on the soundtrack to a midnight cult movie. Cuneo’s sound channels Slash and Jeff Beck while Violet’s brings to mind Maureen Tucker and Meg White. They conceive and direct their own videos (aided by Dustin Downing and Brian Feinzeimer) which reference some of the films that have inspired them. The music videos they create all have a unified aesthetic, and while the images don’t always relate to the music, a playfulness and charm are effortlessly conveyed. Below is a description of their video output to date.
SURF BASEMENT (February ’19)
From their debut EP, Kraken. Shot by Mike Mast in atmospheric black and white, the video takes place at LA’s Dockweiler Beach. They approach each other in profile. Cuneo is carrying a hammer (Oldboy); Violet is waving a samurai sword (Kill Bill).
NAVY SEAL (July ’19)
Only 4 months later, their 2nd EP, Hammerhead. Shot by Seannie Bryan in the parking lot of a liquor store. The video shows them playing instruments. Behind them, an artist (Muckrock) paints a mural on the wall of a “hammerhead” shark. Intercut with footage of surfers. Dedicated to Dick Dale.
MOONBOW (February ’20)
From their next EP, Man O War. Again back to the beach. They are dressed in white suits with white shirts, socks, and shoes. They both have white wolf heads. They begin digging a hole in the sand and find a briefcase.
BONES (March ’20)
From Man O War EP. Filmed in an abandoned water park. Footage of them wandering through park ruins is intercut with scenes of the white wolves also wandering through the park. Drone footage.
DRIFTWOOD (June ’20)
Also from Man O War EP. Filmed during COVID lockdown. The band plays instruments in front of multiple LA landmarks. Bittersweet emotion as several closed due to the pandemic. The song has a melodic line not present in earlier releases.
BLACK FLAMINGO (October ’20)
The title track of their first LP. Directed by Ran Park. Shadowy Black & White. Digital manipulation/animation. They are wearing different masquerade masks, a la Eyes Wide Shut. They are shown in multiple outfits, images repeated to give the mirrored effect of multiple individuals. They are performing magic tricks and making yoga poses. Artistic.
TRAP DOOR (July ’21)
From Fangtooth EP. Color. Shot in the Salton Sea. Structure in the water like a swing or altar. They wander around and on the structure.
In December 2023, the band released their second LP, Great White. Surprisingly, there are no videos for any of the ten tracks. Now, 18 months later, the band has just released their newest EP—Black Mamba.
PYTHON (June ’25)
From New Release Black Mamba EP. Shot in and around Venice. The plot is about hallucinogenic peaches and a cop chasing the peach “dealer”. Both are in clown makeup.
BLACK MAMBA (June ’25)
The title track of New Release EP. Shot in and around Venice. The Bride from Kill Bill drives around in a remarkable car with a samurai sword and takes out various “bad guys”. She meets up with the peach dealer. Both videos have elements of a grindhouse trailer. The accompanying video combines both songs into a 10-minute short titled Grindhouse Venice.
The multi-talented Violet is also a novelist, with her second novel having been released on June 10th. “Venice Peach” most likely tells the story alluded to in the two videos. Their commitment to collaboration, creativity, and community is best illustrated by their “Happening”, called The Psychedelic Circus. The band’s residency anchors this annual event, which also features performances by instrumentalists, dancers, magicians, puppeteers, drag queens, and other creative freaks. Movie Club has mastered the psych instrumental subgenre, and their sound is energetic and dynamic.
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