STUNTDRIVER

STUNTDRIVER is an LA-based performance-driven genre-bending rock spectacle that is straddling music and art crowds with its “Diva” Knievel-style white racecar suits, metallic helmets, black/gold painted faces, Janet Jackson-esque choreography, camp aesthetics and bass-driven, dark-synth laced heavy electro-art rock that makes everyone feel like they’re on the same punk rock adventure together. Influences include Peaches, Ozzy, Karen O and old Nine Inch Nails. The project was originally conceived as a “theatrical rock adventure” with a pair of wildly creative and immersive multi-media performances consisting of a full cast and a Yellow Brick Road-like set at Los Angeles’ esteemed Highways Performance Space in Summer 2018. Shortly after, STUNTDRIVER honed itself into a sleeker vehicle for concert venue shows as a full band with audience participatory props such as yellow sponges, a human tunnel and of course, plastic wrapping. The adventurous undertaking is spearheaded by performance artist/music-maker/songwriter Kym Priess and collaborators include John Avila, the bassist from Oingo Boingo (co-music producer, live bass), Swedish programmer Anton Söder (co-music producer, live synths), and Detroit drummer Jimmy Lucido (Nightmare Air, Electric 6, The Strays). 

Pre-COVID outbreak, shows were taking on the form as a duo with just Priess and a drummer and that was the plan for the cancelled SXSW shows as well. Livestream shows have been just Priess solo but not devoid of the inherent theatricality. The visceral and campy video for the track “Plastic Faces,”about mask, identity and the reformation of society, is due out soon along with a later release of the full concept album called “The Saga.”  Think Peaches meets Rocky Horror but you can’t put this baby in a box.