Indie Rock Hit Parade Live Session: Diet Cig

Diet Cig | Photo by Galea McGregor for WXPN

Joining us in the studio for this latest Indie Rock Hit Parade session is the New York duo Diet Cig. Formed just a few years ago by guitarist Alex Luciano and drummer Noah Bowman, Diet Cig already find themselves surrounded by an adoring fanbase. It’s easy to understand why once you give a listen to their instantly likable debut album, Swear I’m Good At This, which was released earlier this year on Frenchkiss Records. Just before a show at PhilaMOCA, Diet Cig stopped by our studios to perform some favorites from the album.

In case the self-deprecating title of their record didn’t tip you off, Diet Cig’s songs are about finding your place in a big, weird world. Our session begins with the song that has become a kind of anthem for the band, “Tummy Ache.” With Luciano’s refrains of “My stomach hurts” and “It’s hard to be a punk while wearing a skirt” are bolstered by Bowman’s increasingly thunderous rhythm. Next is “Barf Day,” a playful tune about growing up but still wanting to have the joys of youth (like ice cream on your birthday). The incendiary “Link In Bio” is our web exclusive bonus track, an effervescent F-off battle cry for anyone who just wants to be left alone. Finally, the slow build of “Bath Bomb” showcases Diet Cig’s skill at dynamics, with the song (and Luciano herself) slowly morphing from a whisper to a scream.

Listen to Diet Cig’s full Indie Rock Hit Parade session below, watch videos of the band performing “Tummy Ache” and “Barf Day” via Vuhaus and check out Emma Silverstone’s photos from inside the studio:

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