RVG (band)

Last updated
RVG
Origin Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres
Years active2015–present
Labels
Members
  • Romy Vager
  • Reuben Bloxham
  • Marc Nolte
  • Isabele Wallace
Past members
  • Angus Bell
  • Siahn Davis

RVG (an acronym of Romy Vager Group) are an Australian rock band from Melbourne, Victoria, formed in 2015. [1] The band's current line-up is composed of Romy Vager on vocals and lead guitar, rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Reuben Bloxham, bassist Isabele Wallace and drummer Marc Nolte. Original bassist Angus Bell was part of the band from its inception until 2019, being replaced briefly by Siahn Davis before Wallace joined as a permanent fixture later that year.

Contents

RVG have released three studio albums to date: A Quality of Mercy (2017), Feral (2020) and Brain Worms (2023). The band's blend of indie rock and post-punk has found considerable critical acclaim within Australia; Junkee has described RVG as "one of Australia’s best bands", [2] while The Guardian has described Vager herself as "one of [Australia's] most underrated songwriters". [3]

Career

Vager formed RVG in Preston circa 2015, originally as a backing band for her solo material. [2] Vager named the band the Romy Vager Group in tribute to the Patti Smith Group, later shortening it to the acronym to make the focus less on herself and more on the band as a unit. [4] In October 2017, RVG released their debut studio album A Quality of Mercy. [5] The record was made live at Melbourne pub The Tote, and was released without any promotion or formal announcement on their Bandcamp page. [1]

In April 2020, RVG released their second album, Feral. [6]

In February 2023, RVG released "Nothing Really Changes", the first single from the band's third studio album. [7] Brain Worms was released on 2 June 2023. [8] In an album review, Alex Gallagher from NME said "RVG's third album is their best yet. Taking the most vital elements of scrappy 2017 debut A Quality of Mercy and its brilliant, bold 2020 follow-up Feral, Romy Vager and her bandmates craft an ambitious, lush record full of feeling and executed with confidence." [9]

In November 2023, Romy Vager collaborated with Augie March and released a cover of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' "Henry Lee". [10]

Discography

Albums

TitleDetailsPeak Chart Positions
AUS
[11]
A Quality of Mercy
  • Released: 3 March 2017 [5]
  • Label: Fat Possum, Our Golden Friend
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
—
Feral
  • Released: 24 April 2020 [6]
  • Label: Fire, Our Golden Friend
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
28
Brain Worms
  • Released: 2 June 2023 [8]
  • Label: Fire, Ivy League
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
44

Singles

List of singles, showing year released and album name
TitleYearAlbum
"A Quality of Mercy"2017A Quality of Mercy
"That's All"2018
"Alexandra" [12] 2019Feral
"Dying on the Vine" [12] Non-album single
"I Used to Love You"2020Feral
"Christian Neurosurgeon"
"Perfect Day"
"Army of Me" (with Julia Jacklin) [13] [14] 2021Non-album single
"Nothing Really Changes" [7] 2023Brain Worms
"Squid" [15]
"Midnight Sun" [16]
"Don't Take It Badly"/"Pet Sematary" [17] [18] 2024

Awards and nominations

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2017 A Quality of MercyBest Independent AlbumNominated
Independent Breakthrough ArtistNominated
Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavey or Punk AlbumNominated
"A Quality of Mercy"Best Independent SongNominated
2024 Brain WormsIndependent Album of the YearWon [19]
Best Independent Rock Album or EPNominated
"Nothing Really Changes"Independent Song of the YearNominated
Hayden Somerville for RVG – "Nothing Really Changes"Independent Video of the YearNominated

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2024 "Nothing Really Changes"Song of the YearShortlisted [20]

Australian Music Prize

The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. It exists to discover, reward and promote new Australian music of excellence. [21]

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2023Brain WormsAustralian Music PrizeWon [22] [23]

J Awards

The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2023 RVGDouble J Artist of the YearNominated [24]

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards, are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. The commenced in 2005.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2017 A Quality of MercyBest AlbumNominated [25] [26]
"A Quality of Mercy"Best SongNominated
themselvesBest BandNominated
Best Emerging TalentNominated
2019 Romy Vager (RVG)Best Female MusicianNominated
2020 FeralBest AlbumNominated [27] [28]
Best Rock/Punk AlbumNominated
"I Used to Love You"Best SongNominated
themselvesBest BandNominated
Romy Vager (RVG)Best MusicianNominated
2021 RVGBest Live ActNominated [29] [30]
2023 "Nothing Really Changes"Best Song or TrackNominated [31]
RVGBest GroupNominated
Best Rock/Punk WorkNominated
2024 RVGBest GroupPending [32]

National Live Music Awards

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) commenced in 2016 to recognise contributions to the live music industry in Australia.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2017 Romy Vager (RVG)Victorian Live Voice of the YearWon [33] [34]
2023 RVGBest Indie/Rock/Alternative ActNominated [35] [36]
Romy Vager (RVG)Best Live VoiceNominated

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References

  1. 1 2 "Romy Vager of RVG: 'I had given up on being in a band'". ABC. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  2. 1 2 Gallagher, Alex. "RVG Uncover The Humour In Some "Horrible Fucking Shit" On New Album 'Brain Worms'". Junkee. Scout Publishing. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  3. ↑ Nguyen, Giselle. "RVG: Brain Worms review – delicious absurdity from one of our most underrated songwriters". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  4. ↑ Cahill, Mikey. "How a funeral and a song called Squid led to a breakthrough for this local band". The Age. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
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  10. ↑ "Augie March and Romy Vager team up to cover Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' 'Henry Lee'". NME . 8 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
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  13. ↑ "Army of Me - single". Apple Music. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
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  16. ↑ "RVG announce new video and single for 'Midnight Sun' from their upcoming album 'Brain Worms'". Fire Records. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  17. ↑ "RVG reveal new single 'Don't Take It Badly' / 'Pet Sematary'. UK/EU tour kicks off next week". Fire Records. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  18. ↑ "Singles to Radio". AUM Report. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
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  20. ↑ "G Flip, Genesis Owusu, RVG & More Shortlisted For 2024 APRA Song Of The Year". The Music . 22 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
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  26. ↑ "Previous Winners". Music Victoria. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
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  34. ↑ "Winners 2017". NLMA. December 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
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  36. ↑ "Genesis Owusu And Amyl & The Sniffers Win Big At The 2023 National Live Music Awards". The Music . 11 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
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