Nico Vega

Nico Vega Inward Eye Neon Trees 8PM $8/10 AA
Featuring singer and lyricist Aja Volkman, a vocal dead ringer for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O who claims Janis Joplin and Tina Turner as her primary musical heroes, Nico Vega incorporates those vintage soul and blues influences into their spiky indie rock tunes, suggesting a musical affinity with the likes of the White Stripes, Black Keys, and Fiery Furnaces. Nico Vega formed in 2005; Volkman, a native of Eugene, Or, had dropped out of theater school at the California Institute for the Arts, giving herself one year to establish herself as a solo singer/songwriter in nearby Hollywood. Volkman was most of the way through her self-imposed trial period and almost ready to move back home to Oregon when drummer Mikey Pena happened into one of her solo gigs. Joining forces, the pair quickly added guitarist Rich Koehler to form the bass-less trio.