Photo by Emily Vicario

Nick Vicario is a DIY lifer who has been around many blocks (and zip codes) at this stage in his career. It all began in Portland, Oregon where — like many a punk — he fell under the influence of local heroes Wipers and Poison Idea. His malleability behind the six-string is evidenced by a varied resume, having once counted himself as member of the Topshelf Records indie-pop band Wild Ones but also post-punk antagonizers Public Eye. CEREMONY frontman Ross Farrar has been a bandmate with him since bringing him into his aggro punk project Crisis Man, and as a live touring member, Vicario has made ends meet on tour with indie rockers Surfer Blood and noise-punks Dreamdecay. In short, he’s established himself as a DIY renaissance man even prior to going at solo under the moniker Smirk.

The whole loud punk rock ‘n roll lane really fits him best, though, and the fact that he’s really going through it rings that notion even truer. On his new and third full-length album, Speculative Fiction, we find Vicario on the heels of leaving Los Angeles for — well, these pages aren’t quite sure, in typical nomadic starving artist fashion — but the road has led to nihilistic tendencies nevertheless on the highlight sendoff, “Going off to Die”. This one licks its wounds like a week’s old cut — not necessarily fresh enough to bleed, but the reminder is there to sting you every now and then — over roiling riffs and its slow healing process reflected in the listen’s rough and steady current. “In a new town / About a year now / Keep trying to get these boxes cleared out now,” Vicario status updates. “I don’t make friends / I only lose them / But I feel strangely at peace.” Who needs a permanent address when you want nothing more than to be unbothered?

Smirk’s Speculative Fiction will be released July 3rd on Smoking Room.