One of my favorite artists is Washington D.C.’s Eva Moolchan who crafts her bass-heavy tracks under the name SNEAKS. She spits out charming minimal post-punk songs that clock in at an average of a minute- exploring themes of self-awaress, confrontation and approaching it laid back. Clever bass riffs and quick drum machine tracks were the backbone of her breakthrough album Gymnastics that was released on Sister Polygon Records in 2015 and reissued later last year on Merge Records. You have definitely heard this full album on More Than Noise before. It clock in at only 14 minutes and you want to put it on repeat every time.
Moolchan has been touring for her latest release, It’s a Myth and stopped in New Orleans this past week at Siberia. Her performance was everything I’ve been talking about and more. Her speak-sing songs are hard to file under any category if I am being honest though, and after seeing her perform, it is even harder. That is kind of great though, right? I say yes!
In a line-up between PILL and hardcore band Downtown Boys, Moolchan approached her couple-minute tracks with attack, new flare and a side-kick to make it all happen for a show. She had a new band member assist on stage, cueing up her beats and playing songs in between to hype up the crowd. It felt like a live DJ set sometimes- watching them jump back and forth, mouthing the words to songs and all-in-all something I’ve never seen at a punk show before. I’ve seen a videos here and there of her liv performances, but I still wasn’t sure on how a SNEAKS show would go… especially after seeing on stage before that she had some added help. I have to say, it was shocking in the best way.
The songs in between would fade into her drum tracks and the bass would go. Her deep, dance-y bass riffs had myself moving while she performed new takes, what felt improvisational, on classic SNEAKS tracks like her single “Tough Luck” and classic “Down In The Woods.”
She played a lot of songs off of her upcoming album such as the very sweet sounding “Devo,” and one of her latest singles “Inside Edition.” My favorite of the night was “Look Like That.” That one is also probably my favorite off the new album as well. She switched it up at a point and put down the bass on new one “Not My Combination.” Most of the tracks of the night were performed a little different than they are on the new record.
The great part was that the crowd loved it… I do think. I was mesmerized for the most part, so I actually can’t confirm this line, but they would be crazy if they didn’t. I didn’t time the performance, but I was left wanting it to go on forever. I think that’s how her albums make me feel, too, but to ask for more time on either would ruin the way it hits you. Her albums make you want to put them on repeat.
At a point in the night, the guy working the merch table felt bad that I had to take money out of the ATM for a shirt, so he gave me a free tape that I popped in the cassette player the very next morning. If you were wondering where Moolchan could go with SNEAKS after Gymnastics, hear it for yourself. It’s a Myth is something fresh, something a little more than bass and a drum machine. It has about 5 more minutes than the first one and you every second of it.
It’s A Myth comes out March 31 on Merge Records. Listen to her single Inside Edition below.

Gallery • 5 Photos

SNEAKS @ Siberia NOLA 3.09.16