STNNNG (pronounced “stunning”) are from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. No, they do not sound like any of those three Minneapolis bands you can think of from VH1 Classic oversaturation or Rolling Stone’s retro-active fawning. They sound more like a lumbering giant laughing madly while tangled up in some barbed electric fence. In other words, like heavy rock in the art-y/noisy Touch & Go vein. Think punk rock tenacity with metal power, classic rock riffage, vaudevillian showmanship and the hyper-literate lyrics of a man seemingly possessed by a full encyclopedia set of subtly deranged characters.

Since forming in 2003, STNNNG has released five full-length albums on Modern Radio Record Label, performed at over 300 shows, and basically perfected the art of turning their audiences into shit-grinning masochists. STNNNG is one of those rare bands that seems too damn good to give a fuck, but actually do reach out to grab you, make you smile, wince, heckle, and thoroughly engage as they pummel you into a lifeless purple pulp. On stage, the band’s a drunken speedboat careening off every ship in the harbor. Their five spastic bodies leap, puff, snort and wrench like the subjects of some mannerist sculptor’s wettest dream. I mean it when I say there is no better live band on this earth to photograph.

Comprised of lead vocalist Chris Besinger (ex-Death and Texas), the guitar interplay of Nate Nelson (also of Chambermaids, Pony Trash and American Cream) and Adam Burt (ex-Vets, currently of Total Fucking Blood), bassist Jesse Kwakenat (ex-Heroine Shieks, ex-Private Dancer) and drummer Ben Ivascu (also of Polica), STNNNG recently recorded their fourth full-length album with Steve Albini at Electrical Audio and  mastering the record at Abbey Road Studios in London.

STNNNG is:
Vocals: Chris Besinger
Guitar: Adam Burt
Guitar: Nate Nelson
Bass: Jesse Kwakenat
Drums: Ben Ivascu

Discography:
Veterans of Pleasure (LP) – Modern Radio Record Label (European Pressing on Rejuvenation)
Empire Inward (LP) – Modern Radio Record Label (European Pressing on Rejuvenation)
Reissue of Dignified Sissy & Fake Fake (Playbutton) – Modern Radio Record Label
The Smoke of My Will (LP) – Modern Radio Record
Split with Signal to Trust (7”) – Modern Radio Record Label
Fake Fake (CD/LP) – Modern Radio Record Label
Dignified Sissy (CD/LP) – Modern Radio / Self–released
Split with The Means (7”) — Nodak Record Label