Social Cinema is a new band with over a decade of history. More accurately, Social Cinema is the latest chapter in a decade-plus friendship and artistic journey evolving alongside the people behind the music.
When three Wichita friends, Austin Engler and brothers Griffin and Logan Bush formed Kill Vargas in 2013 as young teenagers, they couldn't have guessed that they’d all be still performing together a decade later. Along the way, the trio would cross paths with Nebraskan band, Death Cow, featuring Mari Crisler and Reed Tiwald. Between sharing bills and sleeping on each other's couches after shows while on the Midwest DIY scene grind, the three and two would become inseparably close, and eventually join forces as five in 2021, under the new name Social Cinema.
Whether it’s due to their years as touring musicians, gradually honed songwriting and stylistic ambitions from scrappy, garage-y roots, or some combination of all of the above, Social Cinema makes an immediate impression with seasoned beyond their years songwriting chops and a road-hardened work ethic and resolve to match. Since their formation in 2021, the alternative/indie rock quintet has issued four EPs — 2022’s Causing Scenes and Repeat, and Get Along and Stay Numb in 2023 — and a number of singles highlighting the outfit’s multifaceted songcraft prowess, and has toured extensively, sharing bills with the likes of Metric, Saint Motel, Bad Bad Hats and more.
To close out their breakout year, Social Cinema dropped an album-length singles compilation featuring all of this year’s releases, in addition to two new songs, aptly titled It’s Nice To Meet You. The band has striven to introduce themselves and all that they’re capable of to their broadening audience through each individual release, exploring new facets of their sound and songwriting abilities, while also paying homage to their midwest DIY roots. It’s Nice To Meet You ties all this year’s releases together, from the heavy-hitting, alt-rock “John The Baptist,” to the anthemic, power-pop melodies in “Stay Numb,” and the new, previously unreleased tracks, which fall somewhere in between. The compilation marks not only Social Cinema’s first album-length release, but also their first vinyl pressing, with an exclusive vinyl-only bonus track: “Loner (Live)” recorded during the band’s tour in the leadup to Treefort Music Fest this past March. With the band’s mounting momentum, It’s Nice To Meet You is as much an introduction as it is proof that the band is only just getting started.
