Vivian Darkbloom is a pseudonym for the novelist Vladimir Nabokov, a writer who loved controversy, intrigue, and continually thwarting the expectations of his readers. The band borrowed this name in homage to Nabokov (whom they love), and also as a nod to the simple idea of an alter-ego; the band, while riotous and raucous onstage, are in fact shy and bookish offstage. Founding members Rob Morris (vocals, guitar) and Brian Skerratt (bass, vocals) graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University and are now quietly pursuing graduate degrees at MIT and Harvard, respectively. As composers, they pride themselves in what Morris refers to as “making music that rewards simple song writing over anything else.” Morris’s time at MIT has definitely influenced the band’s live aesthetic, and it has led to their must-see secret weapon: the Wii Guitar. Garnering attention from Gibson, Yamaha, Nintendo, and most recently, from members of Aerosmith, Morris’s musical innovation also counts appearances on usatoday.com, wired.com and engadget.com as some of its high-profile exposure. The band's first EP - "Let's Become Machines" - was enthusiastically received by dozens of blogs and local press, earning them featured artist spots on cmj.com, sonicbids.com, ourstage.com, and garageband.com The band has shared the stage with national indie and major label acts, including The Cliks, The Rumble Strips, and Semi-Precious Weapons. Since July 2008, Vivian Darkbloom has been recording with producer Scott Riebling (The Academy Is, Metro Station), leading to the online release of two new songs this October.