The Zen Circus, Brian Ritchie

The Zen Circus is a trailblazing Italian indie rock band whose raw folk-punk sound bridges the gap between the irreverent energy of the Violent Femmes -- whose bassist Brian Ritchie collaborated with on their 2008 album Villa Inferno -- and the scrappy charm of the Libertines. Formed in Pisa in 1999, the trio of Andrea Appino, Massimiliano "Ufo" Schiavelli, and Karim Qqru has carved out a unique space in Italy's alternative music scene, pairing nervy instrumentation with sharp, socially charged lyricism. Over more than two decades, they've released a string of acclaimed albums...