Vintage Blue

Vintage Blue is a band that is a must listen.  Being a teenager in the late '90s, Vintage Blue brings me back to that time. FYI: I loved it! They have a style that is fantastic, mainly because it is not just one style. These guys can do just about anything and it sounds wonderful.  I wanted to know more about this band and what makes them tick, so here is an email interview that was conducted with one of the members, Ben.


Give me a short history/background of yourself? (where did you grow up, where you live now, how old you were when music first effected your life)



I (Ben Bassett) was born on the East Coast in Pittsfield, MA but moved to the West Coast whenI was very young. I grew up in Monterey, CA and Chico, CA. Monterey is a beautiful town onthe Monterey bay near Pebble Beach and the Carmel Valley. It is one of the most scenic areasI have ever been and someday I hope to live there again. Chico is a college town and is in theNorthern California valley. It is a great place to raise a family and a very comfortable communitywhere people very rarely leave. I left California when I went away for college in the Midwest. Ihave been there ever since, moving from college (in St. Louis), to Chicago to pursue an advanceddegree.Music has been a part of my life since I was very little. My step-father had a degree in musicand was a very talented musician in his own right. We always had a piano in the house and heoften filled the house with the sound of classic rock and soul/funk tunes that he and my momreally enjoyed. When I was old enough, my step-dad, step-brother and I would team up aroundthe piano and learn three-part harmonies to Beatles tunes and other great rock n’ roll classics.Those early lessons continue to guide me today.

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      If you could describe your music, how would you?

We use the tagline “Contemporary. Classic. Rock.” We think that line best defines what weare. We all grew up on the classic rock of The Eagles, Queen, Tom Petty, The Doors, CCR andThe Boss, so when we started writing music together those influences naturally came through.But you cannot just emulate what has come before, you should build on it. So we tried toadd a more contemporary edge on some of the tunes with some synth, crunchy guitar andincorporated layered horns and harmonies.If you listen to our record you will see that our music covers a handful of sub-genres from ska, toblues, to folk. Because all these influences are felt on our record, there is something for everyfan of rock and roll. There is even a song with a string section!!

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         Favorite song?, band?

I HATE THIS QUESTION!!! Ha ha ha. I have so many bands and songs that I love, it really
depends on the day, my disposition and the color of my mood ring. Some of my favorite artists
that have always been on my mix-tapes are Aerosmith, Nirvana, The Doors, Foo Fighters, Frank
Sinatra, Steely Dan and SRV. While many in my band think I am crazy, I also have a TON of pop
music. There is a reason that pop music will never die. Sometimes you just want something
light and fun! As far as favorite songs … ugh. A young lady I recently started investigating
has turned me on to the newer dubstep and indie artists and I have been repeatedly listening
to “One on One” by The Bird and the Bee. It is a re-make of the old Hall n’ Oates tune. Pretty
awesome and sensual.

        What do you do besides making music?

Why would I do anything besides make music? In all honesty, making music, when donecorrectly and with feeling and emotion generally takes a lot of time and consideration. You areconstantly analyzing everyday thoughts and extrapolating lyrics or ideas. But as a band we allhave our 9-5 jobs and do the whole “job” thing. We are all very grateful to have careers thatalso allow us to pursue our love of music. Outside of that, we do the usual things, hang out,go eat and drink at our favorite spots here in Chicago. We also spend a ton of time supportingother local bands that have supported us. We try to get out and hit the local music scene asmuch as we can.

       

        What are your hopes and/or plans for the feature with your music?

Personally, I cannot imagine my life without music as a key part of it. The process of making ourfirst record brought so much good fortune into our life. We met our producer Jamie Candiloro(REM, Ryan Adams), played shows with Sister Hazel, Vertical Horizon and Richard Marx, we haveplayed several shows at some of the most prestigious Chicago music venues, and we have hadour record passed to some of the most influential names in the music industry. I continue tosoak up the connections we have made and the success we have had with this first record havedriven us to already begin work on a follow-up record. Ultimately we have no idea where ourmusic will take us, but we all would love to keep our band growing and keep moving ahead,exposing our music to new fans and new people all over the world.
     
My favorite part of this interview is the answer, "Why would I do anything besides music?" What a perfect answer. Vintage Blue is based out of Chicago, and for most of my readers, that is not very far away. So my advice, check these guys out and if you dig them (which I am guaranteeing you will) go see them.  Below is the link to their website. Their music can also be found on iTunes. I cannot forget to mention that my favorite song on their album Strike the Mics is Unchained. It's the scream, it's definitely the scream!

http://vintagebluemusic.com

Secret Skwirl

My favorite kind of music is from the 1960's and 1970's, although I like today's music too, there was just something about that time that made music wonderful. It could have been what was going on politically and socially at the time, but I think it was a bit more. Secret Skwirl reminds me of the music from those times, but with a modern feel. I am reminded of The Beatles, Chicago, and the older recordings of Pink Floyd when listening to Secret Skwril.


I particularly enjoy the song Jeez Louise. I love the lyric, "What matters more is what your not, than what you are." How true is that? I also love how Jeez Louise has a double meaning. I say jeez louise all the time and never is there really a Louise around. In the song, Jeez Louise is a person, and it could also be refering to the saying. Brilliant, right?


Secret Skwirl is GREAT at what they do. I listened to the album Nothing is Real and fell in love. I rarely find this genre of music anymore, and done so well. Check them out on Twitter, Facebook, and purchase their album on iTunes. I strongly suggest my readers to give them a listen. As I said before, they are a rare band, one that we do not find a lot today, and most enjoyable. Their music, bio, etc. can be found on their website below.

http://secretskwirl.com/

Brandy's Top 5

I have decided to stray a bit from my concept for this post, although it is still all about music, and let my readers know what my top five albums of all time are. I have thought about this all week, and I have concluded that this might be the hardest thing I have had to do. I love music and I love that I can listen to a song that fits my mood perfectly, or hear a song that totally changes the way I feel. I love that a whole album can bring me back to when I was younger, or a whole album that I have never heard before can make be change my top five instantly. Basically, the top five I give to you today is most certainly not set in stone, but as of right now, these are the albums I chose to put in Brandy's Top 5.

1. Kaleidoscope Heart by Sara Barellies

This album was released in 2010 and the moment I bought it, it played on my iPod constantly. I am huge fan of all things Sara. Her voice is amazing and she can play the piano wonderfully. This album accentuates Sara's incredible lyric writing skills. If you have not given this album, in its entirety, a listen, then I say to you, "DO IT"!!!

2. Darkside of the Moon by Pink Floyd

I do not think that this album will ever leave my top five, and has been in my top five since I first listened to it. This is one of those albums that makes me think of my days as a teenager. The album, with its beautifully melodic instruments, is perfect for any occasion. I have listened to Darkside of the Moon driving, writing, cleaning, and even while working out. Pink Floyd, as they do in many of their albums, tell a story through Darkside of the Moon, and for that alone, it is a must listen. This album is most certainly a classic.

3. Anti-Christ Superstar by Marilyn Manson

Yup, you read correctly. I adore Marilyn Manson and this album in particular. The raw and hard sound that comes from Anti-Christ Superstar is fantastic. The lyrics on this album, although some think sinister, are real. I am a strong believer that Marilyn Manson, himself, is a terrific showman, and this album in its entirety is one hell of a show.

4. Abbey Road by The Beatles

Abbey Road is another album that will never, ever leave Brandy's Top 5. This one has been my favorite album since I was little. My dad had the record and I remember listening to that, and then the cassette tape. Now of course, I have the remastered c.d. and a digital copy to boot. I love every single thing about this album. I am a huge The Beatles fan, and have every album by them, but this one is just irreplaceable. From Come Together all the way to Her Majesty, I am in complete and utter awe of how incredible this album is.

5. Alice in Chains Unplugged by Alice in Chains

Melancholy, harmonious, and raw. Those words, to me, describe this album. I love Alice in Chains and believe that their Unplugged session was not just amazing, but the best Unplugged album that has ever been released. Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell are right on with their harmonies on this album, and the guitars, drums, and bass are just as perfect. By "right on" and "perfect" I do not mean mistake free, but that is what makes this album even more beautiful. Their mistakes even sound amazing. If you have never seen, or heard this album, I urge you to do so. Not only will you thank me, but I am pretty sure you will add it to your top five.

As I said earlier, these albums are not set in stone, but for right now, they are Brandy's Top 5.