|
|
||
|
|
By Robert E. Martin Even though the saga of The Verve Pipe is a legendary tale for fans & supporters of the mid-Michigan music scene, it’s hard to believe that it’s been almost 20 years since former Water 4 the Pool drummer Donny Brown joined forces with Brian and Brad VanderArk to give birth to a band that would release two self-produced CD’s (I’ve Suffered a Head Injury (1992) and Pop Smear (1993 that would sell more than 50,000 copies and earn them major label attention from RCA. With their first major label release (Villains, 1996) the band hit platinum, driven by the Top 10 Modern Rock hit Photograph and the #1 multi-format gold single, The Freshman, opening for Kiss on a European tour and performing over 300 dates worldwide in support of Villains. It’s been over 8 years since The Verve Pipe released their last original work, Underneath, on RCA; and during that time front man Brian VanderArk started a family and embarked upon a critically acclaimed solo career, releasing three solo albums; while Donny Brown honed his chops & talents as an ace studio producer, working with many critically acclaimed bands such as 19 Wheels, and collaborating with national artists as varied as Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies and Hanson. Now The Verve Pipe have re-convened in the studio to create a new CD of original material entitled ‘A Family Album’, which is essentially music inspired by children and written for families, which sprang out of an initial project entitled ‘Calling All Kids’, a collaborative effort created by Lansing, Michigan artists and currently in stock at all Meijer Stores. With titles such as ‘Wake Up’, Be Part of the Band, Cereal and ‘We Had to Go Home, the music is still as substantial and cleverly constructed as the band’s best endeavors, with the significant twist being the focus on subjects and topics that may seem elemental and basic on the surface, but in reality touch formative chords that resonate with the child in all of us. With a performance scheduled at Bay City’s State Theatre Thanksgiving weekend on Saturday, November 28th, recently The Review chatted with Brian and Donny about this latest creative niche The Verve Pipe is diligently carving to bring their unmistakable sound and insightful creativity to new generations of audience.
Review: I realize everybody in the VP has been off in separate directions over the past six or seven years, apart from occasional touring, so can you explain the genesis of this project: How did the idea of crafting together and creating an original 'Children's album come into play?
DB: We were approached by friends who make music compilations that go into Meiljer stores about contributing a song to a children's music CD. We began to write separately and got together to kind of flesh the ideas out and try things. Some of the tunes were so fun, funny and easy to get and give into that they just snowballed and became better and bigger once we both did our own thing with them.
BV: The idea of putting together something lighthearted is what appealed to me most.
Review: The songs are actually quite clever and re-ignite that notion that rock 'n roll is fundamentally 'youth' music. Obviously, it started and grew mass appeal by targeting teens - created by teens, meant for consumption by the members of that biological '16-21; year-old market; until the advent of 'bubble-gum' and the realization that money could be made on 10-15 year olds. So what is it like creating original music for a 'youth' market at this age (and stage) of your lives?
DB: Well the album is actually a combination of music for kids and moms and dads (and cousins and nieces and nephews too!) We just let the music and lyrics guide us to where they seemed to want to go and while we were doing that we were constantly reminded of our own childhoods and songs from those times that have stayed with us and then we "stole" ideas (all the while laughing!) from those tunes. For instance, the bassoon and flute on "One Became Two" is a steal from the 59th St. Bridge song by Simon and Garfunkel; and the end of "Cereal" has these big operatic voices stolen from ELO's Mr. Blue Sky. And we're not trying to write or compete with any of the Miley Cyrus/Taylor Swift type stuff. If we get Moms and Dads and Kids to sing along and laugh together then we've succeeded with these tunes.
BV: From a purely business standpoint, the thought never occurred to me that kids would buy the record. That's why I thought it best to not only appeal to the kids, but also give their parents something to enjoy as well, since they would be doling out the cash. I think that so far, my theory has come true. I rarely see a kid come up and pull out his/her wallet.
Review: What were the particular challenges of writing this type of 'concept' age-specific music and what did you learn from it?
DB: We're on a learning curve right now with the live school shows - me much more than Brian because of his little 4-year-old daughter, Evie. But while writing we just went with sounds and grooves and feelings that kept us smiling and kept honing in on parts of the songs that kids might be drawn to.
BV: The biggest challenges lyrically were to not sound too nerdy. Not using phrases like "it was the bomb" because we didn't want to sound outdated and un-hip, which we all really are. The proof of our lack of hipness was pointed out by my wife. In the song "We had To Go Home", aside from the name ‘Bella’ there are no other kids names that are of this new generation. All of the names, Randy, Sara, Barry, come from our generation. Thanks, Lux!
Review: How is the album going to be released & marketed and how extensively are you touring behind it?
DB: Right now the record has only been released online and we are getting an incredible response from it. From that alone the record’s been added to the playlists of the Sirius Radio Kids Channel and we'll be doing a live show for broadcast in their studios in Washington DC in February.
Review: What was it like working together as The Verve Pipe after the relatively extended hiatus from recording originals in the studio?
DB: The great thing for me was being free from trying to recycle those typical "anger /sadness" rock song emotions and tap into the joy of making music. And that kind of led us into a very easygoing way of doing things. I personally enjoyed it more than the making of the RCA releases.
BV: After I felt comfortable letting Donny take the reigns, it was a breeze for me.
Review: Are you comfortable and satisfied with the balance that you've created between individual projects and collective endeavors with the VP?
DB: I think it has come together in lots of good ways. Getting my feet wetter producing the record and band really for the first time was more enjoyable than stuff we've done together in the past. And the reaction has been so positive I hope to take and channel that energy into more music making (a rock record with the band, and finally finishing a side-project called "Macaw"). (Editor’s Note: The ‘Macaw’ project involves creating original music inspired, informed, and colored by the music of Paul McCartney.) My producing and drumming with others helped too. For the making of the record I was able to call friends from all over and from the area who I've worked with on projects like Andy Reed and Scott Vandell - both of whom have gigged with us, and ask them to lay a little guitar on this tune or a little keyboard on another, and once they heard the tunes they were happy and excited to do it.
BV: Not completely comfortable yet. But I will be. There are plenty of Verve Pipe fans who don't my solo work, and vice versa. That will never change, and yet it still makes me a bit uncomfortable. But with comfort, comes complacency.
Review: Feel free to add any other thoughts or comments on topics that I haven't touched upon.
DB: We're also ironing out an appearance earlier in the day on the 28th of November at the Mid-Michigan Children's Museum.
|
|
|
|
||
|
home |
Out & About |
Dining |
Events |
singles |
classified |
archives |
advertising |
||
