Page 69 - Issue 33

presented by hardLuck Kings

Brian
BYLINE NAME AUTHOR

Vander

Ark Every generation has those defi ning

songs that can immediately transport
you back to that time the second you
WRITTEN BY RICK LOXTON
hear them. ‘The Freshmen’ from The
First of all, they’ve recently released their fi rst
studio album in thirteen years. Fans of The Verve Pipe Verve Pipe is one of those songs. It was
will fi nd plenty to love on ‘Overboard.’ It’s full of the a megahit in 1997 and still stands on its
wonderful storytelling that has been a trademark of own as a great song both musically and
the band since its inception. Musically, it’s full of variety,
from the power pop of ‘Here in the Dark’ to the folksy lyrically 20 years after its initial release.
title track. It’s not without a sense of humor, with the We recently caught up with lead singer
contrast of upbeat music and somber lyrics of ‘Ain’t
Too Hard to Live Without Love.’ There’s also a music Brian Vander Ark to talk about what the
video for the single, ‘Overboard’ and by the time you band his been up to lately. I’m telling
are reading this, there will be an animated video for
their next single, ‘Hit and Run.’ you right now – you’ll be surprised!
Being from Michigan, they had to be infl uenced
by Bob Seger, Alice Cooper, and Ted Nugent right? and Brian came up with the concept of Lawnchairs
Wrong. Brian explains: “We were much more and Living Rooms. When he’s out on the road, he’ll
infl uenced by the English sound and English lyrics of book three or four private shows over a weekend in
Elvis Costello, The Beatles and XTC. Maybe Hüsker Dü, which he’ll play for an hour and then hang out with his
as far as the Midwest goes. I identify more with the fans for another hour.
Minneapolis music scene than Seger, and Nugent and “You’re the man behind the curtain when you’re
the others from here.” playing shows (at concert venues). And that’s gone.
So what else have they been doing in the thirteen You’re going into peoples’ homes that you’ve never
years between albums? Entertaining children, it turns met. You’re at the mercy of what the party’s like. But
out. They’ve had two wildly successful children’s as long as you’re playing what they want to hear and
albums. And to top it off, they’ve also supported the they’re respectful, they’ll listen and buy CD’s. You
albums and built up a following with live shows. “Our do the meet and greet and it’s off to the next one. I
kids shows are quite the spectacle. We’re not the recommend it to all my 90’s friends who are having a
Wiggles. There’s lots of silliness and craziness and big hard time. But some of them don’t want to do it. They
four-part harmonies. We like to think of ourselves as won’t take that next step. They like the barrier between
the ‘Queen’ of kid’s rock. It’s very theatrical, and it’s a fan and musician. I’m no different than anybody else
lot of fun. We fi gured that all the people who listened who has a family. I just play music for a living.”
to us in the 90’s are older and have kids.” The albums 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of their big album,
can be found on iTunes under The Verve Pipe. Villians. The band is planning a huge tour with other
And we’ll bet that you didn’t know that you could 90’s bands whom are yet to be determined. To fi nd
have Brian play a very intimate set for you and some out the latest on this or any other news on the band,
friends at your party. In 2007, fi nances were a bit tight check out the following links:

facebook.com/thevervepipe brianvanderark.com instagram.com/thevervepipe @thevervepipe

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