Biography
-
Years Active
2011 – present (12 years)
-
Founded In
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States
-
Members
- Benny Bassett
Chicago-based five-piece rock band Vintage Blue will be releasing its debut full-length record, Strike the Mics, on February 14, 2012. For the Strike the Mics sessions, Vintage Blue enlisted grammy-nominated producer Jamie Candiloro (The Eagles, Luscious Jackson, Willie Nelson, Ryan Adams), who not only ensured a sparkling, 13-track-strong sonic result, but also drove the band to write their most concise, structurally impactful songs to date. Drawing on the various musical backgrounds of the members and under Candiloro's direction, the new album features elements of rock, folk, ska and the blues.
Press has already started praising Strike The Mics:
“After feasting your ears on Vintage Blue’s debut full-length album, Strike The Mics, chances are you’ll be firm believers that they’re poised to become the Windy City’s next great rock-and-rollers. …Regardless of who’s writing or singing, Vintage Blue has created an album in Strike The Mics that will please even the most fickle of rock fans.” – SOCO Magazine
“Chicago’s Vintage Blue is the musical equivalent of comfort food. The rock band’s sound is familiar and accessible without a hint of pretense.” – ManUpChicago.com
“…loosely funky… folk/soul…” – Time Out Chicago
“Drawing on a wealth of influences and sonic palettes, Strike The Mics is a cathartic experience. …Vintage Blue does so much well on Strike The Mics that it’s difficult to summarize. Ranging from singer/songwriter balladry to classic rock to modern rock and alternative, the band is eclectic in its range and songwriting talent. …In another era these guys would be mega stars. … Strike The Mics is likely to become a treasured and oft-played part of your collection.” – Wildy’s World
“…‘Strike the Mics’ is a welcome introduction to the music-loving world.” – PensEyeView.com
“Vintage Blue delves into various rock, ska, pop, and ballad-driven hooks with intelligent lyrics and classy grooves. Anyone interested in folk-rock, roots, post-grunge, and classy music with style and swagger, than look no further.” – Inside World Music
“With the vision of placing a contemporary twist on classic rock, Vintage Blue succeed. ‘Strike the Mics’ embodies 13 standout tracks that showcase the band's ability to rock arenas while at the same time perform an intimate acoustic set. Not always an easy thing to accomplish, Vintage Blue's debut full-length aptly showcases their staying power.” - You Sing, I Write
One of the key factors underlying Vintage Blue’s strengths as an original rock act is the dual writing tandem of Bassett and singer/guitarist Ryan Tibbs, who each pen and sing their own respective material. Both recently single after long-term relationships, Bassett and Tibbs admit that affairs of the heart dominate much of their lyrical content, with a range of emotions from blissful to vitriolic. Bassett’s “Speak,” the first track that will be released from the forthcoming album, plumbs the idea of recognizing love and not quite being able to get it, while “Just Breathe,” another Bassett-penned track, reminds listeners of the importance of letting things fall into place: stepping back, taking a breath, and trusting that things will work. Tibbs’ “What Lies” is based on the idea of two people who don’t really know each other, yet who are swept up in a beautiful place for a very short period of time.
Vintage Blue—which includes singer/lead guitarist Bassett, singer/guitarist Tibbs, drummer Will Crowden (the grandson of the founder and former owner of Ludwig Drums), bassist Cesar Corral, and saxophonist/keyboardist Matt Zimmerman—formed in Chicago several years ago as a cover band, and as time passed and the group solidified, the outfit started to compose their own original material. Lineup changes ensued, but the core roster persevered. Recently, the band played the House of Blues, Double Door, and Cubby Bear in Chicago, as well as several Chi-Town summer festivals (including Party at St. Mikes, Chicago Ribfest and Taste of River North). Additionally, the band performed at the Mint in Los Angeles in December, enjoyed a sold-out album release show at Subterranean in Chicago on January 21st, and will be performing with Marty Casey and the Lovehammers on March 10th at House of Blues in Chicago. They’ve opened for artists such as Vertical Horizon, John Waite, and Ty Stone, and offered direct support for Sister Hazel for a Midwestern leg of their 2011 tour.
With Strike The Mics, Vintage Blue are eager to share a much-anticipated batch of new material with fans, and bring their eclectic blend of soulful rock to their largest audience yet. Although the band are regulars in the ever-thriving Chicago club scene, a regional tour will follow the release, traveling from Madison, Wisconsin, to East Lansing, Michigan, and then to downstate Illinois, where several band members attended college. “To a man, Vintage Blue believes the music on our album is truly us,” says Bassett. “It speaks to our lives, our loves and our passion. We truly love what we gained from the process and look forward to making music for many more years to come. We could not be more excited to have listeners get to know the guys behind the sound.” Agrees Crowden: “We so excited to get this new material out to the public and truly think there is something unique for every different music fan out there.” www.vintagebluemusic.com | www.facebook.com/VintageBlueMusic | www.twitter.com/vintagebluechi
Artist descriptions on Last.fm are editable by everyone. Feel free to contribute!
All user-contributed text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.
