SPIV is: Chris Barber: vocals, guitar, bass Sean Sippel: drums
& Jeremy Barber: guitar, bass, electric violin
Influences
The Beatles, The Who, The Clash, The Kinks, The Smiths, Elvis Costello, Elliott Smith, Big Star, U2, David Bowie, Sex Pistols, The Jam, Oasis, Evel Knievel, Mike Watt, Les Claypool
Sounds Like
American Persuasion British Invasion Rock and Roll
A Spiv is a British slang for one who uses their wits to avoid a real job; a person without employment who makes money by various schemes, goes about smartly dressed and having a good time. It is also the name of a band from Denver, Colorado, that rocked it like a hurricane for ten years (1998-2008), and then were forced to find employment.
The goal of all spivs is to be gainfully unemployed. This sounds logical when my (Chris') mom actually took banjo lessons from Jerry Garcia at a Menlo Park music store before he formed the Grateful Dead (she was far from a hippie and didn't even know who he was). Ironically, I end up working twice as hard at being self employed than punching a clock!
The first to join up with me was lifelong friend, Sean Sippel, on drums, who was living in Portland, Oregon, at the time. Having had multiple drummers turn into green globules on me, I resolutely made the trek to the Northwest and had all of Sean's stuff packed in under an hour. Then we sat for a drink at a local pub, and heard on the radio that Frank Sinatra was pronounced dead an hour earlier, so we had one more for Frank, said farewell to Portland, and headed to the Rocky Mountains. We joined up with my brother, Jeremy, back in Denver, living not far from many of Jack Kerouac's favorite haunts, and started writing and rehearsing the SPIV sound.
In our time together, SPIV released ten singles and three full-length discs, including Don'tcha Know, (2003) featuring Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, REM, Big Star) on bass, keyboards, and vocals; and our swan song: Double Aluminum, 24 Uncharted Hits (2008). In Spring 2007, ABC Television used the song "Everybody's A Rockstar Tonight" to promote their new show, The Next Best Thing.
John Lennon's cousin Stan Parkes was quoted as saying, "My favourite music is the Glenn Miller band and I used to wind [Lennon] up about Elvis Presley and say to him 'He's not a real musician, he's just a spiv. Glenn Miller is a great musician!'.
We are excited to have been a part of Denver's flourishing music scene as it gained more national recognition. SPIV rocked a show with Denver's breakout band, The Fray, in 2004, and we remain very excited for them and their success, and the others that are sure to follow from the Mile High City!
Thanks to all the SPIVs out there still giving their dreams a go. Thanks to all the fans! And thanks to my biggest fans: Anistacia, Sophia, and Max!
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "Everybody's a Rockstar Tonight" starring Max Barber, age 3, on drums!
We appreciate that you're doing your own thing and glad that you're our friend!
I wanted to share an insight that I had recently. Blood Root Mother really believe in the power of music. Genuine music transcends all limitations and boundaries, and happens when musicians and listeners are communicating with one another on the deepest level possible. In a society overcome by an obsession with flashy images and stale radio hits, we seek to do something that shakes the foundation of the status quo. Since the dawn of human civilization, music has been about sharing humanity and truly connecting with others. So stay connected with us, and join us on our journey.
Peace, Elliot
The artistic activity does not lie in art itself as such. It penetrates into a deeper world in which all art forms flow together, and in which the harmony of soul and cosmos in the nothing has its outcome in reality. -Bruce Lee
Whats up! Just wanted to let you know that we are having an event on June June 26th. For all my friends that would like purchase tickets before hand, I could give you VIP enterance and a discount. Text me your name and I will hit you back. 503.974.1559
50 Cent's grandma gave him a sweater for Christmas. He said "gee, you knit?"
-Joke brought to you by WHEELCHAIR SPORTS CAMP
The Best of The All Time Unrealesed Greates Hits Vol. 303 1/2
NOT IN STORES NOW
Check out our new CD!!! Listen to a few of the songs, buy a CD or download a few MP3s now from CDBaby! Help support your Plowboys by clicking on the CD image below! It'll make your head run nakid!!!
I am asking for your support for Toyota's Rock The Space. All you have to do is add this widget to your page. And then start voting the 1st of August till the end of August. I will see all the profiles who post this widget on their page... I will add your name to my thank you blog after you post. Thank you for your support!!!!! Wrapped Up In Me is now on radio stations across the nation, you can request it now!!!!! Love ~Susan www.susanhickman.com
All our CDs are on sale!! $7.50 each!! Get yours now before they go back to the regular price. In addition to the sale prices, we are still giving away (FREE) with every order, a Beneath the Fog Compilation CD. 70:00 of underground metal from all over the world.
insideaccess@live.com if you or anyone of your friends want major cash for baseball, basketball, football and use referral as my ex casino contacts will take care of anyone if serious and listen. Play with alist elite and build a bankroll portfolio livin large. Baseball sizzlin before king football soon enough for all serious players.
Now, with the help of gimmesound.com, you can download all tracks from the debut album “Mountains in the Sun” for FREE! Not only does the artist get paid for each download, but each download also generates a donation to a charity of YOUR CHOICE! I’m thrilled that this revolutionary concept will allow the music of Seti Alpha 5 to reach the masses for free and help to change the world at the same time. Please take 5 minutes to do this, help show your support to Seti Alpha 5 and donate to charity without spending a dime! Visit gimmesound.com to learn more and download the album now!
Online Now!
..