MICHAEL HARRISON BERG - Acoustic Guitar and Vocals JENNIFER HARTSWICK - Vocals CORY "The Healer" HEALY - Drums ROCCO LABRIOLA - Pedal Steel DAN "Danger Zone" WEAN - Guitar JOHN CWIOK - Electric Bass
VG Guests Performers Live/Studio:
NICK CASSARINO - Electric Guitar ALLIE KRAL - Fiddle MATT TROWBRIDGE - Keys BILLY O'NEILL - Vocals FRANK CATALANO - Saxaphone ARI LEVI - Cello GREG SPERO - Keys DAN MOULDER - Keys MIKE POUPKO - Electric Guitar, Mandolin JEFF GREENE - Electric Bass STU MINDEMAN - Keys
The current top artists for influence on this music in no particular order:
| Ryan Adams and the Cardinals | Wilco | Iron and Wine | The Format | Pink Floyd | Beatles | Super Furry Animals | Blitzen Trapper | Fleet Foxes | Led Zeppelin | Raconteurs | Andrew Bird | Bon Iver | MGMT | Tom Petty | Jeff Buckley | Allman Brothers Band | Ween | Radiohead | Rolling Stones | The Shins | Bob Dylan | Neil Young | CSNY | Calexico w/ Iron and Wine | Broken Social Scene | Oh My God | Billy O'Neill | Pino Farina | Dearborn | Punsapaya | Donavon Frankenreiter | Cat Stevens | My Morning Jacket | Widespread Panic | Phish | Grateful Dead | Pearl Jam | Alice In Chains | Regina Spektor | Elliott Smith | Band Of Horses | Rogue Wave | Glossary | Midlake |
+ all of the musicians we have befriended, promoted, composed with, produced, been inspired by, fell in love with, and the like over the years.
Sounds Like
Songs by an Americana, Rock, Alt-Country, Pop band
We are proud to start posting songs from our debut record "Melodies For Lovers" on this profile. We hope you dig it as it has been a long time coming.
Van Ghost: Melodies For Lovers was produced in Chicago, IL by Michael Berg, Dan Wean & Van Ghost, and was mixed by Sean O'Keefe both at Pragma Studio. Tha album was mastered by Dominic Maita at Air Show Mastering in Boulder, Co.
A HUGE THANK YOU to the writers and editors that have given VAN GHOST press this year!!! Please click any eMag logo below to visit and support the sites that are supporting our music:
One listen to the album's rough mix belies Van Ghost's relative youth. From the evocative lope of opener "Summer Promise" to the dramatic, somewhat darker flourishes of powerful closer "Coliseum," its atmosphere is warm and vibrant, its rootsy grooves tight and assured. Berg's pensive pipes intertwine with the sultry jazz-schooled tones of Jennifer Hartswick, a Vermont transplant who is best known as a member of Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio's band. It's obvious why Berg says O'Keefe called the material "the perfect blend of desperation and hope." (Jeff Pizek - Daily Herald)
Opening the night was upstart Chicago indie-folk rockers Van Ghost, the octet warmed up the crowd with an inspired set of original material and a couple of well-placed covers. (Patrick Knibbs - jambase.com)
His voice has just the right touch of timidity, making each word he sings seem honest and direct, allowing the lyrics and music to blend in a way that the overall songwriting craft becomes the center of attention. (Joel Berk - glidemagazine.com)
- Van Ghost doesn't simply give us another name to add to the bunch of emerging alternative bands. The songs brim with the inspiration of returning to music. And if you're tired of rock vocalists, the sultry harmonies of fellow singer, Jennifer Hartswick, transform Berg's into something else. Van Ghost has given us a well-crafted debut and a developed vision. The tunes on Melodies for Lovers will charge up a crowd for sure. http://www.urchicago.com/content/van-ghost-melodies-lovers
- Van Ghost’s debut “Melodies for Lovers” gets a lot of mileage out of singer-guitarist Michael Berg’s endearing, vulnerable voice. His delivery is well-suited to subtle songs like “Wednesday,” which seem like routine Midwestern pop until they rise to something transcendent and touching, while growing on you like other generic artists never do. The band crafts honest tales of love out of folk sounds energetic enough to drift out your car window, and gentle enough to sing outside someone’s bedroom window. A lovely slice of local alt-country. http://chicago.metromix.com/music/essay_photo_gallery/albums-you-need-to/877688/photo/1337762 (RED EYE CHICAGO)
- There’s a good chance you’ve seen their name before. The band have already played high profile gigs at the likes of Metro, SXSW and Rothbury Festival, and have scored favorable press in and out of the city. Over a year in the making, the debut LP, Melodies for Lovers, is bound to propel the band even further into the spotlight. http://www.examiner.com/x-427-Chicago-Rock-Music-Examiner~y2009m7d17-QA-with-Michael-Berg-of-Van-Ghost
- There are several different variations of rock in the genre dictionary, and this band can perform each one capably and confidently and without sounding like it's taking any major effort to do so. Highly recommended.
http://localvertical.blogspot.com/2009/07/proper-introductions.html
- His desire to relate personal stories was fulfilled by forming a six-piece band that could express a full range of textures and ideas without abandoning the notion of staying true to one’s craft and morals. http://www.luminomagazine.com/mw/content/view/2793/1
OH CRAP! You mean I missed it? aawww. Hopefully you guys will be back! That new vid is sweet! I knew Summer Promise would be a lot of peoples favorite!!! I still love Lessons....I will have to check out the album and see how it came along! Love and light!
Hey! I was just watching Summer Promise and realized I haven't sent any love y'alls way in awhile! Looks like things have been going great! Miss hearing from ya!! Much love and many blessings! ~shiv
Hi BergMAN! I bet you thought I got lost out there in MS Land.....but nope. Just went and listened to all your songs and my favs are Coliseum and Telling Stories Nicely done.... :) xoxo
HEY!!! Thanks for the comment I completely missed it, No one ever comments on my Photo wall! I have another account, so people go there but yah I have more shots of you guys at The Wicker Fest but I havent been able to get to the edits, soon though. Im guessing you have enough of those I saw alot of other photogs there shooting :) Hope to catch a show soon
Thanks for the add, we really appreciate it, you know if your intersted you should message or comment me we are looking for all the support we can get rather its to manage the page, tell us about your or up coming shows and performances, or if you just want to be apart of a great atmosphere for not only cars but life,could aways use a good fan sign, keep in touch thanks again
You have been accepted by the President of Blue Liquid Ent. Come listen to the Radio where everyone can hear 100% Live Indie music all the time starting Sept 4th 2009 The Recession Tour 2009 with Down South Rockers & Mathers Creek Band
!!! Start Code To Apply Top Banner !!!!
Great Music!!!! Hope you have an awesome show on the 29th.
