Van Gogh’s Ear was a stupendous band that existed in Charlotte in the
late 1980’s & early 1990’s often playing to huge crowds of 2 or more people. All
members of the band were insane but none of them knew it. With songs
like March of the Renegade Cows, Love Will Rot, The Mexican Song,
Psycho Steakhouse, Fuck You in the Face, Cromagnon Chromatics, Sexual
Gravy and Glow Worm Dance Mix the band fearlessly forged brand new
ground by melding punk, funk, rock, crock and crunk into a new and
exciting musical identity never before heard on this earth. Drawing from
influences as diverse as The Clash, The Band, Bob Dylan, Adrian Belew, ZZ Top,
carnival music, Kansas, The Band, Love Tractor, Cream, Lou Reed, Jed Clampet, Johnny Wadd
and Buck Owens VGE were ahead of their time and still are,
motherfucker. Time will never catch up with these bold idiots.
At live shows, the band often heckled the audience by telling them to "go
get fucked" and giving away vienna sausage as a door prize - and
somehow they still usually got paid anyway. A pair of lovely female
mannequins were given microphones and a TV with static was their
"fabulous light and shit show". If necessary the band would take a break
only to face the stage and give themselves a standing ovation. They had
their own PA system so they would play anywhere, anytime and were a
threat to the audience at all times. A barmaid once called the police on the
band during their set. VGE played shows with other foolish bands the likes
of Southern Culture on the Skids, Big Brick Building (their arch nemesis), Odd Job,
Flat Duo Jets, Johnny Quest, Uncle Green, Earth Household and other
complete morons.
Playing everywhere from back yards, swimming pools, redneck dives and
restaurants to cow pastures and punk clubs the group performed at The
world famous Milestone, Double Door, Ty’s, 1313, The Edge, Club Lenny,
Picasso’s Pizza, Ziggy’s, The International Hall To Fame and Carnegie Hall
before giving up the ghost. It is unknown how many people actually saw
VGE during their incredible heyday, but many poor unsuspecting fools
were damaged beyond recognition and there was always at least one
person at every show who really liked the band a lot, despite VGE’s best
efforts to the contrary.
At their annual backyard trash parties, neighbors would call the police
from more than a mile away and the band would always force the police
to go and get a decibel meter before shutting them down. After it finally
ran it’s course, the band regrouped for the What The Fuck tour and then
again even later for the Fuck The What tour and VGE are threatening to
do it yet again now.
Daisy Payseur - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar and Percussion
Chuck Carpenter - Drums, vocals, barking, and bloviations
Gray Barker - Electric Guitar, Echoplex, vocals
Jim Payseur - Bass & Fretless Bass Guitar, vocals and grunting
SOUNDS LIKE
The LOTUS STUDIO link below is what I’m up to now. -Jim
