Vesta Varro's debut album 'Exit Here' was released on June 8th 2007. The first two singles entered the Irish Top 40. The album was recorded in legendary recording studios, Windmill Lane in Dublin with triple Grammy award winning producer Richard Rainey (U2/Mansun) and engineer Kieran Lynch (REM/Elvis Costello). Their first single 'Blue Mirror Boy' was recorded and produced by Crowded House bass player, Nick Seymour.
Vesta Varro have toured across Ireland, the UK and North America. They were named as 'Best Band' at the prestigious 'Indie Week' festival in Toronto, the 'Best New Musical Artist' at the MAMCA awards and "ones to watch" by the NME
2008 sees the Stateside release of 'Exit Here' and appearances at several major music festivals, including a triumphant return to the Indie Week Festival.
Vesta Varro's voracious live performances have led to a multitude of supports with the likes of Editors, BellX1, The Frames, The Thrills, Damien Dempsey, Republic Of Loose, Sultans of Ping and The Wonderstuff. They also appeared at the Bud Rising Festival, O2 Wireless Festival and the Hard Working Class Heroes Festival.
Their tracks have appeared on various compilation albums worldwide, stretching as far as the USA, Australia, Germany, Canada and Ireland. VV have also signed a licensing deal with the Major American TV Network CBS. Four of their songs have featured on the network so far.
Vesta Varro are currently touring in support of their debut album and while also finding time to work on new recordings with The Cranberries guitarist Noel Hogan.
Vesta Varro are: Damien Drea (vocals), Keith Forde (guitars), Peter Forde (guitars), Rod Smith (bass), and Shane Lee (drums).
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Clips of some reviews
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"Vesta Varro have the knack of assembling rousing, high-calibre songs that effortlessly toy with the listener's emotions. Check 'Coming Back', 'I Agree' and 'Babies' for evidence: all have a depth charge that is impossible to resist. There's also a great deal of variety: Vesta Varro are a dab hand at both foundation-quaking rockers and creepy quiet ballads. In it's own peculiar way, then, Exit Here is just about perfect. Now go away: I want to play it again...."
8.5/10
Hotpress
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Up next was Vesta Varro, a band hailing from Ireland and winners of Indie Week 2007. To start off, they blew my mind. Vesta Varro have so much more energy and enthusiasm on stage than most of the bands I’ve seen since I started going to shows here in Toronto. Vocalist Damien Drea has one amazingly gripping stage presence; he captivated the audience from the start and didn’t let us go until the end of their set. The rest of the band members Keith Forde (guitar), Peter Forde (guitar), Rod Smith (bass), and Shane Lee (drums) showcased some great musicianship. Vesta Varro are more than welcome to come back and rock my socks off any time they want. Seriously, I mean it.
Pam Nichol - www.torontoindie.com
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"An exciting blend of U2's 'Boy' and Muse's 'Showbiz; packed with plenty of big punchy guitars, gutsy vocals, a rhythm section that's so solid you could build a marriage on it... With songs as good as 'Pyramid Clocks', 'Coming Back' and 'Weighted Love' in their canon, this ambitious, talented and driven band are destined for very big things... 'Exit Here' is one of the best Irish records of the year."
Alan Jacques - Limerick Independent/Live 95 FM's Green and Live show
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"Their album, as brilliant and polished as it is, does not do justice to their live performance. They take over their venues, turning them from dark bars into amphitheatres and giving you no choice but to watch them and fall in love. Their songs are just as well suited for rock venues as bedrooms, and come equipped with all the hype and strength of any mainstream powerhouse."
www.torontomusicscene.ca
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"Guitar fuelled, affecting rock that soars and dips in equal measure, pulling at the listeners heart strings with minor chords and descending guitar lines.
Ten tracks with not an ounce of fat to be cut off. An excellent focused debut from Vesta Varro, these guys from Limerick are going to be huge."
Redtrackmusic.com
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"From the opening track all the way through to the closing number, there's a steady balance in place that the instrumentation sticks close to. Injections of pin sharp drumming, winding guitar solos, hissing bass lines and distorted feedback all fit in perfectly alongside the mood created by the commanding vocals. Standout tracks would be the lead single Blue Mirror Boy, Pyramid Clocks and Weighted Love. These tunes perfectly encapsulate what the band are trying to achieve, and act as a great example of what this five piece are capable of once they are let loose in a recording studio. Kudos should be awarded to the band for delivering such a fine first album and there is no doubt that they will become more widely known in this country thanks to it"
Totally Dublin
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"For those still getting over the demise of 'The Immediate' - the arrival of 'Vesta Varro' is certainly a good thing... 'Pyramid Clocks', a stony-faced new-wave romp.. the Limerick crew know their way around a memorable riff. 4/5 "
Metro, Dublin.
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'Next up were Vesta Varro who for me were the stand out band of the night. Immediately on stage and their confidence came across in a compelling wave, the lead singer quickly taking control, throwing heart and soul into what was a great performance. Vesta Varro definitely stole the show.' "cpu showcase"
www.cluas.com
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"Limerick five-piece Vesta Varro have the same sense of grandeur and epic as Muse and Royseven, but with 'Weighted Love', there's some dark atmospherics that add to the passion and drive which overflows in the track, a taster from the forthcoming 'Exit Here'… VV's live shows are equally breathtaking, as proved by their headline performance at Dolan's."
Hotpress
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'The debut single Blue Mirror Boy / Supa Hero gives you a taste of what this truly excellent band are capable of. Vesta Varro are both expressive and explosive with a style so unique it is hard to compare them to any other artists out there. Check them out live while you can and I guarantee you won't be disappointed with their performance. Watch this space; these guys are going to be huge'
www.deadlybuzzlive.com
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' All three of these tunes are sharp fuzzed 'n' buzzed and gorgrous vox drawn big stadium stylings and genuinely fine playing. All very accomplished and accessible without being dull or contrived, just class material.'
www.unpeeled.co.uk
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'It's a testament to VV'S strength and depth that most of their set retains the high standard, too. Both "Sleeping Song" and "Planes For Pilots" are big, expansive and deadly, Vesta Varro's twin-cam guitar sound and inherent punky aggression ensure they remain very much their own men'
www.whisperinandhollerin.com
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"Pyramid Clocks is the second single from Limerick based quintet Vesta
Varro – and picks up where it's predecessor Blue Mirror Boy left off.
With their debut album out next week, this track lays down just what we can
expect from the LP, with it's soaring guitars and epic production"
The Star
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"The Headliners, Vesta Varro, are no strangers to Dolan's, being from Limerick 'n' all. Opener 'Yellow Rooms' sets the tone of their set, with Damien Drea pulling the band together for a passion-filled performance. 'Coming Back', in fact, has the urgency to stir the quintet into quite a frenzy – which is equally exhilarating to watch. Meanwhile, 'Weighted Love' is the perfect medium to show off Mr Drea's soaring voice. With their debut album in the pipeline, we predict 2007 is going to be a very good year for the band. Just watch out…"
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i give up!!!!!!!!!! im ready for indie week thou, ill bring a few to the dublin show. sorted. it shall be a taste of europe that ill carry on my arm. cant wait for the show, its been a while since my ears have bled to the vv sound i feel a longing for it x
