Ray Andersen on Lead Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards and Percussion, Bradley Behrman on Guitars and Backing Vocals, Walt Lockhart on Bass and Backing vocals Alan Dunn on Drums and Percussion. How would you classify your music? I guess you would say it is melody-driven, pop/rock Do you all have day jobs and if so whay do you do? I, Ray Andersen, am currently the keyboardist/rhythm guitarist/backup singer for none other than Meat Loaf himself. We're taping the VH1 Storyteller show next month, and embarking on a world tour next year. Patti M-Yodlowsky sings in a really upscale wedding band on the weekends, mostly at NYC posh hang-outs. It's not unusual to see the likes of a JFK Jr. at one of these wedding gigs of hers-and oh yeah, the money kicks ass. How did the band get together? Patti & I were originally writing partners, got on the luv trip, found some players and formed bvg. What are your musical backgrounds? Neither Patti or I have any musical studying background. Lotsa club playing. Neither of us went to college. Right to the netherland of Rock and Roll University, baby. What kind of music do you like to listen to when you're not playing? I listen to all types, really. Lately, lots of Meat Loaf! But besides that, Miles Davis, Beatles, classical, whatever sounds cool to me. Patti listens to Aretha, Laura Nyro, whatever sounds cool to her at that moment. What do you do to relax? Listen to music, meditate, watch the Yankees, Knicks (can be very stressful, though!) If you had the chance to jam with any band, who would that be? Oh God, too many to name-Stones, Pearl Jam, Ben Folds Five What's the best thing that has ever happened to you? Meeting each other. What's the worst thing that has ever happened to you? Losing our Grandmothers. Who writes the songs? We both do. Usually I write the music, and Patti writes the words, although those lines are blurred lately, which is a good thing. Where do you get your inspiration from? Life experiences, books, other music. Who thought of the band's name and how did you choose it? I thought of the name. I was in a band with this dude, and we were writing a song called "The Last To Know", and I said the band Del Amitri already had a song called that. But the hook had to end in an "o" just so the rhyme scheme would work, and I thought real hard and I came up with the phrase, "I cry like a blue van gogh". Well, we broke up, but trying to think of name for my next project, the words blue van gogh stuck in my mind-so we used it. Which are you personal favorite songs and why? I think we both really dig "Top of the Mountain'" cuz it sounds like total ear candy to listen to. Plus the words about living up to the expectations of our parents is some of Patti's finest hour. I dig "Myth"' too. Again, it's recorded realy well, and the song represents the struggle of the ever present tortured artist. (poor baby) Or just someone who can't seem to fit in with society and how it pulls you apart. )Do you play many gigs and if so where? We play about 2-4 times a month, mostly NYC, NJ. We opened up for Matchbox 20 through Germany. Did 8 dates with them, just Patti & I acoustic. What is you view of the music scene in NYC? Music today is very compartmentalized. Which is good and bad. Categories are basically for record clubs, stores, etc. And not enough different types of new music is reaching the masses. But the live seen is totally happening, paricularly in NYC. You can walk in a 10 block radius downtown, and hear rock, folk, jazz, hip-hop, bluegrass,etc... What band would you say has had most influence on you? Ray-The Beatles Patti-Bowie What are your plans for the future? Do the Meat Loaf thang, make some contacts. Finish up new bvg tracks. Have a baby.(!) Any last words or remarks? Thanks for the opportunity, Derek. You've got a killer site. Keep up the good work. Peace, blue van gogh |