A reviewer once described them as “Wilco playing the Talking Heads”. The Van Goghs’ own tongue-in-cheek description of “Chicago’s laundry washed in British detergent” isn’t quite the full story either. Effortlessly changing gears between an upbeat, jangly verse with a power pop chorus that washes into a psychedelic outro isn’t necessarily your everyday structure. But, this is exactly the writing style that seems to set The Van Goghs apart from a music scene that’s all too concerned with genre tags and aping one another.
Having shared some the midwest’s most iconic stages (including Lincoln Hall, Double Door, Milwaukee’s Cactus Club and the Empty Bottle) with touring bands and local heroes alike; they play to their eclectic strengths and craft live sets that ebb and flow like full length records. The Van Goghs have felt equally at home along side Megafaun’s artful Americana, Jason Stollsteimer’s rock n’ roll croon or the snap and sizzle of Canadian indie-rockers, Zeus. It’s a sound that can seemingly satisfy many palettes, while always remaining wholly unique.
On the B-side to their 2015 single Take it in the Teeth; “Hello!”, with it’s heavy-walking-piano an roomy drums, The Van Goghs craft a haunted house-like atmosphere only to have bright fuzz guitar and saxophone cut through the fog like a knife.
Their eclectic 2013 EP Roman Candle allows a steady snare, dreamy electric piano and a intimate vocal instill you with a sense of nostalgia on “Goodbye Miss New York”. The droning bass and ominous synths of “Wildlife” give way to the sparkling guitars and smart pop sensibilities of “Shrinking Violet” reminding you that, equal parts British Invasion, Post-Punk and Electronica might just be what the aural doctor ordered.
Gaining steam while frequently popping up in blogs and ‘zines such as GapersBlock.com, MusicThatIsntBad.org, AmericanPancake.com and ChicagoMixtape.com; The Van Goghs are becoming regulars to the airwaves as well. Radio One Chicago, WBEZ, Fearless Radio and UICradio.org have all begun to feature their studio releases. For this band, that has an arrow firmly pointing up and is a figurative bubbling pot of potential, it’s exciting to wonder what the next year will bring for this Chicago quintet. -Patrick Thomas/Big Big West
Having shared some the midwest’s most iconic stages (including Lincoln Hall, Double Door, Milwaukee’s Cactus Club and the Empty Bottle) with touring bands and local heroes alike; they play to their eclectic strengths and craft live sets that ebb and flow like full length records. The Van Goghs have felt equally at home along side Megafaun’s artful Americana, Jason Stollsteimer’s rock n’ roll croon or the snap and sizzle of Canadian indie-rockers, Zeus. It’s a sound that can seemingly satisfy many palettes, while always remaining wholly unique.
On the B-side to their 2015 single Take it in the Teeth; “Hello!”, with it’s heavy-walking-piano an roomy drums, The Van Goghs craft a haunted house-like atmosphere only to have bright fuzz guitar and saxophone cut through the fog like a knife.
Their eclectic 2013 EP Roman Candle allows a steady snare, dreamy electric piano and a intimate vocal instill you with a sense of nostalgia on “Goodbye Miss New York”. The droning bass and ominous synths of “Wildlife” give way to the sparkling guitars and smart pop sensibilities of “Shrinking Violet” reminding you that, equal parts British Invasion, Post-Punk and Electronica might just be what the aural doctor ordered.
Gaining steam while frequently popping up in blogs and ‘zines such as GapersBlock.com, MusicThatIsntBad.org, AmericanPancake.com and ChicagoMixtape.com; The Van Goghs are becoming regulars to the airwaves as well. Radio One Chicago, WBEZ, Fearless Radio and UICradio.org have all begun to feature their studio releases. For this band, that has an arrow firmly pointing up and is a figurative bubbling pot of potential, it’s exciting to wonder what the next year will bring for this Chicago quintet. -Patrick Thomas/Big Big West
Band Members
Mick - vocals, guitars, keyboards
Jason - vocals, guitars
Ryon - bass
Travis - keyboards, organs, synths
Nik - drums, percussion
Represented by Cassie Moran, Moxie Rock Management
Mick - vocals, guitars, keyboards
Jason - vocals, guitars
Ryon - bass
Travis - keyboards, organs, synths
Nik - drums, percussion
Represented by Cassie Moran, Moxie Rock Management
