Artist Information
Biography
A Van Burens show is a night to remember. Whether hosting a bathrobe dance party, rocking a cruise ship on Boston Harbor, throwing a holiday show that puts Festivus to shame, or simply rollicking through a set list full of surprises, the VBs make every set unforgettable. The band – named after the eighth and greatest President of the United States, Martin Van Buren – began when a defunct high school band reformed post-college and began gigging at bars and house parties, boasting an eclectic catalog of original music and covers and displaying a singular sense of humor. The style of the music ranges from funk to progressive rock to electronic dance grooves to anything that fits the mood. Their first EP, issued in Winter 2010, brings the dance party to your eardrums; just a taste of an exciting, diverse live show.
The VB have played such big stages as Sullivan Hall, Canal Room, and Bitter End in NYC; The Middle East, Johnny D’s, Harper’s Ferry, Baseball Tavern, and Copperfield’s in Boston; and various rooms throughout the greater northeast. In the Spring of 2010 the Van Burens successfully brought their sound across the U.S. on their first-ever national tour, hitting venues in L.A., Chicago, San Diego, Atlanta, San Francisco, and many other cities. The VBs have also performed at the Flower Harvest Music Fest and the Muddy River Jam Fest, and have hosted dual Boston/NYC rock the boat evening cruises.
Instrumentation
Jeff King - Vocals, keyboards
Emmett Knox - Vocals, Bass
Greg Spitz - Vocals, Guitar
Greg Smith - Vocals, Guitar
Matt Spitz - Vocals, Drums
Discography
Their four song EP, the Eager EP, was released in January 2010.
Official Website
Links
Video
Photo Gallery
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Boston Boat Cruise, 6/10
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McGee, Langry, and Smitherine. Harper's Ferry, Boston
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Smitty rappin', McGee slappin' @ Canal Room, NYC
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Miss Katie @ Valentine's, Albany
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Langry @ Sullivan Hall, NYC
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Miss Katie, Flavour, and D-Bone @ NYC Boat Cruise, 7/10
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Pinky @ Harper's Ferry, Boston
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McGee @ Valentine's, Albany
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Hangin at Muddy River Jamfest
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Papa Bear @ Sullivan Hall, NYC
Press
Setlist
Setlists are entirely dependent upon the gig. The VB can play classic rock, funk, prog rock, bluegrass, country, r & b, electronica and their own music which is an amalgam of the above mentioned styles. Some of their favorite artists to cover are:
The Beatles
The Allman Brothers
Tower of Power
Stevie Wonder
Snoop Dogg
The Talking Heads
Brad Neely
John Williams
Paul Simon
Radiohead
A sample setlist from a hometown show at Boston's Baseball Tavern in January 2011 (* = original)
Set I: Sloppy Drunk (BB King), Arnold Timber*, Munson*, JesYukon (J.S. Bach + original), Turducken*, Crosseyed + Painless (Talking Heads), Don't Do It (The Band), Bledsoe*, Darla*, Bittercities (Galactic +The Bad Plus), 15 Step (Radiohead), Paranoid Android (Radiohead)
Set II: Burning Down the House (Talking Heads), The Skunk the Goose the Fly (Tower of Power), Taft Punk*, Gamebird*, Santa's Back with a Big Fat Sack*, Cheeeese*, Late in the Evening (Paul Simon), Killaz*, Swamp*, Sister-In-Law*, Shots in LA*, Dear Prudence (Beatles), Jeffrey's World*
