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Rock is personal
Brett Vogel wears his heart on his sleeve
By GEORGETTE BRAUN, Rockford Register Star
>> Click here for more about Georgette
Brett Vogel, 23, head of a band bearing his name, doesn’t talk like a guy who earned a finance degree in college nor like a rocker, for that matter.
Check it out.
Why is music and your music important?
“It serves to bring people together. It helps people heal, it inspires them and gives them hope. My music is very personal because I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve. I’m inspired by many aspects of life, such as beauty, emotion, the struggle, the chase and the challenge.”
Vogel, whose influences include Jeff Buckley, Dave Matthews, Van Morrison, Paul Simon and U2, started playing in Berkeley’s Dream when he attended Eastern Illinois University. But he’s recently broken away from the band to pursue a career as a solo artist.
Wait, though. He’s not alone. Brett Vogel’s band includes Jonathan Miller, lead guitar and back-up vocals; Kyle Theiss, keyboards; and Brandon Danger, bass guitar. Various drummers fill in.
He and Miller co-wrote four songs on his new self-titled album, which he’ll sign Saturday at MediaPlay in Rockford before and after performing.
The songs are: “No Grace in Goodbyes,” “Wishing You Were Here,” “Sea of Madness” and “Breathe Clean.”
Here’s what Vogel has to say about Miller’s involvement:
“Jonathan is an extremely talented musician and a true friend. We just have this connection on stage that I haven’t been able to find with anyone else. He continues to amaze me even after all the shows we’ve played together.”
Vogel said his guitar has been his constant companion since he bought his first album, George Harrison’s “Cloud Nine.”
“There wasn’t really a defining moment when I thought to myself that this is what I want to do with my life,” Vogel said. “The passion was just a part of me from the beginning.”
Contact: gbraun@registerstartower.com; 815-987-1331
On the Web
Check out “Lonely Traveler” and “The World’s on Fire” off his self-titled “Brett Vogel” CD. Click on the "Related files" in the right column.
You can also listen to other songs at www.brettvogel.com.
The CD is available at Web sites, including www.cdbaby.com and www.amazon.com.
- Rockford Register Star Geogette Braun
Loved the vibe that it puts out!
Reviewer: J. Carter
The CD really gets you to think about your life and what is important. "Wishing you were here" is sure to be a hit! Lonley Traveler brings out the dreamer in all of us.
- J. Carter from CD Baby
Brett Vogel in just under a years time wins a RAMI for best new act. - RAMI Awards
"No Grace in Goodbyes" wins RAMI for song of the year co-written by Brett Vogel and Jonathan Miller. - RAMI
Rocker rates highly
GarageBand.com, a Web site that promotes and reviews independently produced music, features a tune by local singer-songwriter Brett Vogel as one of its tracks of the week until
Monday, Jan. 24.
The site ranks "No Grace in Goodbyes," which is off the self-titled CD that Vogel released in August, as the sixth best-liked of 104 active submissions in the progressive rock category. It rates 60th of 1,402 submissions in the category's history.
Vogel, a 25-year-old former Guilford High School wrestler, has been nominated as Best New Act in the Rockford Area Music Industry Award competition March 9. Vote at www.ramiawards.com.
The rhythm guitarist counts the Beatles and Van Morrison among his influences and covers their hits in live performances. He isn't embarrassed to describe his work as "pop-rock, feel-good music that appeals to a wide variety of people from 15 into their 50s. The content is not obtrusive; it's not vulgar."
Check out www.brettvogel.com for Chicago performances on his schedule. Vogel doesn't play locally again until March 12 at LT's bar.
"I'm extremely excited about 2005," he said. "I feel like this is going to be the big year where everything breaks wide open."
Mark Bonne's column runs Fridays and other times on a need-to-know basis. He enjoys the richness, clarity and range of Vogel's voice. Reach him at mbonne@rrstar.com or 815-987-1389.
- Rockford Register Star Mark Bonne
"Lonely Traveler" has recently been nominated album of the year by the Rockford Area Music Industry committee.
"No Grace in Goodbyes" has been nominated for song of the year by the Rockford Area Music Industry committee.
- RAMI's
B R E T T V O G E L - “Lonely Traveler” (Barely Breathe) This Rockford Native debuts with a truly professional effort that pairs scorching guitar solos with soft-rock melodies parlaying worldly frustration with confident resolve. A polished affair, Brett’s gilded heartache vocals and fluid arrangements hark back to the radio friendly seventies with horns, harmonicas, folksy blues, and sparkling production.
- Maximum Ink Magazine
J. Walker --Each track touches the heart and soul as the CD takes you through a journey of emotion. A surprising reminder of where music can lead you. A CD that truly opens your soul, both chilling and warming. Beautifully produced with instrument and vocal awe.
- J. Walker
REFERRED BY: Fresh Tracks Music... Brett was a feature in the
newsletter I got from them. I decided to listen to a random song, and"No Grace In Goodbyes" literally sent chills down my spine. Five minutes later, I'm filling out the info to buy the cd. One word:
greatness.
- Jodi Goodyear
Discography
Lonely Traveler(2004)
Brett Vogel's debut album features 10 original songs and was recorded at Gemini Sun Records in Chicago, IL. The album was produced by Nicholas Gunn and mastered by Brad Vance(Pete Yorn, A New Found Glory, Jeffrey Gaines).
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
For as long as he can remember, music has been singer/songwriter Brett Vogels passion. The first album he purchased was George Harrisons Cloud Nine. Shortly thereafter he bought his first guitar , and it became his constant companion from that moment onward. There wasnt really a defining moment when I thought to myself, this is what I want to do with my life. The passion was just a part of me from the beginning. The better I became, and the more feedback I got, the more I began to realize that I could make my dream a reality.
He was diligent about attaining this dream and began taking piano lessons, and joined the choir at school. He wanted to dig his fingers into all things musical. At Eastern Illinois University, where he earned his bachelor of finance degree, he assembled his first band, Berkeleys Dream with four other guys, and they became a regional favorite, playing gigs at colleges, universities, and bars/venues throughout the Midwest.
Brett has since stepped away from the quartet to pursue his career as a solo artist. His solo release, produced by Platinum selling artist/producer Nicholas Gunn, combines tasty guitar melodies and catchy lyrics on songs that explore the emotional depths of love as well as the emotional state of the world today. Brett, 23, was born in a suburban Illinois city. Throughout his life, he has won several vocal contests, and with a vocal range that extends over four octaves, he is a tough act to beat.
Brett currently performs with a five piece band. The band consists of Jonathan Miller on the lead guitar and back up vocals, Kyle Theiss on keyboards, Brandon Danger on the bass guitar, and various drummers. Live shows are packed with raw emotion and breath taking energy.
Vogel and Miller have had a long relationship together on and off the stage. Vogel and Miller co-wrote four songs on the album, including No Grace in Goodbyes, Wishing You Were Here, Sea of Madness, and Breathe Clean. Vogel states, Jonathan is an extremely talented musician and a true friend. We just have this connection on stage that I havent been able to find with anyone else. He continues to amaze me even after all the shows weve played together. Hes always pulling something out of his bag of tricks. Its awesome, simply awesome.
Bretts influences include Jeff Buckley, Dave Matthews, Van Morrison, Paul Simon, and U2. His songs are passionate and energizing with raw emotion. He has won the hearts of fans of all ages, and continues to impress listeners wherever he goes.
Music is extremely important because it serves to bring people together. It helps people heal, it inspires them, and gives them hope. My music is very personal because I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve. Music is a release for me. Im inspired by many aspects of life, such as beauty, emotion, the struggle, the chase, and the challenge. Im inspired everyday to write the best song Ive ever written, and I hope my songs are relatable so that when someone listens to the words, they feel as though they are not alone. I believe in my heart that the best is yet to come.
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