Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
"...Van Veen musters up a lot of class and depth of emotion. A cerebral, good listening experience."
Ian Stephen, Rhythms Magazine
"...sure to appeal not only to blues fans, but to anyone who appreciates quality musicianship and songs which have something to say. A beautiful contemporary blues cd."
Peter West, Radio 2XX, Canberra
"Well played and recorded, with great tunes. It would be a worthwhile addition to anyone's CD collection."
Ross Ward, Ward's Xpress
The songwriting is superb. The "stories" hit very close to home and although I reside a half a world away, the slices of life he sings about are like looking into a mirror. I would highly recommend that anyone who enjoys a good story and excellent production values, get a copy of this CD.
"Sticks" Randall, CEO, Ranluron Music, BMI (USA) - Various
Discography
Van Veen - Drive (due early Feb 2005)
Van Veen - One Tiny Life (released 2002)
Man Bites Dog (self-titled, 1998)
Songs from Drive and One Tiny Life are receiving airplay on the ABC (national radio station) as well as over 75 community radion stations around Australia.
Ernie Van Veen has also played guitar and/or bass on a number of CDs made by other artists.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Ernie Van Veen was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. As a child he toured Canada and the US with his father's folk band, The Generation Bridge, in the late sixties and early seventies. The band recorded an album and won a competition to co-open the prestigious Ontario Place open air concert venue in the early seventies. In 1972 Van Veen's family picked up and moved to Australia. Ernie Van Veen continued to play bass and recorded with several Australian artists. He took a break from music to raise a family, picking it all up again in the late nineties with Aussie band, Man Bites Dog. After releasing an album with moderate success, Van Veen embarked on a solo career, recording a solo album, One Tiny Life in 2002. Van Veen's new album, recorded with his current band, features a mix of roots/blues-based originals and a couple of covers that have been given the Van Veen treatment. For a band that features mostly acoustic instruments, this band provides a driving, powerful sound that is as tight as a band can get. Van veen's songwriting is strongly influenced by Canadian and Australian roots musicians, such as Bruce Cockburn, Leonard Cohen, Jeff Lang, John Butler, Neil Young, Jo Camalieri, as well as Ben Harper, Ryan Adams, etc. What makes the Van Veen sound so unique, is the distinct signature quality of Van Veen's voice, his intelligent and rootsy songwriting style and the depth of the band's innate feel for the songs they play in their chosen genre.
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