vijoy rao
St. Louis, Missouri, United States | SELF
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Vijoy Rao gets the Spotlight Friday Night at the Pageant
By Matt Fernandes
01/17/2008 11:56 am
This Friday night it’s another Ticketmaster New Music Spotlight. This time, the big stage is turned over to our town’s Vijoy Rao and the Removers. Rao has been playing acoustic blues rock in the area for about a decade and his band has released two records — one live and one studio.
Patrons of South County’s Ten Mile House know Rao as he plays there regularly.
I spoke with Rao a few weeks back.
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RC: Are you from St. Louis?
VR: I was born and raised in St. Louis. My parents moved here in the 1960s from India. I was kind of brought up in an artistic house. My dad was a painter. I grew up listening to all kinds of music.
RC: How do you approach writing music?
VR: Writing is kind of a strange animal. It’s always learning process. I wrote my first song when I was 16 and it was awful! Even now, only one of every eight or nine songs I write make it onstage. I like to keep it really raw and organic. The best word to describe my music is ‘honest.’
RC: Have you always played guitar?
VR: I was actually trained as drummer, so in terms of my guitar playing style, I’m pretty much playing drums on guitar. When I have a full band, the songs are really expanded out a lot.
RC: Any local recommendations for acoustic fans?
VR: Yes, “STL Unplugged” at the Ten Mile House, about every three months. We pull together four or five acts and play an all acoustic night. Everyone walks out with a live recording of their gig. It’s a great way to meet people.
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Ticketmaster New Music Spotlight
Featuring Vijoy Rao & the Removers
Doors: 7 pm, Show: 8 pm, $5, All Ages
Upcoming:
Saturday, Jan. 26 @ Cruisin’ Rte 66 with full band (Crestwood)
Friday, March 7 @ Ten Mile House. “STL Unplugged”
Tuesday March 18 @ Cicero’s (PLAYBACK:stl showcase)
www.myspace.com/vijoyrao
www.10milehouse.com
Vijoy’s crew:
Rachel Brandt - Keyboards/vocals; Dave Brickey - Bass guitar/vocals; Eric Powell - Lead guitar;
Chris Keale - Drums/percussion
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Rock Candy blog
http://www.toastedrav.com/post/a_lil_tune_from_vijoy_rao - ToastedRav.com
Discography
Vijoy Rao - LIVE @ The 10 Mile House - 01.13.07 (solo acoustic)
Vijoy Rao - Gravity (full band studio release)
both are currently available to sample and purchase through Apple iTunes and at www.cdbaby.com/vijoyrao and www.cdbaby.com/vijoyrao2, respectively.
UPCOMING: Live at The Pageant (STL 11.26.08 opening for Cowboy Mouth)
Photos
Bio
When he was only 7, and while his classmates were listening to Pac-Man Fever, Vijoy was listening to The Talking Heads, Genesis and The Police (although he concedes that Pac-Man Fever kind of rocks).
Having obtained the bug for creating music at an early age, Vijoy has continued to proactively pursue his musical interests as he moves from chapter to chapter in life. Having lived stints in Boston, Massachusetts and Boulder, Colorado, Vijoy has learned to find something valuable in all kinds of music and attempts to create a unique sound he can call his own – ranging from bluegrass to folk to hip-hop to reggae to rock and back again.
A drummer at heart, Vijoy has translated his percussive tendencies to the guitar and harmonica and has been compared to Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Rhett Miller and Paul Simon.
With clever lyrics and a unique blend of rhythm and melody, Vijoy exudes a sound that is deceptively large and curiously captivating -- blurring the line between emotion and truth.
Through his musical endeavors, Vijoy has had the honor of sharing the stage with many national acts and has performed at many prominent venues in the Midwest including The Pageant, Mississippi Nights (R.I.P.), Cicero's, Blueberry Hill's Duck Room, Camp Zoe, The Lucas School House Music Hall, The Broadway Oyster Bar, Off Broadway nightclub, Bearcat Getaway and many others. He has performed live on TV, received positive reviews in publications such as the Riverfront Times and PLAYBACK:stl, and his music has been heard on local St. Louis radio station KDHX 88.1 FM as well as internet radio station iChannel and RiverFront Radio.
Vijoy has released three albums to much acclaim – a live solo/acoustic album, a studio record which features Rachel Brandt (keyboards/vocals), Dave Brickey (bass guitar/vocals), Steve Eaton (slide guitar), Chris Keale (drums/percussion) and Eric Powell (electric guitar), and a live album with his band, The Removers, at The Pageant Theater in St. Louis opening for Cowboy Mouth.
Please visit www.myspace.com/vijoyrao for information on upcoming shows, to hear sample tracks, to drop him a note, or to read the ridiculous comments he receives from his friends.
Links
