VITEK

Many artists start out in a band and later strike out solo, but Gabraham Vitek is taking the opposite track. Originally headlining alone with his rich vocals and sleek piano stylings, this Ohio-born Nashvillian is today a member of VITEK, a seven-member band mixing pop, rock and soul that released its first album, Kaleidoscope, last Friday.
VITEK - "Kaleidoscope"
Vitek says that being part of a band has been his goal for a long time. “I've always wanted [my music] to be a band thing, instead of just me and a band. I guess it just took seven years of being in this city to get around the right people that made sense.”
The “right people” were individuals who originally toured with Vitek during his solo career. Drummer Scott Shirock, bassist Brady Surface, and saxophonist Anthony Jorissen performed with Vitek for two and a half years, while vocalists Lydia Elise and Whitney Coleman and trumpeter Robert Gay joined Vitek one year ago, performing songs from his 2010 EP Soular Flares. At the time, however, the group also “started playing around with some of the ideas that are on this new album,” and the end product is an edgy blend of sounds ranging from funk to jazz to pop—surprisingly, with no guitar to be heard whatsoever, an absence that the band embraces.
“I think [the absence of a guitar] is something that we intend on keeping…for as long as we can,” says Vitek. “Brass takes care of any power that comes from a guitar.” And indeed, Gay’s trumpet punctuates tracks like the hyper “Legs” and the smooth “Night Bender,” giving them a fresh, surprising sound.
Besides its rejection of the guitar, another unique aspect of VITEK is its method of songwriting via voice mail. “I feel like any time I ever write a song I'm the furthest away from an instrument possible,” says Vitek. “And so I'm always like humming these ideas in my phone. It's either that, or we'll be calling each other and leaving each other voicemails. That's pretty much how every song on the last record was written.”
“Kaleidoscope” is a fitting title for a collection of songs made in such a way: disparate elements blending together to make an interesting yet coherent work of art. The name can further apply to the album’s variety, which results from the marriage of songs that equally emphasize words and music to more instrument-focused tracks with few lyrics. “‘Til she’s tired” are the only words Vitek sings over the beautifully simple piano of “Cloud 9,” while the titular first track carries a similarly effective minimalism. These songs contrast with tracks like the aforementioned “Legs,” which contains a frenetic quality, as if a dam holding back the band’s energy burst and “Legs” was the result.
The theme of different elements forming a cohesive whole is even more apparent when Vitek describes the collective energy guiding the band’s collaborative efforts. “We all wrote the album and…no one’s stepped on each other’s toes. There’s this power that's over all of us that we all have to submit to…[and] it’s working for us. We’re feeding something that is not physically tangible.”
Kaleidoscope, then, is a varied yet harmonious combination of several different ideas, sounds and artists. Which just goes to show you that writing songs over voicemail isn’t a bad idea.
http://vitekmusic.com/
http://www.facebook.com/vitekmusic - Brite

About a month or so ago, a local band mailed me a riddle. No, really. Sealed with a wax stamp and containing a series of half-rhymes bidding me to RSVP for what could have been some kind of occult meeting in the woods (but really turned out to be a scavenger hunt), VITEK immediately won my favor for not just Friendstering me a link to their MySpace page. If nothing else, they know how to make a first impression. The brainchild of Gabrahm Vitek, a Belmont grad who previously headed the local college rock quartet Gabe Vitek and the Ivory, VITEK is a sprawling soul-pop outfit featuring members of Cheer Up Charlie Daniels and Uncle Skeleton. On Kaleidoscope, VITEK’s debut LP, the band hops and bops between ethereal smoothness and piano-forward pop-rock ragers. (“Legs” is a particular highlight.) The band celebrates the release of their record with Summer Buttons and The Flea Marketeers. $7 or $10 with the record.
— Lance Conzett - Nashville Scene

It seems Gabrahm Vitek was hardly resistant to the band of gypsies that captured him in his sleep. Feeding him nothing but soul, Mr. Vitek has been munchin’ on some funky jazz with some jivy cats. Marginally different from anything I remember hearing at Christopher’s Pizza in 2007, I can assure you that soul-tapped and face-lifted, Mr. Vitek has seen the light.

His latest full length album, Soular Flares, flows as smooth as the lively licks it encases. Gabe has put some serious concentration into making an album that transitions flawlessly. Intentionally starting things out on a train ride to the heart of the record, he breaks things up with three instrumental interludes, showcasing his dive into compositional experimentation as he swims around sounds like Radiohead’s MK1 and Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors.

Sandwiching these Radiohead-esque interludes are effortlessly catchy songs like “Your Turn”, “It’s On”, “You Got Fire” and “No Look Dancing”. (Check out the music video for "No Look Dancing" here). Up-beat and full of soul, you can expect to hear some vibrant horn solos, powerhouse backup vocals, and classic Gabrahm Vitek piano riffs. A delightfully interesting match-up, Gabe’s poppy vocals (at times Ben Folds, at times Jamie Cullum, at times straight Vitek) have a way of jumping around on a bed of jazzy instrumentation, yielding some very fresh originality.

Gabe dresses up his thoughts on love, women, and coming of age through his contagiously danceable beats - however, he doesn’t forget to slow things down with intimate and personal tracks like “Needle + Thread”. Despite this healthy combination, it’s obvious that “No Look Dancing” is the core of the album – allowing listeners to kick off their shoes and let go of the reins.

Soular Flares feels like one of those records where one lightbulb led one artist deep into a cave of invention – remaining reclusive until the music baby was ready to be born. Lucky for us, Gabrahm Vitek will be releasing this gem, polished and perfected, October 22nd at The Basement. Not to mention he has roped in a solid A-team of Nashville’s finest rhythm and groove players. I’ll see you there.--Mackenzie Grosser - Mackenzie Grosser

It seems Gabrahm Vitek was hardly resistant to the band of gypsies that captured him in his sleep. Feeding him nothing but soul, Mr. Vitek has been munchin’ on some funky jazz with some jivy cats. Marginally different from anything I remember hearing at Christopher’s Pizza in 2007, I can assure you that soul-tapped and face-lifted, Mr. Vitek has seen the light.

His latest full length album, Soular Flares, flows as smooth as the lively licks it encases. Gabe has put some serious concentration into making an album that transitions flawlessly. Intentionally starting things out on a train ride to the heart of the record, he breaks things up with three instrumental interludes, showcasing his dive into compositional experimentation as he swims around sounds like Radiohead’s MK1 and Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors.

Sandwiching these Radiohead-esque interludes are effortlessly catchy songs like “Your Turn”, “It’s On”, “You Got Fire” and “No Look Dancing”. (Check out the music video for "No Look Dancing" here). Up-beat and full of soul, you can expect to hear some vibrant horn solos, powerhouse backup vocals, and classic Gabrahm Vitek piano riffs. A delightfully interesting match-up, Gabe’s poppy vocals (at times Ben Folds, at times Jamie Cullum, at times straight Vitek) have a way of jumping around on a bed of jazzy instrumentation, yielding some very fresh originality.

Gabe dresses up his thoughts on love, women, and coming of age through his contagiously danceable beats - however, he doesn’t forget to slow things down with intimate and personal tracks like “Needle + Thread”. Despite this healthy combination, it’s obvious that “No Look Dancing” is the core of the album – allowing listeners to kick off their shoes and let go of the reins.

Soular Flares feels like one of those records where one lightbulb led one artist deep into a cave of invention – remaining reclusive until the music baby was ready to be born. Lucky for us, Gabrahm Vitek will be releasing this gem, polished and perfected, October 22nd at The Basement. Not to mention he has roped in a solid A-team of Nashville’s finest rhythm and groove players. I’ll see you there.--Mackenzie Grosser - Mackenzie Grosser

Below is a list of 50 albums I really enjoyed.
I’m working on my Best Songs of 2010 podcast so stay tuned!


HIGH ROTATION
1. Arcade Fire The Suburbs
2. Mumford & Sons Sigh No More
3. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
4. The Black Keys – Brothers
5. Lissie Catching A Tiger
6. Bedouin Soundclash Light The Horizon
7. Francis and the Lights It’ll Be Better
8. Slow Motion Centerfold Rock The Body Language
9. Fitz & The Tantrums Pickin’ Up The Pieces
10. Kings of Leon Come Around Sundown
11. Carney Mr. Green Vol. 1
12. The Daylights Black Dove
13. The Ruse Love Sex Confusion
14. Matt White It’s The Good Crazy
15. Justin Rutledge The Early Widows
16. Angus & Julia Stone Down The Way
17. Delta Spirit History From Below
18. Dylan LeBlanc Paupers Field
19. Broken Bells Broken Bells
20. Rose’s Pawn Shop Dancing On The Gallows

IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
21. Local Natives Sun Hands
22. Two Door Cinema Club Tourist History
23. Elton John & Leon Russell The Union
24. Sia We Are Born
25. Gemma Ray It’s A Shame About Gemma Ray
26. The Bewitched Hands On The Top Of Our Heads Hard To Cry
27. Yaesayer Odd Blood
28. Audra Mae The Happiest Lamb
29. Blitzen Trapper Destroyer of the Void
30. Chief Modern Rituals
31. 22-20s Shake / Shiver / Moan
32. Fran Healy Wreckorder
33. The Honeymoon Thrillers The Honeymoon Thrillers
34. The Romany Rye Highway
35. Gabrahm Vitek Soular Flares
36. The Silver Seas Chateau Revenge 2.0
37. Wrestlerish The Rude Mechanical
38. Marina And The Diamonds The Family Jewels
39. He’s My Brother She’s My Sister He’s My Brother She’s My Sister
40. Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise
41. Beach House Teen Dream
42. Best Coast Crazy For You
43. Belle & Sebastian Belle & Sebastian Write About Love
44. Wakey!Wakey! Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said The Last Time I Saw You…
45. The Kicks The Rise Of King Richie
46. Zac Brown Band You Get What You Give
47. Jason Aldean My Kinda Party
48. Jamey Johnson The Guitar Song
49. The Rescues Let Loose The Horses
50. Ra Ra Riot The Orchard
51. Graffiti6 Colours
52. Sean Hayes Run Wolves Run
53. Patrick Park You’ll Get Over
54. First Aid Kit The Big Black & The Blue
55. Deer Tick The Black Dirt Sessions
56. Jimmy Gnecco The Heart
57. The Parlotones Stardust Galaxies
58. Elizabeth & the Catapult The Other Side of Zero

GREAT EPS
1. Cold War Kids Behave Yourself EP
2. Heavy Young Heathens Make Room For The Youth EP
3. Guards Guards EP - Kami Knaki