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BigJohn
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Post by BigJohn »

I drove by the 4D's last night and it looked like it was packed to the gills for Vs. the earth (NEVERMOURE) . What do these guys Know that the rest of you don't !!!
EYE ROCK FOR LEAH APRIL 30th AT 30 SOMETHING ...
Hawk
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Post by Hawk »

I'll offer my own opinions since I have some insight into the band.

I've heard musicians bust them for lack of technical ability. I really don't think they care what other musicians think of them.

THEY ENTERTAIN ! They don't go on stage thinking their music will "wow" people, even though they write GREAT hooks. They work the crowd. I used to tell Adam he reminds me of late night talk show host Johnny Carson. He works the crowd. He involves them. They leave feeling good because they know the band loves them.

They keep it simple. Easy to listen to drum grooves. Easy to feel rhythm. And melodic music.

This kind of entertainment bring GIRLS to the show.....and guys come to to see the girls ! PACKED HOUSE !
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MeYatch
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Post by MeYatch »

I spent some time thinking about this after the last time they played, and checked their website, these guys play at least five times a week.

first, as hawk said, they are entertainers first, and musicians second, which is a good thing to realize, if all they want is music, they could just turn on the radio, or the jukebox.
also their singer sings a wide range of styles, and nails them pretty good, a lot of the people around here can only sing in a couple styles, but this guy rules for doing covers.
and musically, they are far from bad, they have some neat guitar hooks, and even neater vocal melodies in their original songs.
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Post by WitchChic »

Yes it was another night of not being able to move on the dance floor...Leaving looking like you never even got ready cuz you were so hot and sweaty your make up ran and your hair fell down and the drunk bitch behind you spilled her beer all over you...BUT its Always a great time...

The guys are fun and they mix up the set so there is something everyone likes...they dont act like they are the only thing out there thats good, and they are just fun... :) Adam was sick last night, very sick, but for his fans he played all night and if you hadnt known he was sick or heard him say that he was sick, you would have never known, he hung in right up to the end still closing with Carolina Skys....

:D Great show guys!!!

Most months the doors are closed by 11pm due to they cant fit anyone else in, but the outside bar is open and stuff now too,so check em out June 23rd ppl :) you wont regret it... :) Its fun...
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Post by Jim Price »

I would agree with Hawk's and MeYatch's comments above. Vs. the Earth does the fundamentals...they play a good variety of tunes, and they come up with great song hooks in their own originals. They play at a continuous high energy level, keep their pacing tight (very little down time between songs, they don't give the audience a reason to sit down). Their mood is always upbeat. They're always enthusiastic, playing like it's their last show...you don't see Vs. the Earth looking bored and plodding through a setlist just to get to the cash register take at the end of the night. They work the crowd, both onstage and off - between sets, these guys get out into the crowd and meet and greet their fans, rather than sitting in the dressing room or drinking among themselves. They entertain, and they make every show a fun and pleasant experience for their audiences so those folks want to come back to see them the next time.

They've been doing this ever since day one, when they were 'Nevermore' and playing at Penn State Altoona and empty rooms at the Altoona G-Man and Eldolyn Terrace. They paid their dues early, this group wasn't always a crowd magnet in the beginning, they had to build their fan base along the way.

Vs. the Earth has the fundamentals covered, and they have developed a routine and formula that works for them. Every band is different, and each band has to discover what works for them and run with it.

Backstreet Law (now changing their name to Till December) is another band that does the performance fundamentals in their own way; they play a wide variety of material, they have good original tunes, energy, stage presence, continuous contact with the audience, and are out meeting their fans between sets. It took line-up changes and several years of dues-paying before Backstreet Law started achieving the success level they now enjoy (I remember their old line-up playing to crickets and 4 walls at Aldo's and new Sabs in the early 90's). They figured out what works for them, and continued to develop it.

I think the keys to success in general are: Have a good product onstage; good tunes, enthusiasm, tightness, EN_ER_GY - play every show like it's your last! Take time to meet your fans, be accessible to them, give them a pleasant experience every time they come to see you perform. Assess what works for you, and build on it. Stay hungry, and don't become complacent. And be patient, success is rarely an overnight thing. If you believe in what you do, keep the faith, stay together and work at it, you'll likely enjoy some success before all is said and done.
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Post by Hawk »

In the beginning, when they were playing to smaller crowds. If they were playing for 12 people , They worked as hard as they would for 1,200 people.
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Post by HarleyRo1 »

VS the earth also has a really young following. Each time I have gone to see them at the D's - the place is packed and it's an under 30's crowd (for the most part). VS travels all over the East Coast - and I really think that now on the occasion when they return and play here - people flock to see them because they aren't here all the time and they know they are guaranteed a good time. I think they have the supply and demand theory in their favor and they put on a great show.
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bassist_25
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Post by bassist_25 »

I don't get the whole "lacks technical ability" argument. Hawk, who are these people? We'll kick their asses. :D

Seriously, they don't cover Dream Theater, but that doesn't discount them as being excellent musicians. Ritchie's a bad ass guitarist, and Shawn (though he's no longer with them) is one of the best drummers in the area.

Page Hamilton of Helmet has a degree in jazz, and the guitarist of Stain'd is actually one helluva shredder. You wouldn't know that just from listening to their respective bands.

Like the music or not - Vs. the Earth/Nevermoure is one of those bands like BSL, Green Eggs, The Hurricanes, Stept On, ect. that worked its ass off to get where it is, and you have to respect that.
"He's the electric horseman, you better back off!" - old sKool making a reference to the culturally relevant 1979 film.
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Post by Hawk »

bassist_25 wrote:Hawk, who are these people? We'll kick their asses.
LOL ! Lets just say I've heard this while in the mens room from other musicians. They use to call the band Neverwas. To use an old saying , the band is crying all the way to the bank, or is that laughing.............

I don't need to defend these guys because they kick ass up and down the whole east coast. They are huge in Florida, Maryland, and making inroads in NYC.

If they can make a living playing........then Big John has a point. Look at what they're doing.
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TJ Kelly
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Post by HurricaneBob »

One day a plumber came to fix my toilet, he had 100 apprentices with him...so i charged them cover.
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Post by ASB10 »

We (Third Standard) had the pleasure of playing a show or two with VTE, and I have to say that they bring the party. They play the newest hits, the biggest party songs, and they know how to work the audience. That is what alot of people want to hear, and they give it to them energetically.

Sometimes technical efficiency is overblown, because you may be able to play like Satch, but have the stage presence and charisma of a wet rag, and noone will care. It's about the package whe watching a live show...look at bands like Poison who have made a career of technical inefficiency but they bring the live package.

Kudos to them for their success....
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