On The (-12th) Day of Christmas A Critic Said To Me
December 13, 2006 -- We've posted a slew of recent press relating to And Quiet Flows The Dawn in the Press section. The local, Fort Collins press has weighed in favorably, the first of the online-zines is another story. Whatever the opinion, we appreciate all these critics' efforts and willingness to listen. The world could use more listeners.
Happy holidays to you and yours. May they be bright.
Another Day, Another Disc
November 9, 2006 -- The band is now holed up in the Basement Studios v2.0. Recording for Act II has begun in earnest. This before Act I has even officially come out. Feel free to work yourselves into a tizzy at any time.
Thank You
October 30, 2006 -- A special thank you to everyone who came out to the show on Friday. You helped make the performance a rousing success. Thanks too to everyone who helped make it happen. We couldn't have done it without you. For those of you interested, the record is now available for purchase from the vee Store.
The Calm Before The Storm
October 22, 2006 -- And so, the first act of the opera is on our doorstep. Love Will Tear Us To Shreds - Act I: And Quiet Flows The Dawn will see official release on November 14, 2006. The tracklist is as follows:
- And Quiet Flows The Dawn
- Desecration of the Hives
- Charge of the Light Brigade
- Last of the Light Brigade
- The Spineless and the Simple
- The Villainy of Morning
- Dances Sacred and Profane
- Kipling and Confidences
- Poetry's Perversion
Also, Act I will be performed in its entirety this Friday. It will be a fantastic occasion, so you ought to come. All sorts of statesmen and orators have been invited as well.
Finally, an mp3 from our recent living room concert has been posted in the A/V Dept. Get 'em while they're hot. See you on Friday.
But Loudly Flows The Dusk
September 29, 2006 -- After weeks of hard work, The vee device Webteam has finally uploaded a brand-spakin' new message board. Perhaps this will thwart the Russian spammers who had taken up residence upon the old one. We shall not rest until the message board is secured. Check it out. Leave us a message. Some of you will probably have to rejoin. Sorry about that -- that's the breaks when you've got a hack webteam running the show.
And Quiet Flows The Dawn
September 4, 2006 -- Track one of the opera has been posted in the A/V Dept for your listening pleasure. Also, a recent article by our good friend Tom at the Rocky Mountain Collegian is now up in the Press section. Dig 'em.
Pictures At An Exhibition
September 1, 2006 -- You may not know it, but vee's father, Capital V, is a world-class artist. What medium does he work in? Nothing so mundane as oil or plaster, we assure you. No, here is a man who's pioneered his own art form -- the paintigraph. Recognizing his father's talent, vee commissioned him to do the album covers for each disc in the opera.
What's more, it just so happens that today is Capital V's first-ever gallery art-show. Being that we are cross-promotional thinkers, we saw an opportunity. Why not have Act I be the evening's soundtrack? And so, if you'd like to get a sneak preview of the record, head on down to: 172 N. College Avenue, Suite B (The Edward Jones Investment Office next to Spoons on Walnut Street). The gallery will be open from 6:00PM-9:00PM. It will be a fantastic time. Go check it out. And then buy a paintigraph for your mother. Mother's like fancy artworks.
And finally, we'd like to give a shout out to Charlie. You recognized vee on the street outside the gelato place. As such, you are worthy of a prize. If you're reading this, send an email to us with a picture of yourself, and we'll give you an mp3 player loaded up with all the new tunes! If Charlie doesn't respond within one or two weeks, we will open this contest up to everyone. But wait for the announcement people. Don't just go sending emails willy-nilly trying to win prizes. The overzealous never prosper.
The Endless Summer Ends
August 24, 2006 -- Yes, it's getting to be that time of year again. Students across the land are picking up their backpacks with tears in their eyes, awaiting piles of homework and untold numbers of bullies. If you are one of this lot (even if you are not) we have an uplifting surprise for you. More details on the opera!
The overarching title of the work is Love Will Tear Us To Shreds. The title of Act I is And Quiet Flows The Dawn. Act I will be 43 minutes long. It will contain 9 songs. Those details should suffice for now -- enough to whet your whistle as it were. There will be more info to come in the next couple of weeks.
Finally, we've temporarily disabled the message board. It was inundated with Russian spam email addresses. Considering we are writing an opera about a Russian author, it was kind of fitting. Nonetheless, we hope to fix that problem soon enough, so all you lovely people can talk to one another.
Where Is vee device?
August 14, 2006 -- It's been an entire month since our last post. No doubt you think we've been killing time, living lascivious lives. Wrong. We've been hard at work on the opera and rehearsing for our big show coming up on Sunday. We'll see you all there. After that, time enough for regular posting should ensue.
Happy Birthday Kiril Lyutov
July 13, 2006 -- Today is the birthday of Isaac Babel (when converted to the Gregorian Calendar). vee would go so far as to call him the greatest Russian author of all time. Take that Turgenev. Go suck an egg Gogol. And a pox on you, Pasternak. Yes, Babel is our favorite. And if you haven't guessed by now, he's the one we're writing the rock opera about.
Do yourself a favor. Go to your favorite local bookstore, or even, dare we say, the library, and get yourself a copy of Red Cavalry. Read it cover to cover and know genius. You'll be glad you did. Also, you'll have a much better understanding of what's happening in the opera. The benefits are twofold. Good day.
Bringing Justice Down
July 2, 2006 -- Well, so much for a live recording of Friday's show. It helps if you remember to turn on the recorder while you're playing. Oh well. There will be more music to post soon enough.
Due to various circumstances, Daz Bog has had to cancel its live music programming. Thus, as you might of guessed, our previously scheduled show will not take place. We are currently in the process of booking a whole host of live dates, so keep checking back.
Finally, "Team v.d." is going to make an appearance at Coopersmith's Pub Quiz tonight. They hope to dethrone the mighty "Justice League." We shall see. Expect to see the band's victorious picture here next week. Or, maybe not. We guarantee nothing.
One More Day Up In The Canyon
June 30, 2006 -- Today, vee and &roid strike a course up the Poudre Canyon to the Lady Ava Pop Festival. There are going to be tons of fabulous bands there. It will be an amazingly fun adventure. If you all behave yourselves, we might just post some live recordings tomorrow morning (assuming they come out acceptably).
Also, if you haven't heard of MOG yet, you should check it out. Sign up and start MOGging. Soon everyone will be talking about it and you can say: "Ah yes, I know all about that -- I've been a member since the beta test." Your social capital will increase exponentially with such a statement. But, on the otherhand, if you choose to ignore this suggestion, you will be left feeling bewildered and disenfranchised. You don't want that do you? The choice is yours.
Opera Hint #13: In the spirit of the MOG, there are several amazing hints to be found on ours. In fact, they should be the last hints anyone needs to figure out who this opera is about. Remember prizes are on the line.
Solstice Poultice
June 21, 2006 -- Today is the longest day of the year. What better way to use some of the scant-few hours of darkness than to record a song. What's more, it is a song for all you lonely souls out there. Once again, vee entered his bedroom, trusty iRiver microphone in hand. And once again, a song came out. This one was written by Roger Miller.
Opera Hint #12: It's cooler this week, but we're still not giving you another hint.
The Inferno
June 14, 2006 -- If this heat continues, we might as well move to Gehenna. In the spirit of such a statement, we've posted a contrary song for you all. vee recorded this in his bedroom tonight and was kind enough to pass it along. It was written by Mr. John Darnielle. He's one of our favorites.
Also, there have been some modifications in the show department. Please make the appropriate notes in your day planners.
Opera Hint #11: Ten hints is a lot -- I don't think we shall give you any more. At least not until it cools down.
Greetings June
June 3, 2006 -- June is hot. July will probably be hotter. August hotter still. For now, luckily, the basement studios retain their winter chill. We're so happy about this fact that we've finally added the New York write-up to the Tales section, complete with pictures. We've even added more pictures to the gallery.
While we're in an adding-mood, why don't we tell you that we've also added another show. That brings the tally to three. Both in terms of shows and different additions to the website today. The show in August is pretty huge. Heck, we'll go all out and use the biggest superlative we know and call it "Chuck-Normous."
Opera Hint #10: If you look hard enough, you can find and read the memoirs of the main character's second wife.
Tom, Get Your Plane-Ride On Time
May 26, 2006 -- In the event that you were concerned, we thought we'd let you know that the only living boys from New York returned relatively unscathed from their adventure in the big city. Carnegie Hall was amazing. G-Man knocked the crowd dead. And to think, he was but one of eighteen stellar musicians there assembled. The show of a lifetime as it were.
Being the inquisitive type that you are, you probably want to see pictures and whatnot. Have no fear -- they will be posted soon enough. Perhaps we'll even fashion some sort of write-up to go along with them. Also, two upcoming shows have been added to the list. Reserve the appropriate dates on your calendar.
Opera Hint #9: Maxim Gorky (the person, not the plane) was one of the main character's chief mentors.
Eisenstein Is A Friend Of Mine
May 7, 2006 -- As the keener among you might have already guessed, vee device did not appear on A Prairie Home Companion yesterday. Deemed "too internationally renowned for the Budweiser Events Center," the band chose to defer to smaller local acts. Nonetheless, vee and &roid did get to sit with the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band at Avogadro's Number last night. Hilarity ensued as they regaled our two heroes with stories from the day's performance. Fate has a brilliant sense of humor it seems.
Keep your eyes glued to the screen because we will be posting the biography of our new violin player later today. Or perhaps tomorrow. Whatever the case, we assure you it will be fascinating.
Opera Hint #8: The main character collaborated with Eisenstein on a project or two.
News From Lake Wobegon
May 1, 2006 -- It's been a quiet month in Fort Collins, Colorado, our hometown, out on the edge of the prairie. Nonetheless, we promise to present what news and hearsay we do have in an exciting manner. For clarity's sake, we've decided to delineate pertinent items with an exciting numbering system:
- FIRSTLY, vee device is pleased to welcome a fantastic violin player into the fold. Full details on this mystery woman will be revealed at a later date. For now, it suffices to say that she will knock your socks off.
- SECONDLY, vee device hereby announces its intention to appear on A Prairie Home Companion when it visits Northern Colorado this weekend. As to exactly how said goal will be achieved, we think it may require a bit of luck. If you happen to be Mr. Keillor (or one of his lovely associates) please, feel free to move our name to the top of the audition list.
- THIRDLY, vee began learning trumpet over the weekend. Expect him to be blowing like Dizzy in no time.
- FOURTHLY, contrary to popular belief, the opera is making progress. Act III is being written as you read this. Recording for Act I is nearly complete, while recording for Act II has nearly begun.
Opera Hint #7: The main character is an author famous for his short stories.
Foolish April
April 4, 2006 -- If only daylight saving time were a viscious April Fools prank. But alas... we really did lose sixty minutes in the wee hours of Sunday morning. Where did they go? Vanished into the ether, like so much in our lives. Luckily though, this hour is not gone forever; come autumn, it will reappear as magically as it departed.
And just like that hour, the year is jumping forward at an alarming rate. Good thing for you, your pals in vee device have been charging ahead as well. For instance, they played two impromptu shows this past weekend. One in a living room and another at a political fundraiser! A political fundraiser!? You heard that right. In fact, later today, if you check the Tales section, you'll be able to read an investigative journalism piece detailing how vee device is in the pockets of big-time politics. Also, due to popular demand, a recipie for vee's father's grilled pizza will be added to the Crafts section. Yes, it will be a big day.
Opera Hint #6: Another bit of exposition for you: 1921-1939 is when it takes place.
Andorra and San Marino
March 17, 2006 -- While everyone is out consuming green-tinted foods in honor of snake-charmers, we have been hard at work coming up with new and exciting ways to reach out to the world. Take this idea for example...
Earlier this month, veedevice.com had its first-ever visitor from that most famous of hideouts in the Pyrenees. You guessed it... Andorra. We would like to salute this Andorran and his or her fellow countrymen. Because we like your tiny parliamentary democracy so much, we're offering any Andorran a free CD. All you have to do is write us an email proving that you're from Andorra and live there now. And voila, you'll have a copy of a vee device CD quicker than you can say "Que parla el català?" Heck... while we're at it, we'll extend the offer to anyone from San Marino as well. This offer is only good for a limited time.
Opera Hint #5: It takes place in Europe.
Shirts Tucked In, Shoes Untied
March 1, 2006 -- Casimir Pulaski Day is celebrated on the first Monday of March in Illinois and the fourth day of March in Wisconsin. In honor of the tradition, we shall post an mp3 vee and &roid recorded during practice. It is a cover of Mr. Sufjan Stevens' song which takes its name from the holiday. You will no doubt hear some imperfections if you listen with a critical ear -- that's why it's called practice. See you at the shows.
Oh yes... one more thing about this weekend's shows: they are going to be extraordinary. Don't be late to either one of them.
Opera Hint #4: This week's hint will be given at one of our live performances this weekend.
Happy Belated VD Day
February 15, 2006 -- So it was the day for lovers yesterday. A holiday custom made for vee device as it were. vee device. Valentine's Day. VD. Get it? Hopefully you got the chance to curl up with your sweetie. For those of you who didn't, we've got some fantastic new journalistic pieces posted in the Tales section. We know. It's a sorry excuse for a surrogate-sweetie. But it will have to do. Hey... we didn't have our sweeties after all.
Opera Hint #3: Each of the characters is an honest-to-goodness historical figure.
Two Living Rooms Down... A Billion To Go
February 1, 2006 -- On Monday night, vee device had the pleasure of playing a living room show in Greeley, Colorado. What many people don't know is that Greeley was named after someone with four middle names. Four middle names!?! Can you believe it? Good old William Horace Greeley Meeker Cameron Dixon. I wish I had more names. Anyways, there are some mp3s from the show posted in the A/V Dept. Check 'em out.
Opera Hint #2: The main character wears glasses, or 'spectacles' as some might call them.
Songs In The Key Of V
January 19, 2006 -- Two weeks of recording down. How many more to go? Who would have thought an opera would take so much time? The impertinent among you might say "show us the goods." Please, gentle-fan-folk, we might call your attention to a few historical examples. Was Rome built in a day? Of course not. How about Punxsutawney for that matter? Even they, the protectors of noble Phil, couldn't muster such a feat. Great things, both grand and inconsequential, take time.
Okay then, so what is this opera about? My, you are full of questions today. Each post, we'll give you a hint. The first person to piece it all together will win a fabulous vee device prize package. May the best fan win.
Hint #1: It involves a character who has appeared in our songs before.
In other news, by the end of the Sunday, we hope to have some new content up on the site in the form of pictures and stories.
Goodbye Mr. Behringer
January 7, 2006 -- From this day forward, the Basement Studios shall be known as a 'high-fidelity' recording environment. No longer are we producing audio facsimiles with the trusty Behringer B-1 and its corresponding pre-amp. We bid it a fond farewell.
Our new microphone is so sensitive, in fact, that it picks up all sorts of chair-squeaks and other sundries heretofore unheard. Whilst initially perplexed by this, we've decided that these noises will give our records a real-life, exciting character. As a matter of fact, the last of the Behringer recordings are now posted as mp3s in the A/V Dept. "Proximity" and "Switzerland" comprise the first half of the digital EP entitled The Wilted Heart Of Lloyd P. Behringer.
Earlier in the week, we made mention of "the opera." You might wonder what that means. Well, it suffices to say that vee device is indeed writing and recording an opera. Though we're not at liberty to divulge many details at this point, we will say this: it involves three discs. Let the hubbub begin.
Finally, our good friends over at Delusions Of Adequacy posted a new review of AOADB. Check it out in the Press section.
Welcome To The New Year
January 2, 2006 -- What's New Year's without a few resolutions? Most people focus their energies on long-term or lifestyle-related vows. We, however, like to think a little more immediately. As such, here are today's resolutions:
- Post new mp3s in the A/V Dept.
- Move a heavy piano into &roid's apartment.
- Begin recording the opera.
- Go grocery shopping.
One down, three to go. Looks like a fairy manageable list. Before you know it, 2007 will come knocking.