Please welcome Vegas With Randolph!

The first featured band on Two Tunes Tuesday is Virginia’s own Vegas With Randolph. I first became acquainted with their work a few years ago and have enjoyed watching their fan base grow as their music has found new ears, and soon there will be new music for our ears!

Who are Vegas With Randolph?

Vegas with Randolph’s music has been called “ebullient, unabashed power pop”, “thinking man's party music,” and “blissful pop songwriting at its finest” and their music has been compared to Fastball, Sloan, and Fountains of Wayne. With the release of their second CD “Above The Blue”, VWR returned with what Mike Lidskin called "Sheer Powerpop Perfection"!

At the nucleus of VWR is the songwriting partnership of John Ratts and Eric Kern. Starting in high school in their mid-western hometown, the duo has penned hundreds of songs over the last several years, many of which have received radio airplay, use in TV and video, compilation CD's, covers by several artists, and awards (2010 "Song of the Year" Twirlie award, a 2010 “Modern Rock Recording of the Year” Wammie, and over a dozen Wammie Award nominations between 2009 and 2013 by the Washington Area Music Association). In addition to Ratts and Kern the band includes a number of accomplished and highly creative musicians: Dan Aylestock, David Purol and Brock Harris.

VWR’s self-titled debut CD was released in 2008 and followed by the EP “Side Trip” in 2009.

In August 2011 their second full length CD “Above The Blue” was released followed by a series of east coast tour dates including the BMI Songwriter’s showcase at DC’s Hard Rock Café, and the International Pop Overthrow Festival in New York City.  “Above The Blue” was critically acclaimed and was listed on multiple “Top CD’s of 2011” lists in 2012.

 Recently, the band has released songs on several compilation CD’s and contributed their rendition of the Little River Band’s “Cool Change” to the 2013 tribute album “Drink A Toast To Innocence”.

Vegas With Randolph is currently finishing their third full length CD “Rings Around The Sun” and is planning a fall-2013 release.

So, how did Vegas With Randolph get their name? VWR’s Eric Kern shared this:

“VWR includes several friends who go back to high school. One of this group of friends was a charismatic character named Jon Randolph, who still lives in the Central Illinois hometown where a couple of us grew up.  At the time we were looking for band names, there was the idea of a high-school buddies get-away trip planned to Las Vegas (with Randolph).  It was likely to be quite an experience, particularly due to Randolph's colorful nature. Ultimately, the trip fell apart and never happened. How it might have gone now has become legendary in our minds and can only be speculated at - it became "the great misadventure that never was"...With this now just a legend, we immortalized the idea of the trip in our band name. To us, it continues to symbolize great, wonderful, and crazy possibilities....”

                                                                 New Music

As mentioned above, VWR has a new CD coming. Titled “Rings Around the Sun,” eager fans are anticipating the CD, judging from their Facebook comments!

If you are a fan of the band Shoes (and who isn't?!) you may know that the book Boy's Don't Lie: A History of Shoes was recently published. Written by Mary E. Donnelly, VWR is proud to announce that Mary is also writing the liner notes for Rings Around The Sun! There is certainly a lot to look forward to!

“Rings Around the Sun” is available for preorder here: Rings Around The Sun


Video "Some Time to Live"
 

Video "Supergirl"


                                                       

                                                            "Empathia"

You can also stream their song "Empathia" from their upcoming Rings Around The Sun CD here:
Empathia

For more information of Vegas With Randolph and to hear more of their music please visit their websites. Your ears will thank you!

Website
Facebook
Twitter
Reverbnation

And don't forget to pre-order Their new CD! Pre-Order Rings Around The Sun

We hope you enjoyed this glimpse into Vegas With Randolph and enjoyed their music. Please visit their website, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Reverbnation and let them know how you enjoyed their music!

Copyright Julie P. Clark 2013