The Vitamin String Quartet Master Series presents the critically acclaimed Velvet Undergound & Nico album. Known for unabashedly diving into riské and dark subject matters, the album with Andy Warhol’s yellow banana gave birth to some of rock’s greatest songs of all time. We dare you to go deeper into the music through the VSQ’s complex string arrangements where violin, viola and cello take you on a journey that is beautifully parallel to the experiences you originally get from songs such as “Heroin” and “I’m Waiting For the Man.”
Tracklist:
Heroin (originally performed by The Velvet Underground and Nico)
The Black Angel’s Death Song (originally performed by The Velvet Underground and Nico)
Femme Fatale (originally performed by The Velvet Underground and Nico)
Sunday Morning (originally performed by The Velvet Underground and Nico)
European Son (originally performed by The Velvet Underground and Nico)
All Tomorrow’s Parties (originally performed by The Velvet Underground and Nico)
There She Goes Again (originally performed by The Velvet Underground and Nico)
I’m Waiting for the Man (originally performed by The Velvet Underground and Nico)
Venus in Furs (originally performed by The Velvet Underground and Nico)
I’ll Be Your Mirror (originally performed by The Velvet Underground and Nico)
Run, Run, Run (originally performed by The Velvet Underground and Nico)
We’re excited to announce our newest marvel, VSQ Performs Lady Gaga. Not only is it featured on the iTunes Music homepage as “New and Noteworthy,” but it already has 24 fanatastic reviews from fans! Check us out and let us know what you think…
Tool/Puscifer frontman Maynard James Keenan and Steven Drozd of The Flaming Lips, recently collaborated on a cover of Elton John’s iconic track “Rocket Man” for the film The Heart Is a Drum Machine. This new film, which was released in March of this year, poses the question: “Why do people create and listen to music?” Drozd backs up Keenan’s vocals and assists with instrumental aspects of the recording. In my humble opinion, the track is quite good and may be one of the better covers Keenan has sung on, including the well-meaning, but shaky, A Perfect Circle cover album Emotive. Although the cover song end up in the final cut, Keenan is featured throughout the film along with a wide range of guests like Jason Schwartzman, Kurt Loder, Nic Harcourt, Juliette Lewis, and Elijah Wood.
In addition to this film, Moog filmmakers Ryan Page and Christopher Pomerenk also made up the team that produced a documentary called Blood Into Wine: The Arizona Stronghold about Keenan’s winery, Caduceus Cellars. The film which had a limited release earlier this year also featured an array of guests, such as Patton Oswalt, Milla Jovovich, and more.
In the midst of touring with Them Crooked Vultures and writing new material for Queens of the Stone Age, among other projects, Josh Homme has decided to revive his record label Rekords Rekords. He has already decided on a bunch of future releases as well it seems.
A new Desert Sessions album, that will have a box set of all the recordings from the infamous recordings, will be released. Also, a solo album from QOTSA guitarist Alain Johannes is slated for arrival on shelves. Homme even has plans for DVDs and books as well.
When speaking on the revival to Rolling Stone, he said, “I want to make Rekords Rekords like the Wolfman Jack of releasing stuff. You listened to him for his taste. I want to build up a trust with the audience. Our slogan is ‘Where the “Shit” Hits the Fan’ — with the ’shit’ in quotes.”
His label, which has been around in several forms since 1997, has recently joined forces with Los Angeles-based indie label Dangerbird for a series of releases, including Johannes’ solo outing. The labels will also put out the debut album from LA-based Mini Mansions, which features QOTSA bassist Mikey “Shoes” Shuman.
When commenting on this partnership, Homme noted, “”The reason I went [to Dangerbird] in the first place was because they’re about getting things done — ’nuff said. There’s no reason to wait or belabor the point about releasing records. This is the time to focus on the consistency of your art.”
For more information on future releases visit the label’s site at www.rekordsrekords.com.
Nirvana created a grunge kingdom with Kurt Cobain as its ruler. The Vitamin String Quartet Master Series presents renditions of Nirvana’s renowned Nevermind as the original album is a masterpiece in itself. The clever grit in songs such as “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Come As You Are” are sophisticatedly composed into lush string arrangements that are bound to leave you in your own state of nirvana.
Smells Like Teen Spirit (originally performed by Nirvana)
In Bloom (originally performed by Nirvana)
Come As You Are (originally performed by Nirvana)
Breed (originally performed by Nirvana)
Lithium (originally performed by Nirvana)
Polly (originally performed by Nirvana)
Territorial Pissings (originally performed by Nirvana)
Drain You (originally performed by Nirvana)
Lounge Act (originally performed by Nirvana)
Stay Away (originally performed by Nirvana)
On a Plain (originally performed by Nirvana)
Something in the Way (originally performed by Nirvana)
The VSQ Master Series presents renditions from Pink Floyd’s famous Dark side of the Moon. String arrangements of epic songs such as “The Great Gig In the Sky” and “Speak To Me/Breathe” breathe new colors into classic psychedelic rock hits making this album a must-have for any Pink Floyd fan.
Tracklist
1. Speak to Me/Breathe (originally performed by Pink Floyd)
2. On the Run (originally performed by Pink Floyd)
3. Time (originally performed by Pink Floyd)
4. The Great Gig In the Sky (originally performed by Pink Floyd)
5. Money (originally performed by Pink Floyd)
6. Us and Them (originally performed by Pink Floyd)
7. Any Colour You Like (originally performed by Pink Floyd)
8. Brain Damage (originally performed by Pink Floyd)
9. Eclipse (originally performed by Pink Floyd)
Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and David Gilmour recently reunited for a charity gig in the UK several days ago. On July 10th, the dueling duo appeared at the Hoping Foundation Benefit Evening, held at Kiddington Hall in Oxfordshire, England. The last time the two were on stage was for the famous Live 8 set, where all the original members of the band came together for a mini-set, the first time the entire band had been on stage at once since the 1980’s.
The two played to about 200 people, oh, to have been in that crowd. The aim of the organization is to raise money for Palestinian children to give them a better life. Gilmour had played this same event the year before alongside Kate Moss. Waters and Gilmour played an event commemorating Syd Barrett’s death in 2007, but performed separately.
The charity show’s short set consisted of: “To Know Him is to Love Him”, “Wish You Were Here”, “Comfortably Numb”, and “Another Brick in the Wall (Part Two)”. The band included (on bass and acoustic guitar), Harry Waters (on keyboards), Andy Newmark (on drums), Chester Kamen (on guitar) and Jonjo Grisdale (also on keyboards). Unfortunately, no video has surfaced of the event as of yet, but here’s to hoping
After the recent death of keyboardist Richard Wright, an outright reunion seems unlikely. At this point, it seems like a lot of the bad blood may have drained away, especially with the recent deaths of two old band mates, but a recent posting on Waters’ facebook page may clue fans in.
To sum up the long message, the Gilmour basically asked Waters to do the charity gig with him, and to sing with him on the Teddy Bears’ cover “To Know Him is to Love Him”, but Waters got cold feet because, as he notes it, “David, with his superior vocal skills, could sing either part standing on his head. Whilst I would have to search for a different key and then struggle through hours and hours of routining a performance that lay way outside my vocal comfort zone.”
So Gilmour made him a deal, saying that if Waters would do the song anyways, he’d show up at one of The Wall dates to play “Comfortably Numb.” So, it went, and now a lucky city will be witness to this amazing performance. But which one will it be? Want to go the show now?
The Vitamin String Quartet Tribute to Star Wars has arrived and it’s here to paint the epic journey of Anikan Skywalker and company through lush string arrangements. Violin, viola and cello transform dramatic songs such as “Tales of a Jedi Knight/Learn About the Force,” “Imperial March” and “The Clash of the Lightsabers” and touch on a new level of classic.
VSQ takes the stage with Vitamin String Quartet Performs Broadway Hits, a collection of rich string arrangements that are as bold as those belting it out in the spotlight. Violin, viola and cello beautifully reinterpret classic tunes such as “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Seasons of Love” and newer hits such as “Defying Gravity” and Time Warp.” The show must go on.
Tracklist
Mamma Mia (originally performed by the cast of Mamma Mia)
Defying Gravity (originally performed by the cast of Wicked)
The Dark I Know Well (originally performed by the cast of Spring Awakening)
Another Day (originally performed by the cast of Rent)
Time Warp (originally performed by the cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show)
Medley: Aquarius/ Let The Sun Shine In (The Flesh Failures) (originally performed by the cast of Hair)
The Guilty Ones (originally performed by the cast of Spring Awakening)
The Music of the Night (originally performed by the cast of Phantom of the Opera)
The Phantom of the Opera (originally performed by the cast of The Phantom of the Opera)
Seasons of Love (originally performed by the cast of Rent)
Castle on a Cloud (originally performed by the cast of Les Miserables)
Theme from an Imaginary Musical (inspired by Broadway music)
