THE VERVE PIPEHow do you feel when someone starts playing on their
phone while you’re talking to them? It’s a dark moment. It’s a
seemingly small, yet significant moment when we realize we’ve got
work to do as both individuals, and as a species.
BRETT NEWSKI’s fourth studio album Don’t Let the Bastards Get you
Down is a call to arms against whatever destructive forces we may find
ourselves battling, from our individual struggles with toxic
relationships, low self esteem, loneliness, and apathy to the more
global challenges facing us in 2020: The erosion of face-to-face human
connection, the breakdown of the proverbial village, the destruction
of the planet, and the myriad ways in which our social media
addictions amplify these problems. Depression and anxiety are at all
time highs, with many, if not most of us, struggling to preserve our
optimism.
So how do we regain control and stay hopeful in the face of these
challenges? Perhaps it’s less screen time. Perhaps it’s changing
the way we approach our tiny pocket TVs. Perhaps it’s discovering or
recommitting to our passions. Perhaps it’s getting our hands dirty
in pursuit of real solutions to our problems (instead of just
complaining online). Perhaps Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down can
shed some positive insight.
In Last Dance (cowritten with Grammy nominated songwriter Pat
Macdonald, ‘Future’s So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades’), Newski
lays bare the highly relatable challenge of trying to stay informed
and engaged while simultaneously staying afloat psychologically: “I
ain’t trying to build the ark, I just really wanna learn how to swim
/ Thru a sea of plastic bottles, all the refuse, the mess we are
in.” In Grow Your Garden, Newski issues a wake-up call from the
hypnotic, numbing effects of living with our eyes glued to our
screens: “If I was the dirt beneath the sneakers on your soulless
feet / I’d nudge you far from the mirage so you could see the
water”.
In Lousy T-Shirt, Newski describes the traps of social comparison in
these “tiny TV times”, in which we so often compare ourselves to
the “greatest hits” of others’ lives. (“I ain’t making any
headlines / It’s a failures parade / I drove all the way to
Hollywood and all I got’s this lousy t-shirt.”) He doubles down on
this theme in Buy Me a Soul, singing “Step out from behind these
little screens that rule our lives / I’m sick of highlights / Cause
we’re an empty shell and we’re on earth but we’re in hell / Can
anybody hear me? / Is this a permanent bad dream? Or is it too much
reality?”
What could topically threaten to amount to “too much reality” for
the listener is buoyed by Newski and collaborator Spatola’ssignature
blend of largely up-tempo, guitar-driven alternative with splashes of
what they describe as “Geek Rock”, “Happy Punk”, and “Diet
Grunge”. The band has had a busy few years, playing alongside acts
like PIXIES, Courtney Barnett, Violent Femmes, Better than Ezra and
Manchester Orchestra, and will be touring extensively in 2020 in
support of this latest release.
With a reputation for spectacular live performances, the
multi-platinum alternative rock band The Verve Pipe are recognized
worldwide for their radio hits Photograph, Hero, Happiness Is, Never
Let You Down and the #1 smash single The Freshmen.
In addition to their success on radio, TV and film, sold-out concert
dates throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia, features in
Rolling Stone, Interview Magazine and many more, and videos on MTV and
VH1, the band has made numerous television appearances, including
‘The Tonight Show With Jay Leno’ and ‘Late Night With David
Letterman.’
Between recording rock albums, including the most recent release
Parachute, and their first-ever live album Villains – Live &
Acoustic, featuring an acoustic reimagining of their platinum debut
album Villains, The Verve Pipe expanded their repertoire to include
writing and recording A Family Album, their critically acclaimed
introduction to the world of children’s music, as well as their
follow up family oriented release, Are We There Yet?.
With a new lineup and a renewed energy and focus, lead
singer/principal songwriter and founder Brian Vander Ark and the band
continue to deliver original music that is distinguished by innovative
arrangements, soul-searching lyrics and layered vocals
The Verve Pipe perform both rock and kids shows throughout North
America, including notable appearances at Lollapalooza, Austin City
Limits Festival, Lincoln Center, Hangout Music Festival, SummerStage
in Central Park, and many more.
BRETT NEWSKI
THE VERVE PIPE TICKETS
* Pre-sale begins 10:00am October 31
* Tickets on sale 10:00am November 1st
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Seated GA Tickets - $30
Standing GA Tickets - $25
_For any wheelchair or ADA needs, please contact the Box Office in
advance of the performance at (202)-769-0122._
_Please note that the front row of tables and chairs will be cleared
for this show to create a general admission Pit. Be advised that there
may be some seated areas where vision of the stage is obstructed._
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03/04/2020 Last update