We started the [...]]]> 2011 was probably the most progressive year for Vertigo Venus we ever could have asked for. The band changed, grew, and did more than we ever expected to in one year. We showed that a Synthpunk band can work their butts off, meet great things, and make great things, despite trials.

We started the year off with the release of our first music video, “Everybody Down”. We shot it with the help of some great friends, and released it to much applause from many watchers. The video is still an amazing accomplishment for us, and we’re really grateful for all the work that our friends put into it.

We then began a fundraiser with Indiegogo to raise money to go to SxSw, and created a lot of great art for fans who supported us in the endeavor. We created new music, art, and more, and planned our trip to Texas after a great show with Igor and the Red Elvises in santa Fe.

We followed up this great success with a lineup change; this is something that usually sets a band back by years. We didn’t know exactly what to do, being that things changed for us right before we went to SxSW for the first time in our careers, but we approached it with as much positivity that we could, and we handled it well. We played a string of great shows in Texas with backup from our friend Erik taking up the bass guitar; a greatly talented musician, we are grateful to know him.

Returning from Texas, we planned the future of the band, and decided that Jeff would pick up the bass guitar. This was a big shift, as Jeff had been primarily the lead singer for quite awhile. This felt right, however, and as we went on practicing, we knew this was the right thing to do. We decided to move forwar as a four piece, a new understanding and respect between the four of us that would strengthen our band and our music.

We played a string of shows, and after a great show with Our good friends Burlesque Noir, we took some time off to write and start recording. We came out of this time with a lot of great new material, and a new future for the band. We filmed another great video, this time for “spy vs. spy”, for Digitech guitar effects, and found much success with it. We found our music being distributed in more Hot Topic stores, as well as our shirts finding their way to the store’s website, a great accomplishment for us.

We closed the year with some more great shows, and a plan to write and record two new records. Our van sadly exploded somewhere along the way, but we are working hard to ensure that it works like us; better, faster, stronger.

We underwent A great many changes and trials in 2011, and we are ready for the future. We will be releasing a new record in 2012, and touring and reaching new audiences with our music. We’ve already started the year with an endorsement from Digitech, and a new hoodie available on Hot Topic’s website, and we have a great many shows lined up which we are excited about. We are grateful for our great fans and friends, and those folks that keep us going. Thank you to you all! Keep watching for great things this year, and keep the dream alive!

Red Elvises w/ Vertigo Venus, 5/17 @ Corazon (Santa Fe, NM)

Last night we got to open for the Red Elvises at Corazon, and boy howdy, was it a great show.  We managed to deliver a very good set, I felt, despite the fact that the change in altitude got to a few of [...]]]>

Red Elvises w/ Vertigo Venus, 5/17 @ Corazon (Santa Fe, NM)

Last night we got to open for the Red Elvises at Corazon, and boy howdy, was it a great show.  We managed to deliver a very good set, I felt, despite the fact that the change in altitude got to a few of us more than we  thought it would.  I got to inaugurate my new drumkit, which made me quite happy, and everyone delivered on the energy front, as is the Vertigo Venus way.

Having never seen the Red Elvises, (which is sad, considering how often they make their way through Albuquerque), I was pretty psyched to get to finally catch a set by them (much less open for them!) I wasn’t let down in any way shape or form, that’s for damn sure. The last time a band got me this jazzed up was The Gluey Brothers reunion at Launchpad in December of ’09, and before that, I can’t even remember. I’ve rarely seen a band with this kind of energy and awesome skill on a stage at once. Igor’s one of the finest frontmen you could ask for, with a distinct ability to control a crowd. Oleg’s giant bass is actually outshined by his giant smile he flashes constantly while playing. Milka, on backup guitar/vocals, had a voice that you would never have expected to come out of her frame – like Tom Waits mashed up with an army of gospel singers, this girl delivered. Elena on keyboards was officially one of the most awesome keyboard players I’ve ever seen, with so much energy it almost hurt, I have no idea how she was able to do what she did in high heels. Finally, Kyle on drums held it down like a fucking metronome, and his drum solo was by far one of the most expressive and original I’ve ever seen.

In the two (yes, two) sets that the band played, they did everything from “Your love is better than Cocaine”, to “I wanna see you Bellydance”, and even the most amazing cover of Chris Iasaak’s “Wicked Game” I’ve ever heard.

I can’t wait to see this band again, they’re obviously hardworking and deserve all the success they’ve had. My only regret of the night? Forgetting my “Six String Samurai” movie poster to have the band sign

I should also make a mention of Corazon, which is officially one of my favorite venues in New Mexico. Mikey Baker is a man who knows how to run a quality space, with great staff and sound. This is a great club that I hope has much success.

I do understand that they’ll be back in September, though, so when they are, I urge you to see this band.

Hanging out with Milka and Kyle at IHOP afterward, Kyle asked Jessica, “Did Igor ask you to join the band?” .  We would have fought hard for her

/brian