Artist description San Francisco's premier underground rock act. It's New Wave. It's Electronica. It's Rock n Roll.

Music Style Rocktronica

Musical Influences Jesus & Mary Chain, the Cars, Guided By Voices, Blondie, Pixies

Similar Artists Everclear, Oasis, Weezer, Lit, The Cars, Linkin Park, Stone Temple Pilots, Jesus & Mary Chain, The Smiths, The Offspring, R.E.M., The Replacements, Blink 182, The Lemonheads, The Cure, Flickerstick

Artist History Founding members Alec and Foster have been playing and recording together since their teen years growing up in the south, where they haunted used record stores for the kind of inspiration not available on their local radio station. *The turning point for me was finding a copy of Elvis Costello˘s This Year˘s Model in an import bin,* says Foster. *It made everything I had been listening to up to that point sound lame in comparison. It was nasty, vindictive and unbelievably cool sounding , everything a record should be.* Upon emigrating to San Francisco in late 1994 the duo founded Vegas DeMilo (whose name is inspired by an obscure AC/DC lyric) and began refining their own unique blend of punk attitude and subversive pop refinement. After recording several demos and releasing their self-titled debut album on the local Starving Cowboy label, the band˘s shifting lineup began to solidify two years ago with the arrival of guitarist/moog virtuoso Brad Wait, and east bay drummer Steven Perry. Touring steadily up and down the west coast, the band saw their first album chart at numerous college radio stations throughout California as well as gain airplay at larger commercial stations like Live 105 in San Francisco and KMBY in the Monterey/Santa Cruz area. Dug Nichols, former lead guitarist for indie band the Piersons, arrived a year later, completing the VDM lineup and solidifying the band˘s already rich sonic assault. For their sophomore effort, Before It Gets Old, the members of Vegas DeMilo spent most of the last year holed up in San Francisco˘s Brilliant and Russian Hill recording studios. *We only stopped when our friends started asking us if we were making a triple album,* says Steve. *But there˘s always next time I guess....* Released by San Francisco indie Starving Cowboy Records, the new album Before It Gets Old is due in stores in February of 1999.

Group Members Foster Calhoun - vocals Alec Johnson - bass, vocals, keyboards Gabe McCurdy - drums, percussion Travis Ballstadt - guitars, vocals

Instruments Guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, vocals, scratching

Albums Motel California (2001)/ Before It Gets Old (1999)/ Vegas DeMilo (1997)

Press Reviews " Vegas DeMilo is not the first band to admit to loving pop. However, with their new album, Motel California (Pinch Hit Records), they are making what could be called “post-modern pop.” They have taken the traditional rock line-up and adapted it to the technology now available to any band willing to take risks with their sound. Locally, they are considered a part of the Bay Area’s “rocktronica” sound, a musical hybrid that uses samples, loops, and live DJs. It should be made clear, however, that the experimental nature of their sound does not diminish their desire to remain true to their pop roots. “I really like the embrace of technology and using different instruments besides just guitars to anchor every single song,” says singer and guitarist Foster Calhoun, “but we’re still more song-oriented” than bands like Radiohead, who have used technology to leave pop behind. Some have likened the band’s sound to Everclear, in light of that band’s recent experiments with samples. However, lead singer Foster Calhoun has a more melodic voice than Art Alexakis, and unlike Everclear they are not coming from a punk/grunge angle. Instead, Vegas DeMilo gets it’s strength from it’s love of the new wave music of the late 70s/early 80s where, as Foster says, “there were so many amazing bands making ground-breaking records that had something to say.” Musical nods to Cheap Trick, The Pretenders and The Cars can be found throughout the album, but these more overt influences balance the band’s cutting-edge sound. In a phone interview, the members of Vegas DeMilo discussed their beginnings. Foster and Alec Johnson (Bass/Vocals/Keyboards) grew up in Houston and played in bands together. In 1997, they both moved to San Francisco and started Vegas DeMilo later that year. After a succession of drummers, they hooked up with Gabe McCurdy (Drums/Vocals) in 1998. (Surprisingly, the band’s name comes from the AC/DC classic “Touch Too Much,” proving that Bon Scott’s influence is truly universal. Motel California is their third album and was produced by the band with the help of Dug Nichols, who produced their last album, Before It Gets Old. The layered sound that dominates the album is due to luck and generosity. The band was friendly with the owner of the studio where they recorded and were given plenty of recording time to make the record they wanted. They were also blessed with various musician and DJ friends who would come by while the band was recording and end up adding to the mix. While a sly nod to the Eagles’ “Hotel California,” the album’s title is also a comment on the transitory nature of living in San Francisco. “A lot of songs on the record are about spending your twenties in San Francisco. People tend to move here in their early twenties, have a bunch of experiences for a few years, then check out and move someplace else. Then another batch of kids moves in. The record is supposed to be a kind of a journey that takes you through that life.” Songs like “Dusted,” “What Ever Happened To Jane” and “Teenage Pornstar” are sometimes wistful, sometimes humorous songs of innocence lost and mistakes made. “Radio” rails against the mind-numbing state of modern radio and recalls such new wave classics as Elvis Costello’s “Radio, Radio” and the Ramones’ “(Do You Remember) Rock-N-Roll Radio.” “Don’t forget “Left of the Dial” by The Replacements,” adds Foster. The band works democratically, though as Alec points out, “Democracy is a very slow process.” It took six months to complete Motel California. “We all enjoy writing songs and we all enjoy recording in the studio [but] we have a problem with over-tracking. We inevitably burn through all 24 tracks of analog tape and all 40 tracks of the Protools, and then when comes time to mix, you see the mixer break down.” In order to bring forth the full sound of the new album live, Vegas DeMilo has Andre Custudio (percussion) and Ben Yonas (keyboards) joining them on stage, with plans to add DJ for a few shows as well. Describing their live shows, Foster said simply, “They are very, very loud, for one thing.” Asked if other musicians are respectful or resentful of the band’s willingness to stretch musical boundaries, he replied, “Most people are actually blown away by what we can do live because we’ve been consciously striving to go beyond just playing as a traditional rock set-up. [The use of samples and loops] allows us to do a lot more and have a much thicker sonic layering.” Vegas DeMilo’s new release, “Motel California,” is available on Pinch Hit Records (www.pinchhit.com). The enhanced CD includes the video for the song, "Fall," and an interview with the band. The video is also available at their website (www.vegasdemilo.com).Vegas DeMilo will be playing the opening night of Nadine’s Wild Weekend (www.nadineswildweekend.com) at the Filmore on Thursday, August 16th with the K.G.B., Spike 1000 and the Moss Brothers. It is an all-ages show with doors opening at 8 PM. -- Zero Magazine August 2001, by John Kelly "Motel California" AMG EXPERT REVIEW: Though the title of this disc spoofs the Eagles' legendary album that defined California pop, Motel California has much in common with the sounds of that era with regard to classic FM radio songcraft and crisp production. Vegas DeMilo pumps out spirited commercial rock that stands strong on tight ensemble playing and clever arrangements melding electronica and inventive guitar textures. Like the most prolific modern pop purveyors of the 1990s, such as Matthew Sweet and Robert Pollard, Foster Calhoun pens reliable melodies and can express heartbreak and desire convincingly within the context of singalong choruses and witty verses. He wants the girl, he gets the girl, he loses the girl, he regrets the girl. Regardless of his emotional plight, every track on this collection could easily blare from car radios from coast to coast. -- All Music Guide October, 2001 by Tom Semioli "Before It Gets" review "My pick of the local litter. This San Francisco fivesome has served up a charmer, loaded with appealing melodies and hooks. Brainy like Costello, brawny like Matthew Sweet, Vegas DeMilo is a pop outfit that deserves a bigger audience and airplay. "Count Me Out" is better than 90% of the crap out there; pefect for either KLLC or LIVE 105. Listen up! -- San Francisco Examiner September 1999 by Jane Ganahl For more press visit: www.vegasdemilo.com

Additional Info Signed to LA indie label Pinch Hit Records. www.pinchhit.com

Location San Francisco, CA - USA

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