The Blue Van
Encyclopedia
The Blue Van are a blues-rock
band from Denmark
consisting of Steffen Westmark (vocals
and guitar
), Søren Christensen (keyboard
, vocals
and guitar
), Allan Villadsen (bass
), and Per Jørgensen (drums
and vocals
).
, Denmark
when the members were in the 6th grade at school. Their first album, The Art of Rolling, was released in April 2005. Their second album, Dear Independence, was released in October 2006. The band toured extensively with Australian band Jet
to promote Dear Independence. Fans were treated to early renditions of "Rico" "The Odyssey" and "Don't Leave Me Blue". The band performed at the Danish musical festival SPOT
in 2003 (SPOT09), a festival renowned for showcasing the premier Danish musical talent. The band has also gained renown in the United States, due mainly to numerous shows in and around New York City preceding the release of The Art of Rolling
, as well as their participation in events such as Austin City Limits Music Festival
. In the first quarter of 2007, the band announced that they would be going into a recluse state in a farm house to write material for their 3rd album. "Silly Boy", the lead single from their third album Man Up
, was featured in a 2008 US commercial for the Samsung
Behold cell phone. The Blue Van performed their song "Silly Boy" live at BETA Records TV
Studios in Hollywood, California. The acoustic song segment was taken in June 2009 for the BETA Records Music TV Series, directed by Eric MacIver and produced by Chris Honetschlaeger. The song "Man Up" has been featured in the TV Series 90210
, the German series "Countdown-Die Jagd beginnt" and a commercial for the new season of Scrubs
, as well as on the MLB 09 The Show soundtrack. Most recently, their song "Independence" was used as the theme for USA Network
's new show, Royal Pains
. "There Goes My Love", a single, was used in a debut Apple iPad commercial during the 2010 Oscars.
In January 2011 the song "Silly Boy" was featured in the episode "Frank The Plank" from Showtime's "Shameless".
in Denmark.
The song Don't Leave Me Blue from the Album Dear Independence was featured on the MTV Danmark
show Smacking New, which showcases new and upcoming bands. The band has also received positive reviews from several international publications.
Blues-rock
Blues rock is a hybrid musical genre combining bluesy improvisations over the 12-bar blues and extended boogie jams with rock and roll styles. The core of the blues rock sound is created by the electric guitar, piano, bass guitar and drum kit, with the electric guitar usually amplified through a...
band from Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
consisting of Steffen Westmark (vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), Søren Christensen (keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), Allan Villadsen (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), and Per Jørgensen (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
).
History
The Blue Van was founded in BrønderslevBrønderslev
Brønderslev is a town with a population of 11,840 . It is the municipal seat of Brønderslev municipality, Vendsyssel in Region Nordjylland, the northernmost part of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark....
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
when the members were in the 6th grade at school. Their first album, The Art of Rolling, was released in April 2005. Their second album, Dear Independence, was released in October 2006. The band toured extensively with Australian band Jet
Jet (band)
Jet are an Australian rock band formed in 2001 while attending St Bede's College Mentone in Melbourne, . The band consists of lead guitarist Cameron Muncey, bassist Mark Wilson, and brothers Nic and Chris Cester on vocals/rhythm guitar and drums respectively...
to promote Dear Independence. Fans were treated to early renditions of "Rico" "The Odyssey" and "Don't Leave Me Blue". The band performed at the Danish musical festival SPOT
Spot (music festival)
SPOT is an annual music festival in the city of Århus, Denmark, showcasing up-and-coming Danish and Scandinavian talent. Around one hundred artists and bands from most genres of contemporary popular music - such as rock, hip hop, electronic music - play various stages in and around the Århus...
in 2003 (SPOT09), a festival renowned for showcasing the premier Danish musical talent. The band has also gained renown in the United States, due mainly to numerous shows in and around New York City preceding the release of The Art of Rolling
The Art of Rolling
The Art of Rolling is the debut album by the Danish blues-rock group The Blue Van. Released in April 2005 under TVT Records.- Track listing :#Word from the Bird #Product of DK #I Remember the Days #I Want You...
, as well as their participation in events such as Austin City Limits Music Festival
Austin City Limits Music Festival
The Austin City Limits Music Festival is an annual three-day American music festival that takes place in Austin, Texas at the city's central public park, Zilker Park...
. In the first quarter of 2007, the band announced that they would be going into a recluse state in a farm house to write material for their 3rd album. "Silly Boy", the lead single from their third album Man Up
Man Up
Man Up is the third album by the Danish blues-rock group The Blue Van. It was released on October 27, 2008 in Danish music stores and on iTunes under TVT Records.-Song appearances:...
, was featured in a 2008 US commercial for the Samsung
Samsung
The Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
Behold cell phone. The Blue Van performed their song "Silly Boy" live at BETA Records TV
BETA Records TV
BETA Records TV / BETA TV - is a nationally syndicated weekly music-centric TV series filmed and produced in the heart of Hollywood, showcasing at least 3 acoustic artist videos from newly signed and Indie bands in episode format...
Studios in Hollywood, California. The acoustic song segment was taken in June 2009 for the BETA Records Music TV Series, directed by Eric MacIver and produced by Chris Honetschlaeger. The song "Man Up" has been featured in the TV Series 90210
90210 (TV series)
90210 is an American teen drama television series developed by Rob Thomas, Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs, and the fourth series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise created by Darren Star. 90210 is the first series produced by CBS Productions under the company's re-launch, but is now produced by CBS...
, the German series "Countdown-Die Jagd beginnt" and a commercial for the new season of Scrubs
Scrubs (TV series)
Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
, as well as on the MLB 09 The Show soundtrack. Most recently, their song "Independence" was used as the theme for USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
's new show, Royal Pains
Royal Pains
Royal Pains is a USA Network television series that premiered on June 4, 2009, starring Mark Feuerstein, Paulo Costanzo, Jill Flint and Reshma Shetty. The series is based in part on actual concierge medicine practices of independent doctors and companies...
. "There Goes My Love", a single, was used in a debut Apple iPad commercial during the 2010 Oscars.
In January 2011 the song "Silly Boy" was featured in the episode "Frank The Plank" from Showtime's "Shameless".
Facts
- In early 2009 The Blue Van played a stripped down version of "Silly Boy" at BETA Records TVBETA Records TVBETA Records TV / BETA TV - is a nationally syndicated weekly music-centric TV series filmed and produced in the heart of Hollywood, showcasing at least 3 acoustic artist videos from newly signed and Indie bands in episode format...
- In February 2011 a musical named "Product of DK" based solely on the music of the Blue Van, was written and performed by students at Tørring Gymnasium, DenmarkDenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
Name
The band name is derived from the "Den blå varevogn" - a van that collected mentally ill peopleMental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
in Denmark.
The song Don't Leave Me Blue from the Album Dear Independence was featured on the MTV Danmark
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
show Smacking New, which showcases new and upcoming bands. The band has also received positive reviews from several international publications.
Discography
| Release date | Album name |
| August, 2000 (HAPS, Danish label) | Time Machines And Sunbeams |
| October, 2001 (HAPS, Danish label) | Supervantastic |
| April, 2005 | The Art of Rolling The Art of Rolling The Art of Rolling is the debut album by the Danish blues-rock group The Blue Van. Released in April 2005 under TVT Records.- Track listing :#Word from the Bird #Product of DK #I Remember the Days #I Want You... |
| October, 2006 | Dear Independence Dear Independence The second album by the Danish blues-rock group The Blue Van. Released in 2006 under TVT Records. The track Independence is featured in the opening sequence of the USA TV show Royal Pains.- Track listing:#The Odyssey #Don't Leave Me Blue... |
| October 27, 2008 | Man Up Man Up Man Up is the third album by the Danish blues-rock group The Blue Van. It was released on October 27, 2008 in Danish music stores and on iTunes under TVT Records.-Song appearances:... |
| September, 13 2010 | Love Shot Love Shot - Track listing :#Mama's Boy #Run to the Sun #Love Shot #Beg Like a Dog #Woman of the Wrong Kind #Loser Takes it All #Teenage Runaway #Fame and Glory #Draw the Line... |