The A Cappella Hero Metal of Van Canto

[filkertom]

I had never heard of these guys before this week. But they are doing a kind of music I've been wanting to do for twenty years, and didn't realize how to do it.

Don't go to their home page just yet. Watch these YouTube videos, in the order I encountered them. This one has some serious drums.

This one, on the other hand, has no percussion, just their voices.

I have to finish a particular commissioned song very soon, and I think I know how to do it. Not to mention a new project I've been mulling over which is solidifying very quickly. The keyword: EPIC.

ETA: Almost forgot -- I originally saw these because of ladysmith.

Comments

[chipuni.livejournal.com]

Van Canto DEFINES Epic.

An amazing acapella group that stretches what's possible with just voice.

[kyril.livejournal.com]

Well, not just voice all the time...they use drums and at one point in "Wishmaster" I could swear I heard kazoos...but yeah.

The nice thing about basses who can credibly emulate guitars is they're also available to do good non-guitar-emulating vocal harmony.

[sheistheweather]

Wow, thank you for sharing this, Tom! This is amazing. Seriously, amazing.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

Me too!

no, correction--I want to FILK that!

anyone up for taking turns with me backing each other up with "rama-rama-doodoo" and the like over and over? Anybody?

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I think I can guarantee something like this at OVFF. We can work it out Friday (I hope to be down early, possibly as early as Thursday).

[ladysmith.livejournal.com]

If you do this, there must be video. Please????

[morvab.livejournal.com]

Alan and I are SO in if wanted - he is tenor, I am soprano. I don't wear fishnet tights, however!
We will be getting in Thursday late afternoon or early evening to OVFF so could definitely do something on Friday whenever works.

[dornbeast.livejournal.com]

Ooo. And I'll get to watch.

[juglore.livejournal.com]

Wow.

[ladyotterfae.livejournal.com]

ah, van canto. I love their style - my boyfriend found out about them a few months back and immediately realized he'd be in trouble if he didn't get me an album or two. ;)

[ladysmith.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome, Tom! I'm glad that my finding these guys and posting about them helped you out!

Did you check out the tutorial yet? I haven't, because I'm playing catch up with the new manuscript.

[tarkrai.livejournal.com]

I guess this shows I don't post much.. we've known about them for a while. Infected my oldest son last summer when he was here.

the Germans are doing *very* interesting things... :) Hard rock hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, and crumhorns, oh my!

Hard rock hurdy-gurdy?

[bearcat668.livejournal.com]

It must be mine! Links, please?

Re: Hard rock hurdy-gurdy?

[tarkrai.livejournal.com]

The band is called Schandmaul (it's a whole genre here- there are lots of bands, but they are about the most famous).

aaand... linky thing.

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

I love their cover of "Fear of the Dark."

[batyatoon]

... omg.

OMG.

*bookmarks like the WIND*

[nagasvoice.livejournal.com]

They're really good. Now I want to hear what they'd do with union songs, like Wobblie anthems and Pete Seeger and so on...

[wildcard9.livejournal.com]

That was epic (to echo other people here). I always thought that A Capella meant no instruments at all, and no vocal processing tricks, just voices recorded into a mic. So would that first song with the drums qualify as A Capella?? Serious question, I am curious to know if percussion is allowed.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Well, The Nylons have used a drum machine for years (if I recall correctly, The Bobs advertised themselves specifically as only producing sounds using the human body). I don't know if Van Canto matches the strict definition of a cappella, and, perhaps unsurprisingly, I find that I don't care. I just think they're amazing.