By Cj Matthews
I’m a dad, so over the last thirteen years, my Movie collection has slowly broadened from “Fight Club” and the Bourne movies to include every single Disney movie ever made. And, of course, with Disney movies come Disney songs. Although “Let It Go” is my daughter’s favorite song, it is not really near my top…300. However, even a dad can be pleasantly caught off guard in the music offerings of a children’s movie. The other night we were watching the new Goosebumps movie starring Jack Black, and right in the middle of it, I hear the song “Racketeer” by The Blue Van. I instantly whipped out the iPhone and did a search. These guys have been around for a while and I was like, “Why don’t I know these guys?”, which has led to this new monthly blog spot for Station 219 Records.
Every month we plan on featuring a Band we’ve found in a unique place. Maybe you heard a new band while trying on jeans at Gap. Maybe your Navy friends went overseas and heard a band in a club in Phuket. Or maybe your kids are watching Nick Jr. and you find your foot tapping along. Good music can be found anywhere and we want to find it.
So here’s our first great find. Turns out The Blue Van is from Denmark and has been around since 2000! These guys have been recording and touring since they were in the 6th grade. I am kind of bummed that I just found out about them. They throw down with a bluesy, hard rock style that is infectious. I find myself going back to YouTube to check out their videos.
These guys have an impressive resume, and if you check out the Wikipedia page on them, you will see that their organization has cracked the media scene. Their music is featured in commercials, TV shows, and movies. These guys are definitely doing something right.
I reached out to The Blue Van via Facebook messenger and ended up trading emails with Per Jorgensen, the drummer and the guy with the coolest mustache ever! He agreed to to answer a few questions -interview style- and these are the results:
1) What has been your biggest break (in your eyes) and how did it happen?
Looking back it must have been signing with our manager, who got us our first record deal that eventually brought us all around the world. Another unexpected break came when one our songs (Silly Boy) was used in a Samsung/T-mobile ad, in 2009, I think. It just gave us a lot of new fans, much more than than when we had a song in the first iPad commercial, a couple of years later.
2) How did you get involved in the movie Goosebumps?
I wish I could tell you an interesting story about that, but all I know is that our publisher made that happen. Don’t know how that happens really, maybe I should, but I don’t:)
3) How has being involved with the movie affected your band?
It’s really great to sit here in Copenhagen, Denmark and have people from the other side of the world react to one of our songs, because they heard it in a movie. The internet is great and all, but having a song in a movie will bring your music to people who otherwise never would have heard it.
4) What three bands are you listening to right now?
As I write this I’m listening to Don’t Look Back by Dead Moon. I only knew it as a cover version by Baby Woodrose from Denmark. I’m going through my record collection from start till end, to see what I have got and right now I’m at Small Faces, and what a great (band) they remain to be. None of those records are leaving my collection. BRONCHO is a new band that I really like, especially “Class Historian” is a song I can’t stop listening to right now.
5) What is that one piece of equipment you can’t live without?
I’m the drummer in the band and I’ve had a lot of different kits and gear through the years, but I have always had my hi-hat cymbals, and find it hard to play without them. BUT the top hat has broken and soon it is no longer useful and I must come to terms with the fact that it will be gone soon. So already I’m kind of living without them… OK, so one thing I really can’t live without is my chapstick!
Find out more about The Blue Van here:
The Blue Van
On Facebook
On YouTube
