Vue

Rex Shelverton (vocals/guitar)
Jonah Buffa (guitar/harmonica)
Jeremy Bringetto (bass)
Jessica Ann Graves (keyboard)
Rafael Orlin (drums)

Vue blend the raw immediacy of punk and the desolate passion of the blues into an archetypal musical fusion that is as unique as it is modern. This is a band that embraces its dark side, is not afraid to please a crowd, and yet caters to no genre’s specific criteria. Vue’s music is sophisticated, sexy, and hard hitting. Like the city they call home, there is a mystique about Vue that deepens with familiarity. This is some of the best rock and roll to grace our ears in years.

Vue are now in the studio recording their major label debut with producer Nick Launay (Nick Cave, PIL, The Birthday Party); due summer 2003 on RCA. In the mean time, Vue have released “Babies Are For Petting”–a five song EP also on RCA which is in stores now.

Vue have been together in their present form since 2000. They have worked continuously for the the last three years either recording or touring the United States and Europe. They have added to their legacy two LP’s on SupPop, a UK-only single, and an EP on GSL. Vue have toured extensively on their own, played festivals such as Reading and Leeds, and played both at home and abroad in support of friends The Faint, BRMC, and Trail of Dead.

Historical Detail:

Before there was Vue, there was Portraits of Past, a collaboration between childhood friends who grew up together around Half Moon Bay, California. Rob Pettersen (vox), Rex Shelverton (guitar), Jonah Buffa (guitar), Aaron Schlieve (drums), and Dan Fenton (bass) formed sometime in 1993 and practiced every weekend in the extra bedroom of Aaron’s mom’s Fairfield home. They played a few shows in the Bay Area, Santa Barbara, LA, and San Diego before recording a set of demos and releasing a split 7″ on Ebullition records in 1994. Dan Fenton and Aaron Schlieve were later replaced by childhood friends Jeremy Bringetto (bass), and Matt Bajda (drums). The band then relocated to Santa Cruz, where Jeremy and Jonah went to school. With the new and final line-up in place, the band toured the United States during the summer of 1995 and subsequently recorded the “Portraits of Past LP”, also on Ebullition records. Portraits of Past broke up the following winter due to differences in musical direction within the band.
After Portraits of Past, there was Seventeen Queen; Rex (vox, guitar), Jeremy (bass), Jonah (guitar), and Simon St. Charles (drums), a friend from Richmond, VA. The quartet practiced through the spring with plans for a summer tour, but before that could happen, Jonah and Simon left and were replaced by Mag (drums) and Michael Graves (keys). Rex, Jeremy, Mike and Mag recorded a quick set of demos and a hastily produced cassette tape to sell on tour which became their only remaining legacy. Seventeen Queen dissolved shortly after touring the US in the summer of 1996. Later that summer Rex and Jeremy formed the Audience with Joesph Moscone (vox), Jonah (guitar), Jason Riddle (drums), and Dave Selevan (keys). They played shows in Santa Cruz and in the Bay Area, and recorded the “Audience LP” that winter. Soon after, Joseph and Dave left the band, Rex took over singing, and Rob Pettersen joined up with the band again for awhile, this time on keys. When Rob left, he was replaced by two keyboard players, Jessica Graves and Brent Butler. In 1998, The Audience relocated to SF, released the “Young Soul” 7″ on GSL records, began recording an LP for Subpop records, and toured the US that fall. The band changed their name to Vue and Brent left shortly afterward.
Vue spent 1999 in the studio. The “Death of a Girl” EP, which contained the two songs from the “The Audience” 7″ and three new tracks was released on GSL records that September. The eponymous “Vue” LP was released on Subpop records in Feb, 2000. Jason Riddle left while Vue was still in the studio. Vue toured out to SxSW in March of 2000 with Joey of Dead and Gone filling in on drums. When Joey could no longer commit to both bands, Rafael Orlin began playing drums and has ever since. With the current line-up: Rex (vox, guitar), Jonah (guitar), Jeremy (bass), Rafael (drums), and Jessica (keys), the band recorded the “Find Your Home” LP, the “Pictures of Me” UK single, and did numerous tours of the United States and Europe with bands such as the Faint, BRMC, and Trail of Dead.