Like a sweet, slobbery mutt, this four-piece acoustic band blends indie rock, folk, country, pop and bluegrass sounds to produce original music built on simple chords, layered string parts and harmonies.

14 MP3 Songs in this album (49:05) !
Related styles: FOLK: Alternative Folk, FOLK: Folk-Rock

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Details:
Van Driver is what happens when rock musicians unplug their guitars to keep from waking the children. Like a sweet, slobbery mutt, the four-piece acoustic band from Richmond, Virginia, blends indie rock, folk, country, pop and bluegrass sounds to produce a brand of music that defies simple characterization. Van Driver believes in original music built on simple chords, layered string parts and harmonies. It also believes in nostalgic, odd-ball covers to keep things interesting.
Van Driver came together in 2001 but was years in the making. Three of its four members have been part of Richmondâs music scene since the 1980s. The other member is a transplant, but youâd never know it.
The band released its debut record âMy Own Yardâ in early 2009, after several half-finished recording projects. Produced and recorded by the band in a barn studio on the rural western fringe of Richmond, âMy Own Yardâ features 14 original songs that were written over the course of 20 years. Van Driver wanted the record to be true to it s performances so studio gimmickry was limited.
Van Driverâs songs donât always make literal sense, but theyâre rooted in families, relationships and Virginia. The themes often come in a wash of images.
The band is Lee Bowles on violin, Jeff Dowd on bass, Mark Gormus on mandolin and vocals, and Will Jones on guitar and vocals.