Album Notes

A combination of experimental rock styles including space-rock, shoegaze, psychedelia, art-funk, dream-pop and baroque-folk, Mike Vasas and The Beasts of Burden is a diverse record covering an expanse of dusty terrain. Vasas’ layered lyrics are entwined with themes of deception, fear, peace, death and longing. Notes of Brian Eno, Roxy Music, David Bowie, Wilco, Elvis Costello, Sufjan Stevens and The Arcade Fire are heard on the album, along with otherworldly sonic influences.

Instrumentation includes mandolin, harmonica, hammered dulcimer, electric pianos, organs, synthesizers, tuned bowls, vibraphones, marimba, harpsichord, tack piano, an army of percussion and a 'circuit bent' child’s keyboard. This ear candy is tightly bound together with Vasas’ signature pedal board sound featured during his Jekyll and Hyde stage show.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Mike Vasas – lead vocals, guitar, keyboard
Eric Bredin – keyboard, harmonica, mandolin
Brian Slagle – guitar, keyboard
Ryan Malinich – percussion
Brian Richard – bass

Vasas and the Beasts hail from Michigan. Vasas’ 2005-created label Grammy Hall Records, supports Vasas’ solo material, the spooky freak-folk band Frontier Ruckus, Vasas’ post-jazz ensemble The Early Minor Quintet, experimental guitarist Matt Mepham and psychedelic singer-songwriter David Menzo.