姓名： Vibragun 英文名：- 性别：男 国籍：- 出生地：- 语言：- 生日：- 星座：- 身高：- 体重：-
Genre: Alternative, Indie Rock, Shoegaze
Vibragun is a band from Seattle that's like a fuzzy storm of reverberating guitar distortion, melting into expansive soundscapes with male/female vocals. Their debut album, 'Vibragun', chronicles songwriter Joel Bergstrom’s experiences living around the world but finding identity and redemption in his adopted home.
Joel Bergstrom (vocals, guitar)
Amber Joy Smith (vocals, synths)
Stephan LaJaunie (guitar)
John West (bass)
Guy Capobianco (drums)
In the summer of 2011 Joel Bergstrom took a chance on fronting his own band. His experiences in art-damaged goth outfits, post-metal noiseniks, romantic punk rock and shoegaze bands in Seattle was the starting point from which Vibragun came into existence.
He recorded a three song EP with former Film School drummer James Smith. The EP gained attention from music writers and bloggers who were impressed by Vibragun's new concept of shoegaze, influenced by bands like My Bloody Valentine and Swervedriver.
Soon after, Joel enlisted a full band with his partner Amber Smith and they made a brief run to SXSW. A couple months later they bunkered down at the house of producer and engineer Evan Foster, outside Seattle city limits. What followed was eight months of intense recording for their first self-titled album.
Sonically, 'Vibragun' reimagines British and American alternative rock bands of the 80's and 90's. The music is direct and immediate while the lyrics are abstract impressions of alienation and the struggle to find a sense of identity in a vast, modern world. Key track 'Send Me to Dream' is a driving thriller set against the images of a "dead dog, suburban lawn". On the other side, 'Dream Disintegrate' seems to be in the same vein at first glance, but it highlights another side of the band led by Smith's uplifting vocals.
"It was exhilarating and totally exhausting at the same time," admits Bergstrom, "Evan took everyone to task to reach their potential. We would work through the night sometimes, but his directions were simple: Play the song, and play what you mean, no more.’ It was an intense experience for as long as it was.”
By early 2013, the record was ready to be mastered when Joel's grandmother fell seriously ill and died. "I started to find I couldn't focus on anything and I kept telling myself I was handling it, but it pushed me over the edge." By the time the record was done, Joel admits he simply "lost the will" and six months of drug and alcohol fueled-depression and anxiety attacks ensued.
“The band thought I hated the record. I was drowning in self-hatred and loss. I checked into a clinic in December - it was too big for me to deal with and I got help by being dragged into counseling."
Releasing the record on Bandcamp in early January was a step towards regaining confidence for both the band and Bergstrom: “I understand much better now - this is a record that people have given their best effort on. The songs were written about my experiences. But it's about how we affect each other, how that changes us and what a powerful force that can be."
