Massive success and its aftermath have sent many artists into oblivion, forever trying to recapture the moment when the world first bowed at their feet. That moment came for Brian Vander Ark when, as the principal songwriter and lead singer for The Verve Pipe, he scored a succession of Top Ten hits, ruled MTV and lived to stoke the star maker machinery. The Verve Pipe continued to have success after their star left the global stage, but Vander Ark felt the pressure. Rather than blindly attempt to reclaim a throne that was ephemeral at best, the Michigan native instead rid himself of worries, sold all his possessions, and hit the road. Crisscrossing the country in his 1994 Ford Searcher RV, Vander Ark played his songs for the faithful and nourished the muse that had inspired him in the first place. His ongoing journey has resulted in Resurrection (Brash Music), a lyrical, engrossing collection of songs wrought from an experience that many have dreamed of but few have faced.
The Verve Pipe's smash singles "The Freshmen" and "Photograph" were cast in the grunge style of the era, but the songs remain singular and special. Vander Ark's gift is one of tremendous storytelling clarity expressed through melodies and rhythms that are familiar but somehow new and fresh. His honeyed voice and intimate finger picking guitar style hearken back to an era when artists were unafraid to express their heart's direction and the soul's design.
But while Vander Ark enjoys reflection, his music lives in the here and now. "I am really in a good place. I drive to all my shows, I pull up to the club, plug the acoustic in and let it go and after the show everyone ends up in the RV. Living on the road helps me gain that perspective I had seven or eight years ago that I lost. I can sleep at night now. I am having more fun than I've had in years."
As he travels the road, playing his songs and enjoying his fans, Brian Vander Ark revels in a freedom that few can claim. His Resurrection is complete.
