Liquid Blue
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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|---|---|
| Origin | San Diego, California |
| Genre(s) | Pop Rock Dance World |
| Years active | 1996-Present |
| Label(s) | PCT Music (United States) Deep Blue Records (Europe) Shanghai Audio and Video (Asia) |
| Website | www.liquid-blue.com |
| Members | |
| Scott Stephens Michael Vangerov Nikki Nova Layla Loxa Additional Members |
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Liquid Blue is an American indie pop rock band formed in San Diego, California in 1996 by Scott Stephens & Michael Vangerov. The group holds the official world record as “the most traveled band” (Open Record Book) having performed in 100 countries on six continents and are more popular in parts of Asia and Europe than in their home country (USA).
The group’s use of Eastern Indian instruments (tabla, sitar, kanun) and scales are unique in pop music with Liquid Blue being one of the first groups to record an entire album blending East Indian music with western pop/rock. Indian influenced songs have appeared on pop albums before, most notably on The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Liquid Blue’s somewhat limited number of recordings all contain “socially conscious” lyrics as primary songwriter Scott Stephens, a former professional Roller Derby skater with the Los Angeles Thunderbirds, refuses to write any human love songs. The band seems to be on a permanent tour and has been criticized for not spending more time at home writing and recording. Tracks from their highly acclaimed debut album, Supernova, have been included on 20 separate compilation CD’s.
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[edit] Asia History
Liquid Blue made history in 2004 when they were the first American act signed to a Chinese record label, Shanghai Audio and Video. Since 2002 the band has made eight trips to China, more than any other recording act from the West. The pop and rock music scene has been slowly and steadily gaining popularity in China and Liquid Blue has been a part of that emerging culture and music history as it has unfolded. On the band's first visit to China in September of 2002, they performed a popular Chinese song "Pong-Yo" in Mandarin to a thrilled audience of 65,000 at People's Stadium in Dalian during the 14th Annual Dalian International Fashion Festival Grand Opening Ceremony. This show was broadcast live on CCTV, China’s national government run television company. Although the band also played original music from a recently released EP, their version of Pong Yo became embedded in the hearts and minds of the Chinese people and the TV coverage of the song was played over and over across the country. With the SARS epidemic reaching its climax in 2003, tour plans were unfortunately cancelled. The timing was inopportune and the band had to wait two years before setting foot in the world's most populous country again.
In November 2005 the band was invited to perform at the 7th Annual Shanghai International Arts Festival as one of only two acts from the USA (the other being the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra). The popularity of the band was still intact as evidenced by two sold-out shows at the 5000 seat Minhang Arena in Shanghai, with no other acts on the bill. In 2007 Liquid Blue made several trips to China including performances in Sanya, Zhongshan, Lhasa, Chengdu, Haikou and Beijing. Most of these shows featured Liquid Blue along with several well known Chinese pop stars. In Haikou the band played to 35,000 at Hainan University Stadium. With the Olympics set for Beijing in August of 2008, CCTV's all-sports channel officially became the "all-Olympics" channel on New Years Eve, 2007. Liquid Blue was invited by the Chinese government to perform at the very first broadcast of the newly crowned station (CCTV-5). The sold-out event was held in Beijing at the China Agricultural University Sports Arena (with a of seating capacity 8,200) which will host the Wrestling competition for the 2008 Summer Games. The show was broadcast internationally as well, including on CCTV-9 in the USA.
The group is also popular in other parts of Asia including the Philippines which they visited for the first time back in 1997. In 2007 the band became the first U.S. act to perform in Dipolog City, selling out the 6000 seat Andres Bonifacio College Arena.
[edit] Awards
| Year | Award | Presenter |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | America's Best Independent Artist | PCT Music |
| 2005 | America's Best Independent Artist | PCT Music |
| 2005 | Hot AC Group of the Year (nominated) | New Music Weekly |
| 2006 | Best Band (Runner-Up) | International Music Awards |
| 2007 | Best Band (Runner-Up) | International Music Awards |
[edit] Trivia
Ralph Nader used the Liquid Blue song “If You Gotta Ask” as his campaign theme song in the 2004 Presidential Election.
In 2002, band member Layla Loxa won the World Championship in Bodysurfing
The band takes its name from a popular form of LSD used in the 1960’s, although band members claim to be opposed to drug use.
[edit] Discography
Studio Albums
| Name | Cover | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Supernova (official U.S. release) |  |
Deep Blue Records 2004 |
| Supernova (Chinese Import) |  |
Shanghai Audio & Video 2005 (includes 1 additional track and excludes 4 found on the U.S. version) |
EP's
| Name | Cover | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Making Up |  |
Making Up, EP, 2002 |
Singles
| Name | Cover | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Real |  |
Real, Singles, 2005 |
Compilation Albums Featuring Liquid Blue Tracks
| Name | Cover | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Peace Not War |  |
“Making Up” on Peace Not War (2004) |
| Wyland's Ocean Planet |  |
“Rescue” on Wyland's Ocean Planet DVD Wyland Foundation 2006) |
| Love Is The Answer |  |
“If You Gotta Ask” on Love Is The Answer (Total Access Live 2006) |
| ABIA 2005 |  |
“Rescue” on ABIA 2005 (PCT Music 2005) |
| Songs For a Better Planet |  |
“Rescue” on Songs For a Better Planet (A Better Planet 2005) |
| Make Love Not War |  |
“If You Gotta Ask” on Make Love Not War (Butterfly Spirit 2005) |
| CD Baby Top Sellers |  |
“Kashmir” on CD Baby Top Sellers (CD Baby 2004) |
| Anti-Industry CD |  |
“Pretend” on Anti-Industry CD (Get Me Music 2005) |
| Child Alive |  |
“Anything Else But”, “Making Up” on Child Alive (Get Me Music 2005) |
| Care Package |  |
“Show Me Love” on Care Package (Artists For Humanity 2005) |
| Airwaves Vol II |  |
“Real” on Airwaves Vol II (BandRadio 2005) |
| Songs For Cindy |  |
“If You Gotta Ask” on Songs For Cindy (Musicians For Peace 2006) |
| Best of the Blessed |  |
“Arms of Love” on Best of the Blessed (Blessed Music 2006) |
| Peacedriven |  |
“Making Up” on Peacedriven (Peacedriven 2006) |
| Sexy Killer Records Vol 8 |  |
“Making Up” on Sexy Killer Records Vol 8 (Sexy Killer Records 2006) |
| Tune Tank NXNE New Generation 2006 |  |
“Pretend” on Tune Tank NXNE New Generation 2006 (Tune Tank 2006) |
| Future Hits Vol 19 |  |
“Real” on Future Hits Vol 19 (New Music Weekly Records 2006) |
| TNT Top New Talent - Volume 1 |  |
“Real” on Tune Tank NXNE New Generation 2006 (PCT Music) |
| Dallas Songwriters Contest |  |
“If You Gotta Ask, Can't Stop It, Real” on Dallas Songwriters Contest (Dallas Songwriters 2005) |
| 2006 Asia Spring Sampler |  |
“Real” on 2006 Asia Spring Sampler (PCT Music) |
