Thunder had just shaken the windows of the 2Walls newsroom when Radar Screen slipped in the first solo album from the former Other Natural Flavors front man, Chris Van Cott. The acoustic tunes that make up this record, Van Cott's gentle guitar playing and interpersonal lyrics are perfect for a lazy summer afternoon. Van Cott's experiences are clearly evident on this record, as he weaves top-notch storytelling into infectious melodies, always laying his sweet voice over his top-notch guitar playing. Standout tracks include "Got Me," "SD Songwriters" and "My Favorite." After a few years of tearing up the West Coast music scene, Van Cott is back in New York, where you can catch him on perfect summer night at your favorite coffeehouse. You won't be disappointed.
— gjoseph@2walls.com
Going it alone Ridge guitar man returns home to launch solo career By NICOLE COTRONEO Chris Van Cott doesn't want background dancers or a spot on MTV's "Total Request Live." He's just looking for a microphone and a roomful of listeners willing to forgo eye candy for sweet melodies.
Not that the 28-year-old singer/songwriter is hard on the eyes. In the vein of popular stars Dave Matthews and John Mayer, Mr. Van Cott seems to have the total package -- soulful lyrics, an upbeat personality, good looks and a unique sound. But the Ridge resident and 1993 Longwood High School graduate isn't out to steal the spotlight.
"There's no dreams of being on MTV," Mr. Van Cott said. "I just want to play."
It wasn't always that way. Before going solo, Mr. Van Cott was chasing stardom in California with his former contemporary pop band, Other Natural Flavors, made of drummer and longtime Long Island friend George Loiodice and a changing roster of other musicians. The band spent a year-and-a-half playing the San Diego acoustic scene, which jump-started the careers of such megastars as Jewel.
Mr. Van Cott and Other Natural Flavors did well, he said. Their songs landed airtime on MTV's reality series "Fraternity Life" and "Sorority Life" and on many college radio stations. The band considered moving its show to the university-dense East Coast. "Finally, we got the studio record we wanted, but we couldn't really hit the colleges that were playing us," Mr. Van Cott noted.
But reality got in the way. As the band members toyed with a New England tour, marriage, school and work pulled them in different directions. Mr. Van Cott returned home for Christmas in December and "the emotion of my family really hit me," he said. "They're all here. My girlfriend's family is all here."
The singer decided to stay on Long Island and break out on his own. "I had a lot of songs I had no intention of showing to the band," he said, which became the substance for his debut solo album, "Little Puppy."
"For the first time, I'm writing songs that mean something to me," the singer said. "Once you start stripping everything down and it's just you and the instrument, you just speak your mind."
With nothing but an acoustic guitar, Mr. Van Cott sings about his everyday life experiences in ways that make them universal. The catchy tune "On the Island" memorializes his parents' visit to San Diego, during which his mother compared everything to how things were "on the island," Mr. Van Cott said. "They had never gone further west than Pennsylvania. They came to visit me in California and it was total culture shock."
The song "My Favorite" was inspired by his girlfriend, Mr. Van Cott said. "It's what my girlfriend always says to me -- 'You know, you're my favorite,'" he noted.
"Little Puppy" is available on the singer's website, www.chrisvancott.com, and he is in the process of lining up performance dates. "I just want to start playing a little more open mic [nights]," Mr. Van Cott said. "I just want to play and most importantly I want to satisfy myself."
He's satisfying others, too, in the process. UMO Music put his performance of "Show Me" at The Baggot Inn in New York City on its record, "The 14 Best Singer/Songwriters of Greenwich Village, Vol. II." Only 14 artists' performances were chosen out of 1,023, according to Mr. Van Cott.
His ultimate goal is to have the "perfect level of success" that singer/songwriter Steve Polz enjoys, Mr. Van Cott said. "He can still lead a normal life and play music and travel," he added.
For now, the Ridge musician is riding on the high of singing solo. "The thing I love most about what I'm doing now," he noted, "is that everything is on my own terms."
LITTLE PUPPY INDEPENDENT
A few years back, there was a Suffolk-based rock band that started by calling themselves Heaven’s Green, then quickly changed their name to Other Natural Flavors. They rocked hard, and they rocked honestly. After a few years of rocking Long Island, they decided to try their luck on the left coast. So they hitched up the truck and moved to … err … San Diego? There, they released a pretty well received CD, “Drop the World”.Flash forward a few years, and suddenly I get an e-mail – ONF front man/songwriter Chris Van Cott has turned in his electric for acoustic, moved back to the island of Long, and released a new CD. I didn’t know what to expect, but guess what. I love it! It’s a little bit jazzy, a little bit quirky – a definite change of direction, but one well worth pursuing. My favorite cut so far is called “Up to You”. It’s a strange little number, hard to describe – kind of quiet and weird, in a good way. Even the lyrics are unusual: (“In ancient times / They’d drill a hole into your head / To help you wake up from the dead / Help you stay well fed / The things they would do!” There are a number of songs I like on the CD. “On the Island” is an autobiographical number that tells the tale of how Van Cott came to return to Long Island. (Apparently the Jets had something to do with it – go Chad Pennington!). “Candy Canes” is a slow, funky little number describing the memory of a perfect Christmas. “My Favorite” is simply a pretty little acoustic number.
So bite us, California. Van Cott is home, and we’re glad to have him back. His website is www.chrisvancott.com.
– RH
Little Puppy IndependentYou’re surrounded by some of the nicest beaches and one of the largest cities in the country. You know what “real” pizza and bagels taste like. You’d continue to say “cawfee” and “mirrah” proudly, even if you were elected President of the United States. You’ve been waiting for the day someone would forget about California girls and Mississippi moons and sing about baked ziti and the New York Jets.
Chris Van Cott is your man. The Long Island native’s acoustic strumming and Jason Mraz-inspired vocals will give local coffeehouses something to relate to.
Van Cott enlists a strong opener with “Honey”, a smooth sawyer of a lament about today’s materialistic world. He sarcastically croons, “I need a mocha late/I need a palm pilot/I need a catch slogan/I need an acronym” as he strums rising and ebbing triplets that almost make the listener seasick from repetition. Asking, “Is this really what we need to taste the honey?” Van Cott criticizes society poignantly.
When Van Cott picks up his guitar he also takes in hand the key to any hopelessly romantic woman’s heart in such love ballads as the waltzing “My Favorite.” In between he squeezes the fast-strummed waltz, “Show Me”, about the pain of having an overly dependent friend, and “On the Island”, where he sings about the joy of living between Manhattan and Montauk. Concluding with a lighthearted illustration of a perfect childhood Christmas Eve, “Candy Canes,” Van Cott leaves you with a fuzzy feeling and taste for eggnog.
Little Puppy both warms your heart and cools you off with its praise of hazy LI beaches and Christmas presents. If you get too, catch one of Van Cott’s local performances where there’s sure to be plenty of coffee.
— Lauren Mazur
LITTLE PUPPY
Singer/songwriter Chris Van Cott missed Long Island so much when he was in California that he wrote songs about it. On Little Puppy, his first solo album, the Ridge resident and former front man of Other Natural Flavors (whose music you may have heard on such MTV shows as Fraternity Life and Sorority Life) channels his feelings about missing his family ("On the Island") and the downside of capitalism in America ("Honey"). He also, however, appreciates what he has: his girlfriend ("My Favorite" and "You Got Me"), Christmas ("Candy Canes") and life in general ("Upon Arrival"). Not overlooking his peers, he acknowledges the singer/songwriters in San Diego who gave him inspiration in "SD Songwriters," name-checking people like Lisa Sanders and Jason Mraz. Van Cott does much with only his voice and a guitar, layering vocals that could rival those folks. With lyrics such as "it's like the sun's sleeping in/it doesn't bother me," you can just picture Van Cott playing these songs on the dock of a bay on either coast. We're fortunate that he's chosen this one for now.
—Kenyon Hopkin
GOLD LIKE THE SUN
On Gold Like the Sun, singer/song-writer Chris Van Cott is emotionally torn between living spaces. Though he recently moved back to Ridge, Long Island after spending time in California, he already pines for the West Coast. It's a dilemma for him, as he lists a multitude of things he misses (drinking tequila in Baja and eating strawberries at the flower fields, among other things). In "So Cal Days," he's always thinking about the sunrays and cool breeze, but knows he must see his family hundreds of miles away. A quick follow-up to last year's Little Puppy, Gold Like the Sun puts more of Van Cott's life into perspective, perhaps as much for himself as for us. The former front man of Other Natural Flavors puts influences like Dave Matthews and Jack Johnson into place for acoustic pop-rock such as "When We're Drunk," the cheery "Carnival Ride" and "Only the Necessities," where he speculates on moving to Mexico for a simpler life. While that would give him even more to miss, it could be a middle ground as well as a reason to write more great songs.
—Kenyon Hopkin
"Little Puppy"
By Stacey Board Sometimes sounding more like a demo than a fully fleshed out CD sonically, "Little Puppy" is definitely satisfying melodically."Honey" is the first track and one of my favorites. It has funny and clever lyrics along with a very strong melody that is full of just enough surprises. He uses a variety of approaches in his melodies and tempos and that works really well.
Van Cott is a talented player and singer and his potential is clear. "Little Puppy" is a fine introduction to an artist that I look forward to seeing mature even more as a songwriter.
This ‘Puppy’ finds his voice January 20, 2005
Leonard Cohen started out as a Dylan imitator. The Beatles began as a cute pop band. David Bowie's early songs were hippie-dippie novelties.
In other words, people change.
Just ask Chris Van Cott, who sounded like yet another Dave Matthews on his previous disc, "Little Puppy." The Ridge-based songwriter had talent, but it was hidden under too much lite funk and bohemian guitar-strumming. His new disc, however, sounds as if it were made by an entirely different songwriter - and a fine one at that.
On "Gold Like the Sun," Van Cott crafts emotionally honest songs using pop hooks, bright guitar chords and unpredictable melodies. Intentionally or not, the obvious reference point here is Big Star - and not its much-imitated front man, Alex Chilton, but overlooked member Chris Bell. On "It's Not Easy" and "Trust Me," Van Cott channels Bell's hypersensitivity, singing in a clear, forthright voice. Elsewhere, he turns philosophical: "Maybe you'll help and maybe you won't," he notes on "Only the Necessities." "I guess I'm damned if you don't / Because that's life."
Even when Van Cott slips back into his Matthews-isms, he adds a twist. The amiable rhythm of "So Cal Days," for instance, makes way for a deep, ominous chord progression that gives the song a surprising tension. Overall, "Gold Like the Sun" is the sound of a songwriter finding his voice, and that's exciting to hear. Go to www.chrisvancott.com.
Ridge musician returns with his second solo CD By LAUREN TURSELLINO RIDGE—It's a wonderful musical life for Chris Van Cott, whose unique blend of lyricism and infectious melodies are in fine form in "Gold Like the Sun," his new album.
Nietzsche once suggested that life without music would be an error, and for Mr. Van Cott, who picked up his first guitar at age 6, this is all too true. "I've loved music for as far as I can remember," he said this week, and now at age 29, he continues to build on his own musical history.
In 1998, a year after graduating from Five Towns College of Music and Audio Engineering, Mr. Van Cott formed the band Other Natural Flavors. "This may sound like a cliché, but that was like my first girlfriend," he quipped.
While lead singer and guitarist for ONF, Mr. Van Cott explored the world of alternative pop music, blending saccharine vocal harmonies with an edgy rock sound. ONF's debut album, "Drop the World," received extensive college radio airplay and a licensing deal with MTV. Audiences on both coasts were impressed by ONF's live performances, which won over numerous critics in New York and San Diego alike.
"It was a nurturing experience," Mr. Van Cott said. "Not only were they my best friends, but the song content dealt with social issues."
Following ONF's hoopla, Mr. Van Cott found himself flying solo with an album titled "Little Puppy." The solo debut received many accolades, and in 2004, UMO Music NY selected Chris Van Cott as one of "the best 14 singer/songwriters of Greenwich Village." Now, Mr. Van Cott embarks on another musical adventure, "Gold Like the Sun," featuring what the artist considers to be better songwriting and more instrumentation. "With this album, I paid more attention to production," he said. "Instead of a performing artist, I'm a recording artist."
"Gold Like The Sun" features 12 songs and runs an emotional gamut, which Mr. Van Cott said will befit all audiences. "No matter what age you're at, everyone can relate to the same thing," he said. For instance, "Sweetie," the first track, is a 57-second lullaby about a broken heart. Van Cott follows not on a dour note, but with a piece called "Carnival Ride," which he describes as "a feel-good song about enjoying a glass of red wine after work."
Another theme dominating "Gold Like the Sun" is the foibles of materialism. "Only the Necessities" and "Just to Be Cool" both attest to the benefits of simplicity, something that has penetrated Mr. Van Cott since his experiences with ONF. "Unlike then, I'm not so interested now in making money off of music," he noted.
"Gold like the Sun" continues on "Little Puppy's" keel insomuch that it involves Mr. Van Cott's personal life, particularly his move from San Diego back to Ridge, where he grew up. "Save Me My Place" is a mellow four-minute melody about "remembering and missing your life in a previous city, hoping to make it back there again," while "So Cal Days" is more of an upbeat piece dealing with the struggle between moving home to be near family or staying where you're happy, the recording artist said.
Mr. Van Cott's strums dabble in recollection, with tunes that reveal universal themes — and become, for his listeners, instinctual. Following a lyrical lift, he weaves instrumentation and melody to a silvery climax, as evidenced in his final eponymous song, "Gold Like the Sun," a "sad" tune that tells the story of a couple growing old together. For Mr. Van Cott, this is all an embodiment of his free-spiritedness.
"One of my biggest musical influences is Steve Poltz," he said. "Before seeing Steve in San Diego, I put limits on myself. But with him, anything goes. He's a free spirit and has impacted me tremendously in my endeavors."
Mr. Van Cott said he speaks regularly with Mr. Poltz, often via e-mail, and that Mr. Poltz had helped him realize his own aims — and realize they don't involve glitzy spectacle and quick cash. "When I'm playing a lot of shows it keeps me away from songwriting," Mr. Van Cott said.
Consider, for instance, Mr. Van Cott's forthcoming foray into film. He's made numerous contacts with independent film producers and one of his songs is expected to be featured in a movie called "Plastic." Mr. Van Cott won't be paid for this, but he said it doesn't matter.
"This is for my own personal satisfaction," he said. "So long as I write, I'm satisfied, because songwriting is like a muscle — you need to exercise it and, above all, write what you do for yourself." For more on Mr. Van Cott, visit his website at www.chrisvancott.com.
Chris Van Cott - Little Puppy
Singer/songwriter Chris Van Cott disproves the notion that the singer/songwriter is dead and has reached the zenith of its appeal. Indeed, there’s innovation here that all the people in a studio couldn’t necessarily come up with. “Honey” tells this tale with witty lyrics that discuss the suburban urges and desires of suburbanites everywhere. Often bordering on anti-folk, there’s pop a-plenty throughout “Little Puppy”. Coffee houses won’t be the same.
— J-Sin
Chris Van Cott - Gold Like the Sun
Chris Van Cott builds on the merits of his “Little Puppy” album with his newly released “Gold Like the Sun”. The singer/songwriter format is still here but with a more “band” feeling. His lyrics are well thought out and the dynamic songwriting is what musicians everywhere hope to accomplish. He’s been playing guitar since the tender age of 6 and boy does it show. Never one to sit back and rest on his laurels, each song is just as good as the last, and the album is listenable all the way through—something most pop bands would relish if only they could accomplish that once in their career. His sometimes sarcastic and cynical view on the world is well noted and very appreciated in an era of Ashlee Simpson wannabes.
- J-Sin
UMO Music Announces - The Best 14 Singer / Songwriters of 2004 And Their Award Winning Songs!
Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - Greenwich Village - UMO Music is happy to announce "The 14 Best Singer / Songwriters of Greenwich Village for 2004" and their winning songs "recorded live" at the UMO Open Mic. They are presented in the sequence they will appear on this year's compilation CD. The winning artists are:
Arlan Feiles - Impossibly Lonely Jeff Jacobson* - 'Round The Bend Breck Alan - One More Day Chris Van Cott - Show Me Common Good - Sleeping Space Mark Aaron James - Missing You Instead Addison - Stay Awhile Steve Chizmadia - The Waltz Mamou Rob Ingersoll - High Life Michael Disalvo III - I'm Gone Sour Grapes - We'll Try Everything Nick Priessnitz* - Wing Mike & Greg Trenouth* - Moment's Peace Ellsworth - Up Above The World
The best songs and artists were selected from more than one thousand live performances recorded live at the UMO Open Mic. Artist names that appear with an "*" next to their name were also winners in a previous year.
"The 14 Best Singer / Songwriters of Greenwich Village - 2004 CD and online song samples will be available at CDBaby.com starting June 30, 2004 and can be reserved now from UMO Music or purchased directly from the artists themselves in the coming days.
Special "Pre-Release Editions" of the CD are currently being mailed to the winning songwriters. These "specially numbered" CD's (not available in stores) should be kept by the songwriters as "potential" collector's Items should they (or one of the other excellent artists) sign to a major label. In addition, UMO Music will provide free promotion and UMO.com Artist-Online Accounts for all 14 artists.
UMO Music projects are completely funded by UMO Music and its member supporters. Artists do not pay to be part of any UMO Music project.
As most musical artists, songwriters and some of the public know, the Music business is a very difficult area in which to achieve success. However, these Singer / Songwriters already have a couple of pieces of the puzzle, a great song and talent.
Congratulations to this years winners and wishing them the Best Of Success.
Passionate and heartfelt tunes with lush acoustic guitar and unexpected musical twists. That would be one way to describe Chris Van Cott’s new release, “Café Sunday.”
The music bursts from the speakers with heavy strumming on an acoustic guitar and only gets better when Mr. Van Cott’s vocals make their entrance.
And so it goes on track after track of original music. Every song is like a musical surprise you’re glad you received. The consistency of voice, the musical passion and songwriting that never dials down to anything less than an eight all ensure that the music is always recognizable as pure Chris Van Cott.
Mr. Van Cott’s music has a smooth sound with an edge. The original music might best be characterized as adult alternative with rock or pop subtones. The cuts on “Café Sunday” conjure comparisons to singer-songwriters Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz, Jack White and John Mayer. These are clearly some of Mr. Van Cott’s influences.
The musical edge springs from ’90s grunge established by Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots and Nirvana. The heartfelt passion springs from the personal nature of his songwriting. Every song is inspired by his own experience and tumultuous changes for those close to him. Striving to have a baby, surviving a divorce and trying to change personality traits are all topics for songs on “Café Sunday.”
The result is a recording that’s easy to listen to the first time around and invites a second listen, if only to check back on the compelling unexpected musical surprises. Each song has a passage or musical change-up that keeps the listener engaged. This is no accident—Mr. Van Cott strives to challenge himself as a songwriter, producer and musician to make music he’s satisfied with.
“I wanted to have some fun and write in different styles and really move people,” Mr. Van Cott said. “I write in different styles, rhythms, tempos. I’m trying to have that variety.”
“Café Sunday” features nine solo tracks and three “bonus tracks” of songs by his group, The Vagabonds. The Vagabonds include Mr. Van Cott, his wife, Maritz Van Cott, Brady Wilkins on percussion and Jason Tebaldi on bass guitar. Mr. Tebaldi also performs with Jay Scott and Grand Case Scenario and The Corduroy Sky. Mr. Wilkins is a special education teacher at Tuckahoe School in Southampton. He also performs with the band, Karma Sutra. Ms. Van Cott was the lead vocalist in Other Natural Flavors.
Mr. Van Cott wrote all the songs on the recording. Musically, the songs slide seamlessly from his solo efforts, on which he provides all of the vocals (including harmonies), the instruments and sound effects, to songs with The Vagabonds, whose music beckons listeners to groove to their funky sounds.
“Café Sunday” is the fifth solo recording released by Mr. Van Cott, the result of a pledge he made to himself to produce a recording every year. Since returning from California and leaving behind a bid to put his band, Other Natural Flavors, on the national charts, Mr. Van Cott shifted his focus from making it big to making music he loves.
His solo recordings include: “Little Puppy,” “Happy Again,” “Gold Like the Sun” and “Live in the Lobby” (recorded at the Patchogue Theater for the Performing Arts). Mr. Van Cott was included on “The 15 Best Singer/Songwriters of Greenwich Village” (2004) by UMO Music NY. His band Other Natural Flavors released “Drop the World” in 2003.
As a solo artist, Mr. Van Cott has performed at the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall and East Enders Coffee House in Riverhead, the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts in the Live in the Lobby original music series, and multiple venues in Patchogue.
The Vagabonds, along with headliner Miles to Dayton, performed the final show at East Enders Coffee House on February 28. East Enders is now planning to reopen at the Best Western East End hotel in Riverhead, with a grand opening slated for May, pending building permit approvals for the newly-renovated space inside the hotel.
“Café Sunday” is available at cdbaby.com and through www.chrisvancott.com. The self-produced recording is $10. Mr. Cott will be performing with Mr. Wilkins at Grey Horse Tavern in Bayport on May 31 from 1 to 3 p.m. The Vagabonds will appear at Bradstock during Labor Day weekend at the Long Island Maritime Museum in West Sayville. Performance dates for both groups will be posted at www.chrisvancott.com.
advance copy: it's like learning a new language
Happy Again (self-release. local!) styles: happy posi singer songy lite rock rating: ***
Chris Van Cott doesn't want to grow up (good!). On the record's cover, he's on a swing, looking back and smiling. He could have written today that fan letter he has to Michael Jackson on the back of the cover. His third solo record is just as solid as the other two and full of fun-in-the-sun acoustic-based slices of his life. Whether uptempo or ballady, Van Cott knows what he's doing. If the countries at war would just look to the music of CVC, there'd be peace! -Kenyon
This release is an editor's pick on Smother.Net
Review - Explain to me how a man who’s written two great albums in “Gold Like the Sun” and “Little Puppy” could say that he’s “Happy Again”. As if he isn’t always reveling and rejoicing in his own innate musical talents. I wish I had half this folk pop hero’s abilities. He re-proves his knack for constructing dynamite catchy hooks rifling through a catalog of pop-rock cuts that are sure to be a classic in whatever venue he graces with his presence. Inside the album is a letter he wrote to Michael Jackson saying that he used some of his songs in his new band. Cute.
Going it alone
LITTLE PUPPY
Little Puppy
LITTLE PUPPY
This ‘Puppy’ finds his voice
Chris Van Cott - Little Puppy
UMO Music Announces - The Best 14 Singer / Songwriters of 2004 
Passionate and heartfelt tunes with lush acoustic guitar and unexpected musical twists. That would be one way to describe Chris Van Cott’s new release, “Café Sunday.”