Visit
johnvmusic.com
Common Ground:: 6.19.04
John Van Deusen, a 16 year old from Anacortes, has an exclusive
technique that separates him from the majority of the local
musicians.
Following the set of his good friend, Tim Leighton, John
easily grabs the crowds' attention and displays his ability
to try new and unusual things despite possible expectations
of him.
The atypical sounds booming from John's IPOD were intriguing
and engaging. After a few minutes of John and his audience
listening to a compilation of chaotic sounds, a slight hip-hop
beat was added. Van Deusen pierced the machine-produced
music with bracing keys that were further captivating. This
being the second time I have seen John perform a solo set;
I am still floored by the mature voice that comes out of
the young artist.
John Van Deusen is an obvious creative soul. Despite having
little training on piano he is still able to create suiting
melodies that do not sound even slightly novice. Natural
talent and presence behind the mic is an advantage. John's
calmness on stage makes even the most chaotic moments comfortable
for his audience. That is the definition of good stage presence.
If he is nervous at all while performing he certainly masks
it well.
The fourth song on his set list is a song influenced by
the book "1984". This song is yet another example
of John's strong artistic quality, with lyrics that are
deep and experienced.
Ending his set by turning up his guitar so loud that the
audience began to wonder if it was truly intentional, while
screaming repeatedly, he set an amazing ambiance. With an
abrupt end to his song, it felt much like a gasp. Like everyone
in the room was holding their breath while John poured out
the piercing chords from the guitar and unanticipated screams.
It was an amazing end to a wonderfully surprising set.
review by: Jacquee
|
