The sound of beatiful vocals…
One would be hard-pressed to find a group with more determination, conviction or integrity than VENICE. Comprised of cousins Kipp and Michael Lennon and their respective brothers Pat and Mark Lennon, this suburban Los Angeles quartet steadfastly refuses to succumb to fast-buck trendiness, opting instead for a more humanistic musical approach. Since forming in the ’80s, the group’s surf-scented harmonies and folk-pop sounds have garnered the respect of the music industry’s most discerning critics. In a 1997 review, Billboard magazine drew favorable comparisons to Crosby, Stills & Nash and the Eagles, and praised the group’s “seamless harmonies.” David Crosby called VENICE “the best vocal group in the country and one of the best groups of any kind I have ever heard.” As a group, and/or individuals, VENICE has toured and recorded with rock legends like Jackson Browne, Stevie Nicks, Warren Zevon, David Crosby, Brian Wilson and Phil Collins. What’s more, the group’s headline performances and popular web sites draw thousands of devoted fans of their own worldwide.
Now, this critically acclaimed quartet offers a recording that’s as hypnotic and compelling as their live performances. Produced and engineered by Michael Lennon and mixed by Thom Panunzio (U2, Pretenders, Bruce Springsteen), Spin Art features 12 original compositions that run the gamut from effervescent rockers (“The Man You Think I Am,” “One Quiet Day,” “World Upon My Back”), to pensive ballads (“The Road to Where You Are,” “The Family Tree”) and r&b-inflected pop (“End of the World”). These engaging originals are offset by an earnest interpretation of Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 classic “Landslide.” Vibrant and engaging, Spin Art is as colorful as its explosive cover art – which, by the way, was created by the band.
Indeed, from its original artwork and songs, to Michael Lennon’s luminous production, Spin Art is a harmonious celebration of self-expression. There’s a method to the group’s family-oriented, hands-on approach. We’ve got a lot of family,” says Kipp Lennon, laughing. “Michael and Mark have 13 siblings in their family, while Pat and I have 11 brothers and sisters. We all learned to get along at an early age and not “rock the boat” in group situations. A perfect training ground for being in a band that collaborates and travels as much as we do. Our fathers, Bill and Ted Lennon, sang in a swing group in the ’40s and ’50s and Pat and my oldest sisters are The Lennon Sisters from the Lawrence Welk Show of the ’60s, so we grew up around a lot of the same family-work type situations we find ourselves in today. Our band is like an extension of our family.” As Kipp’s comments would suggest, the members of VENICE are proud traditionalists, which would explain the group’s rock-solid influences. With its beguiling mix of pop, rock, folk and r&b, Spin Art is a no-nonsense recording with time-tested appeal. “I think it’s a really strong record,” says Pat Lennon. “I recently listened to it after about a two-week break, and I just thought, ‘wow, this is really good.’ Michael did a great job of producing, and I just love the songs.
It just seems like a really solid record.”
Spin Art is a departure from VENICE’s 1997 Vanguard Records debut album Born and Raised. That album – which Relix magazine described as “… majestic, harmony-filled, acoustic folk-rock” – won plaudits for its intimate, introspective songs.
By comparison, Spin Art comes on like the first album’s outgoing cousin. “On Born and Raised, we intentionally pulled back in order to make a record that was more acoustic and more vocals-forward,” explains Kipp. “Spin Art is more like our live shows. There’s a lot more electricity and live drums sounds on this record without sacrificing the acoustic textures. It’s a nice marriage of the two musical sides of the group.”
The new album marks the first time the members of VENICE have collaborated with songwriters outside their select circle of musical friends, and the experience proved inspiring. “Working with other writers created a friendly competition within the group,” says Michael Lennon. “It challenged us to deliver. Kipp and I might split off and write with other people during the day. Then we’d get together later that night and write our own songs. We were really living the songwriter’s life.”
The group’s individual and collaborative efforts have resulted in an album that possesses the easy-rocking lilt of a modern classic. In a world awash in arty nihilism and trendy cynicism, Spin Art can be unashamedly honest, endearingly optimistic, even chivalrous, at times. Indeed, despite its romantic allusions, “The Man You Think I Am,” is a breezy rocker penned after the birth of Kipp’s son, Roman. With its plain-spoken lyrics about wanting to meet a loved one’s high expectations, “The Man You Think I Am” is pure, uncut heroism, the sort of song you thought they didn’t write anymore.
A similar affirmative energy animates all the songs featured on Spin Art. Co-written with Bruce Gaitsch (Madonna, Celine Dion), “Mary On My Mind” finds Michael Lennon wistfully recounting the courtship phase of his marriage. On the soulful “End of the World,” Mark laments the inexorable decline of civilization, only to find himself redeemed by love. On “Garden Wall,” a long-term relationship slowly falls into painful despair but there is still hope that “somewhere in the garden something grows.” Even the group’s interpretation of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” fits like a puzzle-piece within the context of the album. “We’ve been doing that song for years and years at our shows; we just never recorded it,” says Mark. “Stevie Nicks used to come up and perform it with us. People have always asked us to record it, so it seemed like a fun thing to throw it on this album.”
Appropriately enough, Spin Art concludes with “The Family Tree,” an eloquent toast to family and the ties that bind. “In a sense, you could say that the album is bookended,” says Kipp.”The Man You Think I Am” starts off the record with a song about my son and having kids, while “The Family Tree” talks about the family, moving on and growing.” The growth and maturity Kipp speaks of is apparent throughout Spin Art. The album allows fans to eavesdrop as the members of VENICE continue on their personal journeys. No doubt, listeners will see their own experiences reflected in the album’s 13 soul-searching tracks.
Photo: Venice. More information can be seen at the official Venice website: Venice Central
Discography
Stained Glass
Lennon Records 2024
Tracks: Call It Human, Fool's Gold, Odds and Ends, Morningstar, Blame It On The Milky Way, One Kind Word, Set My Course, Empty Avenues, Together Soon, Sorry, Sun Will Go Down, Avalon By The Sea, Beautiful Flower, Patience Of A Lion & Soul Connected.
Musicians on the Stained Glass album: Michael Lennon, Kipp Lennon, Mark Lennon, Pat Lennon, Mark Harris, Andre Kemp, Troy Dexter, Evan Dexter, Avalon Lennon, Rowdy Lennon, Roman Lennon & Dutch Lennon.
Jacaranda Street
Lennon Records 2019
Tracks: Jacaranda Street, The Lavender Lighter, My Love Waits For Me, Stepping On That Bridge, 27th Avenue, Something Took You Over, Middle Age Lullaby, How Do We Do This Alone, Just Under The Surface, What If We Found We, Lifeline, Object Unidentified & Rowing.
Musicians on the Jacaranda Street album: Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon, Mark Harris & Andre Kemp.
Waves Of Christmas
Lennon Records 2017
Tracks: Christmas Time Is Here, The Star Carol, I´ll Be Home For Christmas, The Christmas Song, River, A Cradle In Bethlehem, Christmas Dreaming, On Christmas Morning, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Christmas Island & White Christmas/Silent Night.
Musicians on the Waves Of Christmas album: Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon & Others.
Into The Morning Blue
Lennon Records 2017
Tracks: Sunrise (August Of ´69), Doesn´t Get Any Better Than This, Into The Morning Blue, A Wealthy Man, In A Heartbeat, If You Hear This Song, A Dance By The River & Suddenly You Walked In.
Musicians on the Into The Morning Blue album: Michael Lennon, Kipp Lennon, Mark Lennon, Pat Lennon and others.
Brunch Buffet
Lennon Records 2016
Tracks: Had I Known You Better Then, She´s Always A Woman, Thinking Out Loud, Happier Than The Morning Sun, Looking For A Lady, Home At Last, Keep On Tryin´, I Don´t Know Why, Free Man In Paris, After The Love Has Gone, Over The Rainbow & Everybody´s Changing.
Musicians on the Brunch Buffet album: Michael Lennon, Kipp Lennon, Mark Lennon, Pat Lennon and others.
What Summer Brings
P-Vine Records 2015
Tracks: When I Come Back (The Hummingbird Song), High So High, Shake It Up, What Summer Brings, Chemistry, Mi Casa Es Su Casa, She´s Gonna Be The One, When I´m Gone, Things That Always Make Me Think Of You, A Thing About Love, The Go To Guy, Hold Me, The Way That I See You & It´s Time.
Musicians on the What Summer Brings album: Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon & others.
Live At 2 Meter Sessies 1998
2 Meter Media Group 2015
Tracks: Side 1: Never Coming Back, For A Kiss, When I Get Over You & If I Were You. Side 2: Cool Me Down, Rivers Never Run, Landslide & We´re Still Here.
Musicians on the Live At 2 Meter Sessies 1998 album: Michael Lennon, Kipp Lennon, Mark Lennon, Pat Lennon and others.
Lucky 7 - Part 1
Lennon Records 2015
Tracks: Feel You Feel Me, Hollywoodland, Trying To Find America, One For The Ages, Wave After Wave, I See You There & Hibernate.
Musicians on the Lucky 7 - Part 1 album: Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon, Monroe Jones, Mark Harris & Scott Crago.
Venetian Vinyl
Lennon Records 2015
Tracks: Side One: Rivers Never Run, When I Get Over You, The Family Tree, The Point, Hold Me & The Road To Where You Are. Side Two: Things That Always Make Me Think Of You, Father Time, Blue Ocean Park Waltz, Katrina, Two Places At One Time & That´s The Way It Is. Side Three: It´s Time, The Romance That Never Was, Ashes In The Snow, Language Of The Heart, Isabelle & What Summer Brings. Side Four: Back To The Well, Oh Bahia, We´re OK, 15 Presents & It´s To Late For Me Now.
Musicians on the Venetian Vinyl album: Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon & Others.
What Summer Brings
Lennon Records 2013
Tracks: Disc 1: What´s Done Is Done, Forever, Chemistry, She´s Gonna Be The One, Hold Me, Shake It Up, A Thing About Love, The Point, When I´m Gone & What Summer Brings. Disc 2: It´s Time, When I Come Back (The Hummingbird Song), Mi Casa Es Su Casa, Things That Always Make Me Think Of You, It´s Gonna Be Right, Isabelle, Don´t Give Up On Me, The Way That I See You, The Go To Guy & High So High.
Musicians on the What Summer Brings album: Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon & others.
A Venice Christmas Live
Lennon Records 2012
Tracks: The Family Tree, Hark The Harald Angel Sings, Ashes In The Snow, Winter Wonderland, Always, O Come All Ye Faithful, My Adobe Hacienda, Blue Christmas, O Holy Night, If I Were You/Joy To The World, We´re Still Here/Silent Night & Under The Boardwalk Medley.
Musicians on the Electric Live And Amplified album: Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon and others
Home Grown
Flow Records 2008
Tracks: CD: One Quiet Day, The Road To Where You Are, Always, The Man You Think You Are, Rivers Never Run, Baby´s Calling, Bittersweet Life, Think Again, If I Were You, Back To The Well, The Water, Right Where We Left Off, Weight Has Been Lifted, Starting Here Again & The Family Tree. DVD: Concert "Live At The Royal Carre Theater", Documentary, Family Feature & Photo Gallery.
Musicians on the Home Grown album: Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon and others
Electric Live And Amplified
Lennon Records 2009
Tracks: The Water, Bleeding, Circus in Town, My Woman, Pushed Her Too Far, Evolve, Things You Are, Baby's Calling, High So High, Very Real, My Own House, One Quiet Day, Think Again, All My Life & If I Were You.
Musicians on the Electric Live And Amplified album: Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon and others
Good Evening
Flow Records 2008
Tracks: Always, Crazy In Love, So Bad, Shy Moon, Horse With No Name, The Family Tree, Starting Here Again, Back To The Well, More Of A Miracle, Rewind, One More Song, Evolve, One Less Someone, Things You Are & Pawn Shop.
Musicians on the Good Evening album: Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon and others.
Garage Demos Part 3
27th Ae Records 2007
Tracks: In These Times, Lay Me Down, Something Else, The Mermaid Song, I Swear, Crazy In Love, When I Think Of You, Born With Hope, All Fall Together, Hot And Cold, The Times You Did Me Wrong, The Other Side, Take Me Far Away (Live), Never Gonna Be The Same & This Party´s Over.
Musicians on the Garage Demos Part 2 album: Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon, Mark Harris, Scott Crago, Stephen McGrath, Spencer Campell, Randy Sharp, Monroe Jones, Paul Mirkovich & Michael Ruff.
Amsterdam
Universal Music 2006
Tracks: Weight Has Bee Lifted, Rewind, It´s To Late For Me Now, Joey, Radio Game, Not Enough For You, Bittersweet Life, Ashes In The Snow, My Life Is Like A Movie, The Lost Weekend, The Romance That Never Was, Jenny & One More Song.
Musicians on the Amsterdam album: Kipp Lennon, Mark Lennon, Michael Lennon, Pat Lennon, Mark Harris, Nick Butt, Jamie Wollam and others.
A Band Called Venice
Switch Style Records 2006
Tracks: Think Again, Sweet Aloha, Precious Stone, For A Dancer, Right Where We Left Odd, Most Of Us, The Road To Where You Are, Unbreakable Heart, Guinevere, I'll Keep My Fingers Crossed, Welcome To The Rest Of Your Life, The Family Tree, Starting Here Again (Bonus Live Track), The Man You Think I Am (Bonus Live Track), If I Were You (Bonus Live Track), One Quiet Day (Bonus Live Track).
Musicians on the A Band Called Venice album: Kipp Lennon, Mark Lennon, Michael Lennon, Pat Lennon, Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Mark Harris, Alexis Sklarevski, Matt Laug, Dan Gillen, Nick Butt, Chris Havath, John Vester & Rich Mangicaro.
Pacific Standard Time
Flow Records 2004
Tracks: I´ll Keep My Fingers Crossed, Cotton Candy, Alive Again, Everybody´s Opium, Back To The Well, You And Me Doing Nothing, When Your Ship Comes In, Right Were We Left Off, Two Places At One Time, Blue Ocean Park Waltz, Don´t Worry Worry, All Or Nothing At All, Fifteen Presents, Pebble In A Pond (Karma´s Rewarded) & Happiness Is The Best Revenge.
Musicians on the Pacific Standard Time album: Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon, Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Matt Laug, Rich Mangocaro, Chris Horvath, Mark Harris, Charles Bisharat, Nick Bult, Dann Gillen & Roy Weigand.
Welcome To The Rest Of Your Life
Sony Music 2002
Tracks: Think Again, Not Down Anymore, Sweet Aloha, Precious Stone, I'm Not Myself, Sun Inside, Blue Paint, Most Of Us, Languages Of The Heart, One Word & Tides.
Musicians on the Welcome To The Rest Of Your Life album: Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon, Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Chris Horvath, John Vester, Alexis Sklarevski, Mark Harris, Matt Laug, Jamie Wollam, Scott Cargo, Jawiara Adams, Dion Turnquest, Terry Manning, Pete Valenzuela, Mike Brotzen & Joey Cathcart.
(2) Meter Sessies
ZYX Music 2000
Tracks: The Road To Where You Are, Always, Never Coming Back, For A Dancer, For A Kiss, We´re Still Here, If I Were You, One Quiet Day, Landslide, Cool Me Down, Guinnevere, When I Get Over You, The Family Tree, End Of The World, Rivers Never Run, The Man You Think I Am & Woodstock (Secret Track).
Musicians on the Venice Live album: Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon, Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Jackson Browne & David Crosby.
Christmas With Venice
Blue Note Records 1999
Tracks: Away In A Manger, What Child In This?, The First Noel, Hark!, The Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, Angels We Have Heard On High, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Joy To The World, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, O Come All Ye Faithful, Holy Night & O Christmas Tree.
Musicians on the Christmas With Venice album: Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon, Kipp Lennon & Pat Lennon.
Spin Art
Vanguard Records 1999
Tracks: The Man You, Think I Am, Always, Garden Wall, Mary On My Mind, The Road To, Where You Are, End of the World, So Bad, More of a Miracle, Landslide, Poor You Poor Me, Poor Love, One Quiet Day, World Upon My Back & The Family Tree.
Musicians on the Spin Art album: Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon & others.
Born and Raised
Vanguard Records 1997
Tracks: That's the Way It Is, When I Get Over You, Never Coming Back, If I Were You, Cool Me Down, Bring On the Next One, Bad Timing Song, Starting Here Again, For A Kiss, Running Home, Rivers Never Run, Baby's Calling, Circus In Town, Time On My Hands, Oh Yeah Oh Well & We're Still Here.
Musicians on the Born and Raised album: Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon & others.
Garage Demos Part 2
Lucky Records 1995
Tracks: The Water, Bleeding, Circus In Town, Time On My Hands, Get Out, World Upon My Back, In July, Twenty Words Or Less, My Woman, I'll Be Drivin', My Own House, Hard Life & If I Were You.
Musicians on the Garage Demos Part 2 album: Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon & others.
Garage Demos Part 1
Lucky Records 1995
Tracks: Bad Timing Song, Rivers Never Run, Circle of Life, The Girl In 204, The Only Love I Had, Charm You, Shy Moon, Washington & Lincoln, Again, Long Fall, Comes It Now & Very Real.
Musicians on the Garage Demos Part 1 album: Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon & others.
Venice
Atlantic Records 1990
Tracks: All My Life, Sacrifice the Fool, Mr. Lonely, Change In the Season, Kaylee, Pushed Her Too Far, Time, Ocean, People Laugh, Save the Legion, Hideaway Hill & Ball & Chain.
Musicians on the Venice album: Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon & others.
Do It Yourself
DB Productions 1986
Tracks: Someday Love (Ready For Ya), Me You're Playing With, It's Only January & Tears.
Musicians on the Do It Yourself album: Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon & others.
Theme From The Class of '65"
MCA Records 1978
Tracks: "Theme From The Class of '65" (1978) (Theme Song from the short-lived television show) & "Whatever Happened To the Class of 65?") (Theme From The Class of '65 & California Calling (B-Side).
Musicians on the Theme From The Class of "65" single: Kipp Lennon, Pat Lennon, Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon & others.