The Vayden story is one of tragedy, triumph, self reflection and soon to be written; success. It wasn’t until I began writing this article and really researching the band that I realized the significance behind the name and what this Phoenix, Arizona-based foursome went through before and after the recording of their forthcoming release Children of Our Mistakes.
The definition of the word vayden means knowledgeable and scholarly, and according to vocalist Curtis Casey, it’s a name he’s always liked. Sadly, however, the root of the bands name goes far deeper than its Webster’s definition.
On March 29, 1997 the band’s drummer Bruce Weitz looked into his son’s eyes for the first time as he came into this world. It’s obvious from the blog posted on the band’s Myspace profile this past March 29th that his son Vayden Zoe Weitz had changed his life forever. Vayden would have been 11 this year. In July of 2004 Vayden Weitz and his mother Marcy were killed in a car accident. Again Bruce’s life changed forever. Weitz describes his feelings and extremely personal thoughts on the band’s Myspace page so we won’t go too far into detail, but we urge you to check out www.myspace.com/vayden for more. All we can say is Weitz sums up the drive of the band in the conclusion of his blog by saying, “Vayden, this monument we’re building for you. I love you.”
The story of the band itself begins in the basement of an old music store in Mesa, Arizona where drum lessons were offered. Casey explains that he heard rumors about a well-known drummer in the area who instructed at this music store so he decided to purchase a 30 minute lesson with Weitz. “I was a young 18- year-old kid wanting to start a band,” says Casey. “I told him we were going to dominate the world.” It didn’t take 30 minutes for Weitz to agree and Casey jokes that it was his “luscious locks,” that got Weitz on board. In all seriousness, however, it boiled down to the fact that Casey was serious and could truly sing.
So Vayden, rounded out by Jason Salomone on bass and Armin Peterson on guitar began recording their debut full length debut in 2006. The band enlisted Ryan Greene (NOFX, Lagwagon, Authority Zero) to be at the helm of the recording process. “That guy is awesome,” says Casey. “He brought us to the next level.” Casey says that at first when the band got to the studio, their songs sounded completely different. They called each of their songs the “punk” song, the “rock” song or the “hip-hop” song. It was Greene that helped bring it all together. Explains Casey, “Everyone is skilled. [It was] kind of different styles and it became cohesive.”
The night that Casey received the mixes of Children of Our Mistakes he found himself frequenting the bathroom, heaving, battling a fever and dealing with stabbing chest pains. After being rushed to the emergency room, being admitted and having all sorts of tests run, he would be diagnosed with Pneumonia and a severe case of Pericarditus, which is an inflammation of the tissue protecting the heart, likely caused by high amounts of stress. “I put myself in the hospital making this record and you can rest assured that it was for good reason,” writes Casey in the band’s blog. He even compares himself to Michelangelo who some believe went crazy after he finished painting the Sistine Chapel. Casey says that “Welcome” is the song that is closest to his heart. “The whole hook is welcome to the high price you pay to do something great,” he explains. And even though the track is not the first single, Casey believes it has strong enough legs to stand on its own.
Casey knows that the end product will be able to withstand the test of time. It’s a record that is loaded with influences that span music’s genre spectrum. One may hear hints of Chevelle styles or even the melodic runs of Daughtry. Here’s the other side of the coin; Vayden is the band you may not have heard much about, but rest assured, they are rock’s next caged surprise. And while Casey is satisfied with the album he says, “I don’t think anyone who makes art is truly finished with it.”
“I think we wrote a piece that’s open and that people can take whatever they want from it,” says Casey. He says that the process of making the record was a journey and that is the approach with every song the band does. “When you’re pulling from influences, you can’t help but go on that ride,” he says.
Lyrically, the album has a reoccurring theme, whether it is about relationships or politics, it’s about being conscience of what you are doing. “Everything you do creates a spawn or a child,” says Casey. “The child grows up and you have to deal with it.”
So besides world domination, what does Vayden hope to achieve? “The huge thing for us, being a young band is getting on the road and putting [the music] out there,” says Casey. Vayden will hit 40 cities this summer and Children of Our Mistakes is slated for an early June release date. Vayden may have the musical package, but like Casey mentions, his band is not road tested yet. “I don’t know if I’m going to hate these guys in six months,” he jokes.
Joking aside the band is sure to make heads turn and Children of Our Mistakes is an example of rock intensity, complex musicianship and risky dynamics, which provide Vayden with an abundant artillery of being rock and roll's next household name.
By: Adam K. Zakroczymski III - Senior Editor / Founder
