The Birth of BVO-
Although he had never made music before the peculiar sounds and voices he heard on Harry Smith’s Anthology of American Folk Music awakened a desire, it gave him a confidence to explore musical impulses for the first time in his life. Green for earth, blue for sky and red for fire, each recording intensified his desire and made him eager to experience the outcome of even his most primitive efforts. That night he dreamt he was standing before an enormous hall. From its doors flowed a multitude of odd people, each playing an instrument to the result of a strange and unaffected sound. An oldfangled airship passed overhead. It read, “Welcome Bogs Visionary Orchestra to the Great Hall!” After breakfast he rummaged through his belongings, walked down the street to St. George Pawn Shop and swapped his fathers vintage coins for a used banjo. On the way home he contemplated the name of his future band.
“If you like Jad Fair or Daniel Johnston, it is pretty safe to assume you will like Bogs Visionary Orchestra. If you like the Shaggs, it’s even more likely. There are only maybe 135 people in the world who really like Jad Fair, Daniel Johnston, or the Shaggs and I’ve heard that 14 of the 135 died this year.”
-San Diego Entertainer Magazine: Off the Beaten Track — Mary Leary 8/7/09
Bogs Visionary Ochestra
Bogs Visionary Orchestra’s music can be described simplest as Weird folk. Their sound and look convey the childlike wonder of outsider art, Psychedelic folk and depression era Americana. BVO is known for their sprawling and jubilant around-NYC performances. Their imaginative and artful approach to live shows which include elements of installation and audience collaboration has won them audiences at alternative and mainstream venues including The Brooklyn Museum of Art, The Whitney Museum of Art, Arlene’s Grocery, CBGB’s and The Bitter End. BVO has shared the stage with fellow Indie folksters Brother Danielson and Sufjan Stevens as well as inclusion on Asthmatic Kitty’s “Mews Too” Compilation, which also featured My Brightest Diamond, Half-Handed Cloud and the Castanets.
“…But “Mews Too” most perfect moment comes from new-comers, Bogs Visionary Orchestra. Their song "Everybody's Broken" is vibrant and leaves me wonderstruck. This is what great comps are all about - finding a gem you'd never hear otherwise.
-The black and White
BVO’s first album “Recession Special” reached #5 on Michigan’s, WMTU ’s top 20 for Americana/AAA format, as well as airplay on WTJU 91.1FM VA and WFMU 91.1FM NJ (With two in studio performances on Trash, Twang & Thunder). Their second album “Maladroits Union” was reviewed by indie music site The Hippodrome with a featured article/interview with A. Bogs.
“So there you have it folks, a visual artist with a musical mission to create and not just consume! Do yourself a favor and pick up Maladroits Union, Bogs Visionary Orchestra’s latest relic that is as eccentric as it is beautiful.”
-The Hippodrome: by Erik Sutch
BVO’s most recent release “Mean Old World” received positive coverage in The San Diego Entertainer, Rootstime.be, Atlcounty.nl & Soul-Audio. You can find Bogs Visionary Orchestra’s music on all major digital distribution sites including Amazon and Itunes. Led by simple arrangements, memorable lyrics and peculiar vocals Bogs Visionary Orchestra’s motto always rings true, “Art is for folks!”
Bogs Visionary Orchestra is artist/performer A. Bogs: vocals, banjo, hi-strung guitar, electric guitar, banjo-uke & auto harp.
The BVO line-up ranges from A. Bogs solo to a full six-piece band. Regular and guest musicians include Tom Lake: drums/percussion, Bobby Antosca & Josh Richards: bass, Bob Thorne: accordion & piano, Jose delhart: lapsteel and lead guitar, Ernesto Gomez: harmonica & banjo, Elisa Flynn: Harmonium & backing vocals, Zach H.: loops & backing vocals, Maryrose & Jill Pittman: backing vocals