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For nearly a decade Michael Harrison Berg of Van Ghost was a behind the scenes type of guy. Having poured his energy into his ventures as a concert promoter and band manager, little was left over for personal creative endeavors. That all changed in 2007 when Berg's close friends encouraged him to revisit the acoustic guitar he put down in his younger days and asked him to perform a song at their wedding. Melding the inspiration from the many talented bands he has worked with and his own passion for music, the singer returned to his roots. He began writing songs, drawing from his life experiences, creating a heartfelt and staggeringly honest perspective. After building up a solid repertoire of folk ballads, gritty alt country tunes and classic rock laced jams, Berg assembled an all-star cast of musicians and named the project Van Ghost. With an exquisite 6 piece band flavored with pedal steel guitars and haunting guy/girl harmonies, the band played it's debut show before a packed audience at Chicago's revered Metro in January 2008. It was an auspicious beginning for one of Chicago's most promising new acts. With plans to release their debut record, Melodies For Lovers, on Split Red Records and a slew of national tour dates, Berg has established that he is as comfortable operating under the spotlight as he is behind the curtain. With Van Ghost he sets out to inspire music fans the same as other artists have inspired him - one song at a time.
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Daily Herald
One listen to the album's rough mix belies Van Ghost's relative youth. From the evocative lope of opener "Summer Promise" to the dramatic, somewhat darker flourishes of powerful closer "Coliseum," its atmosphere is warm and vibrant, its rootsy grooves tight and assured. Berg's pensive pipes intertwine with the sultry jazz-schooled tones of Jennifer Hartswick, a Vermont transplant who is best known as a member of Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio's band. It's obvious why Berg says O'Keefe called the material "the perfect blend of desperation and hope." (Jeff Pizek - Daily Herald)
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Avant/Chicago
Van Ghost, Melodies for Lovers - With a spaced-out intro which leads into the catchy mountain rock of Summer Promise, Van Ghost gets your deserved attention from the beginning. The band moves ever so slightly around the folk-rock/alt-country spectrum but drops in some indie leanings on Through The Years. Van Ghost mixes in some southern aspects, Sixties Rock and doses of that Indie throughout to keep the directed album interesting. A great beginning. 85/100
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Hidden Track on Glide Magazine
Melodies For Lovers, features the tender yet intense songs of longtime Chicago music scene fixture Michael Harrison Berg. Rocco Labriola’s uplifting pedal steel licks mix perfectly with the gorgeous harmonies Berg lays down with vocalist Jennifer Hartswick on each Van Ghost original. Our first taste of Melodies For Lovers is a single called Summer Promise that sounds equal parts Oasis, CCR, Wilco, Moonboot Lover and The Byrds.
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His voice has just the right touch of timidity, making each word he sings seem honest and direct, allowing the lyrics and music to blend in a way that the overall songwriting craft becomes the center of attention.
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