Unlike the Big Apple or Hollywood, Bakersfield is not exactly the place to find stardom. For one local band, Bakersfield is not only the place they call home, but it’s also where they got started.
Ryan Sanders, Connor Crawford, Bryce Nichols, Chris Puckett and Seth McConnell came together as Vogue in the Movement. Since 2007, they’ve performed in front of crowds and opened for major bands.
Puckett, 20, explains how the group got their name.
“Honestly, we never have a straight answer for this question. I came into the band after they had already come up with it,” Puckett said. “As time went along, though, it ended up fitting us perfectly. The term ‘in the movement’ sort of sums up what we want to do with our music.”
Touring is also a part of their agenda. They’ve opened for bands like The All-American Rejects, Plain White T’s and Fall Out Boy. Vogue’s next tour takes off mid-Oct. and will run until mid-Nov.
“[We’ll perform] with the band A Bird A Sparrow,” said Nichols, 22.
Puckett, who is the lead singer, explains, “Our next move is to write and record as much as we can, play in front of kids as often as we can, and hopefully one day find a label to back us.”
They’re doing their own thing; as the band came to find out, trying to get signed first thing wasn’t the way to go.
“We have met and played with a ton of labels and haven’t found a home yet. The ‘get signed’ world didn’t work out,” Sanders, 20, explained.
Although they aren’t signed yet, MTV filmed Vogue’s first music video last month. Their video for “Head Over Heels” was directed by Artificial Army, who has also directed the bands The Mars Volta and Coheed and Cambria.
Sanders said, “It was really fun. Part of it was filmed in Hollywood on the streets and we filmed our performance in central L.A.”
Since the filming of their video they are also in a contest with MTV called “I Want My Music On MTV.” They are the only unsigned band in the contest.
“We were one of four bands selected for this, and if we win, our video for our song ‘Head Over Heels’ gets played on MTV in full rotation,” said Puckett.
Although the band has more publicity now on TV, they still stick to who inspires them. Sanders and Crawford play the guitars and are influenced by Jimmy Eat World.
“The Smiths are really awesome,” Sanders added.
“Wesley Willis inspires me!” drummer McConnell, 26, said.
Bassist Nichols says he’s more into piano rock. “The Fray and Something Corporate,” he said.
Puckett is influenced by those who affect him enough to write a song about them.
“Also, The Beatles set a pedestal for me. They had song writing down.”
Touring, writing and recording are the next moves for Vogue. You can buy their music on iTunes and check their website, www.inthemovement.com, for more information on tour dates. The only place to see their music video for “Head Over Heels” is on www.iwantmymusic.mtv.com. Voting for the competition will take place until Oct. 12.