Rock, in its purest form, like a drug, is addictive. Rock fans crave its untameable energy, breathtaking power and dirty sexuality. Rock music is the only vice left that we can all participate in without condemnation. However in today’s market it is very hard to find pure rock; everything seems to come with a sub-category, i.e. alt, indie, roots, hard and even classic. But now, I have found a pure source in the LA-based band, Vintage.

With a sound and style dripping with the stench of a groovy retro clothing shop, Vintage are rapidly carving themselves a fan base all over the U.S.A. and recently went on a tour in support of their debut album Take It All. This quintet are Ben Carter (lead vocals), Stephen Limbaugh (piano, trumpet and cowbell), Brandon Sweeney (guitar, back-up vocals), Shaughn Kennedy (bass, back-up vocals), and Nadir Maraschin (drums). Five men with the vision and desire to make a pure rock album and the talent, temerity and mettle to make it work, these guys are truly rock to the core.

Formed when Ben and Stephen, childhood friends from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, began writing songs together over the internet. In early 2003, Stephen moved out to LA to join Ben and they began to put together Vintage. With a string of successes including winning Hard Rock/KROQ Battle of the Bands and B.B. King's Battle of the Bands under their belts they began recording their debut album. Vintage released Take It All in August 2006 in front of a crowd of 800 at Hollywood’s Club Element and then promptly left for on their first U.S. tour in support of their new album.

I recently talked with founding member, classically-trained pianist and cousin to Rush, Stephen Limbaugh. An intelligent, witty and outspoken guy with drive and ambition to make his band number one, and he believes they are that great. He may be right. With tongue firmly planted in his cheek Stephen talked to me about his band, Vintage’s debut album and why he loves touring.

I understand your most recent tour was very successful. Tell me about that.

Anytime you come back after a success like that you feel even more validated in what you are doing. That’s really the core of the success because that validation, to me, is more of a “Why the hell aren’t we the biggest rock band in the world yet because we are doing such great things.” Or we see the reactions on peoples faces when we play when we play and we wonder, “Wow if these people are enjoy this right now and they are having an absolute blast, everybody’s having a good time, we can take this to bigger stages and even more people such a great time at a live show!” That’s, I think, the core of the success for me.