The Big Purple Van Club - Innovative Internet Music Site

Part of: Music Site Scavenger

The Big Purple Van Club is a French Internet music site that features videos of awesome underground music acts, filmed in a 1970's Van. While the van drives through the streets of Paris, it becomes a moving theater. The interaction between the musicians and the colorful crew replicate a contemporary version of "The Magical Mystery Tour". The Big Purple Van Club site is a destination where viewers will see all genres of music captured in an atmosphere of love and celebration. The authenticity is potent. To me, it is like seeing a band in a basement, living room, or garage show, where there are few boundaries that separate the audience from the musicians.

The creative staff that makes it all possible include: Pablo Nicomedes (creator/cameraman), Mc Load Le Pirate (the van conductor), Joaquin Lola (sound), and Muchachos (lights). The chic hobo styled foursome brings artistry and personality to the fray. They have designed ingenious ways to film and edit impromptu music sessions while layering humor in the mix.  

I started to visit their myspace site quite regularly and wrote a glowing comment. With a few communications in broken English, we discussed the possibility of doing an interview. Some time passed and I went back to the site and was a little concerned, it was looking a little strange.Surprisingly, all their top friend icons were beautiful woman posed in funny and provocative positions creating a parody of myspace. I was offended and didn't quite get the joke. My rush to judgment was a little embarrassing. I have grown to appreciate their zany antics. They don't take themselves too seriously and that is one reason the site is so refreshing to go to. You almost never know what they will do next.My interview took place with Pablo Nicomedes the creator/film director of The BPVC via email.IntroFor me, being a teenager in the sixties, a van symbolized freedom and the awaiting open road of possibilities. Gas was cheap, there was the call of the sexual revolution, and young people decorated their vans as lo-fi love shacks, unlike the customized vehicles of the “Pimp My Ride” generation.The Vans Torrid History and Karmic UpgradeWhen Pablo found the van he was surprised by it's history. It was a destination for prostitutes to do business in the Pigalle, the red light district in Paris. This was a love shack of a different order, and in Pablo’s mind it represented love of sorts. While viewing the van, He had an epiphany, he thought it would be a wonderful to film musicians and poets in the van and share their energy and passion via the Internet. The dull old van got a face-lift and was painted purple. That was the inauguration of The Big Purple Van Club.

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Article Author: Artifact

I write about music I love. I listen, absorb, see live, and then write. Also, go to Obsession Collection.

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