Venice is a band from Venice Beach, California that consists of two sets of brothers: Michael and Mark Lennon, and their cousins, Kipp and Pat Lennon. As a band, the Lennons have recorded and performed together since the 1980s. Their music reflects many of their influences while growing up in the small, eclectic and culturally diverse beach town for which they are named. Venice’s sound is at once familiar and fresh, their classic rock and folk influences apparent in their pop sensibilities. Their hybrid of folk/rock/soul is relevant, alive and still growing, with many fans worldwide considering them the torchbearers of the Southern California, west coast sound.
Venice’s trademarks are their vocal harmonies, (reminiscent of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young or the Eagles), their personal lyrics, and their communal live shows; their live show is just as effective whether acoustic in an intimate theatre or an electric show with their full band at sprawling outdoor festivals.
As a group or as individuals, they have performed and/or recorded with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Michael Jackson, David Crosby, Stevie Nicks, Jackson Browne, Brian Wilson, Don Henley, Elton John, Michael McDonald, Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Ambrosia, Heart, Cher, Rick Springfield, America, and the list goes on.
The Lennons spent most of 2010-2013 as backing vocalists performing in the 219 show, record-breaking worldwide arena and stadium tour of “Roger Waters’ The Wall” (Pink Floyd). Venice was invited to join such artists as Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley, Ben Harper and Lyle Lovett in contributing a track to the 2014 compilation album, Looking Into You: A Tribute To Jackson Browne.
For more than twenty-five years, Venice has enjoyed a great level of success in the Netherlands, where their harmonies and musicality are considered a modern extension of what many Europeans call “West Coast Music”. Venice continues to cultivate their reputation overseas and share a longstanding friendship with their audiences, where their post-show meet & greets can sometimes last nearly as long as the shows. “The fans are what make everything possible”, says Venice’s lead guitarist and producer, Michael, “and we don’t forget that.” “We stay after every show to shake hands, take photos.”, says Michael’s brother Marky. Lead vocalist Kipp adds, “We’ve watched so many bands come and go. They have a hit song on the radio, or they’re hot for a few years then they break up. We just slowly chug along making albums, touring…and living our lives. We’ve got bills, children, and all the responsibilities that regular people have…and Venice is not a steady income…but it’s what we love to do so we forge ahead”. Kipp’s brother Pat chimes in, “We’re fortunate enough to make our records in our own home studio, then travel half way across the globe to perform our music and make new friends around the world at the same time. It doesn’t suck.”
The Venice hybrid of folk/rock/soul is relevant, alive and still growing, with many fans worldwide considering them the torchbearers of the Southern California sound. Roll down the window and feel the breeze.
