This month's Artist of the Month is Washington, DC's Vandaveer.  The band is led by Mark Charles Heidinger, who writes folk-rock songs that are both theatrical in tone and cinematic in imagery.  You'll notice the influences- Bob Dylan and Tom Waits, especially- but there is greatness in both the writing and the delivery that is impossible to deny.  When joined by talented sister Rose Guerin on backing vocals, the songs become even more enticing, lifted by the powerful combination of their voices.

Though not identical in approach or song-craft, Heidinger is somewhat reminiscent of Glen Hansard (The Swell Season and The Frames), in that you can imagine both as mesmerizing buskers, guys that can enthrall passers-by in the street with their literate, passionate songs. 

The group released its first album, Grace & Speed, in 2007.  The Washington Post declared that the music on that record has a "directness and immediacy that evokes pre-electric Bob Dylan."  Now the band has a new record, Divide & Conquer, that will be released in France, Belgium & Switzerland on April 6th, 2009 via Alter. K Records / Discograph.

You can catch them on tour, as well, in the southeastern US and France over the next two months:

03/09 Washington, DC - The Black Cat
03/10 Roanoke, VA - The Water Heater
03/11 Charlottesville, VA - Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar
03/12 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
03/13 Athens, GA - Flicker Theater & Bar
03/14 Nashville, TN - The Basement
03/15 Lexington, KY - The Dame
03/16 Louisville, KY - The Green Building
04/11 Rouen, France - L'Emporium Galorium
04/15 Feyzin (Lyon), France - Epicerie Moderne Club
04/16 Orleans, France - L'Atelier
04/18 Paris, France - Le Divan Du Monde
04/19 Laval, France - Le 6 Par 4
04/20 Toulouse, France - Le Saint Des Seins
04/21 Bordeaux, France - Saint Ex
04/22 Tours, France - Donald's Pub
04/23 Tulle, France -  Les Lendemains Qui Chantent
04/24 Reims, France - L'Appart Cafe
04/29 Nantes, France - Sputnik Bar
04/30 Le Havre, France - Be Pop Cafe

We brought the band in for a live session in Brooklyn this past December.   Check out the outstanding acoustic performances below!