Common Ground:: 6.19.04
John Van Deusen, a 16 year old from Anacortes, has an exclusive technique that separates him from the majority of the local musicians.
Following the set of his good friend, Tim Leighton, John easily grabs the crowds' attention and displays his ability to try new and unusual things despite possible expectations of him.
The atypical sounds booming from John's IPOD were intriguing and engaging. After a few minutes of John and his audience listening to a compilation of chaotic sounds, a slight hip-hop beat was added. Van Deusen pierced the machine-produced music with bracing keys that were further captivating. This being the second time I have seen John perform a solo set; I am still floored by the mature voice that comes out of the young artist.
John Van Deusen is an obvious creative soul. Despite having little training on piano he is still able to create suiting melodies that do not sound even slightly novice. Natural talent and presence behind the mic is an advantage. John's calmness on stage makes even the most chaotic moments comfortable for his audience. That is the definition of good stage presence. If he is nervous at all while performing he certainly masks it well.
The fourth song on his set list is a song influenced by the book "1984". This song is yet another example of John's strong artistic quality, with lyrics that are deep and experienced.
Ending his set by turning up his guitar so loud that the audience began to wonder if it was truly intentional, while screaming repeatedly, he set an amazing ambiance. With an abrupt end to his song, it felt much like a gasp. Like everyone in the room was holding their breath while John poured out the piercing chords from the guitar and unanticipated screams. It was an amazing end to a wonderfully surprising set.
review by: Jacquee
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