The Vliets are a band from Austin, TX consisting of Ty Bohrnstedt (vocals, … Read Full Bio ↴The Vliets are a band from Austin, TX consisting of Ty Bohrnstedt (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Daniel Gonzalez (bass guitar, keyboards, drums), and Max Anderson (drums). Their band name pays homage to the 1960's avant-garde artist Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart).

Bohrnstedt and Gonzalez met in Dallas in 2007. Both were nationally ranked junior tennis players that competed against each other throughout their childhood, however they did not become friends until after their tennis careers were over. Bohrnstedt was introduced to Gonzalez via Gonzalez's roommate at that time.

Daily hangouts at Gonzalez's apartment quickly developed into a true friendship that started over a love for music, specifically music by John Frusciante, among others. The pair spent hours theorizing, discussing, and playing music in Gonzalez's apartment or Bohrnstedt's parents' house. Their shared passion encouraged the duo to drive regularly from Dallas to Austin to meet with friend, Anderson, who played drums. This bimonthly commute remained consistent for several years and the trio has continued to play together since their first show in Austin in 2010.

In 2012 Gonzalez moved to Chicago. Some of their work comes from email exchanges, long phone calls, and occasional travels. In 2012 alone, The Vliets released their second EP, God’s Drug, collaborated with Analog Rebellion (formerly PlayRadioPlay) on the song “Use Your Big Boy Words” which makes an appearance on their upcoming album Full Frontal, and contributed to a Pink Floyd tribute album organized through Halcyon Records (Canada). The Vliets will be performing shows along the East Coast, West Coast, and Midwest in 2013.

The Vliets’ sound is art synth-pop mixed with 1960's psychedelic rock. They have opened for several acts such as Frankie Rose, DIIV, Kyle Andrews, We Are Augustines, and Analog Rebellion and have been featured in several press articles such as The Deli Magazine, Art Nouveau Magazine, Fake Walls, EARMILK, Listen Before You Buy and many others. The Deli Magazine music panel recently voted The Vliets as "2nd best band in Chicago" in 2012. Fake Walls listed the song "God's Drug" as one of the top 20 best songs of 2012 (#17). The band has also been named "Soundclouder of the Day" by Soundcloud.

The Vliets EP (2011) and God's Drug EP (2012) are available to stream on Spotify, EarBits, Bandcamp, and Soundcloud, and for sale on iTunes or as "name your own price" on Bandcamp.

The band uses the oil painting art pieces of their close friend Edgar Cardoze for their album covers. (http://www.cardozeportfolio.blogspot.com/).