Military Special CD Release with Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles

Saturday night had two excellent local bands having their CD release shows in the Twin Cities (read below), with me only being able to choose one. Luckily for me, the one I went to was a blast.

Military Special can be described with words that are in no shortage in the musical lexicon these days. Part new wave, part dance rock, they have layers of angular guitars with bouncing synths over both raucous drum beats, both live and programmed. With all of those descriptors on the table, it is still hard to nail down Military Special. On their new self titled EP, they can come across a little too melancholy, but live the yearning vocals get buried underneath the huge drums and synths and spiking guitars. They employ two singers, although the majority of the songs star only one, and the songs are absolutely huge. They often employ TV on the Radio type programmed drum beats that lead into Bloc Party style staccato guitar licks and block rocking keyboard parts that give the crowd no option but to dance. I think that they have a chance to be something big in the Minneapolis scene (and beyond) in the very near future and I would recommend seeing them live if you get the chance. Their new CD should be out everywhere soon.

One of the other bands on the bill was a group that I have heard and have been wanting to see for quite a while, but have never gotten the chance. Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapels have been causing quite a stir in the last couple of months in the local music scene, and after last night, I am firmly on board with supporting this great new band. The 6 piece band is lead by (guess who) Lucy Michelle, who along with singing plays guitar, keys and Ukulele. She has a voice that is very reminiscent of Joanna Newsome, but where Newsome can be overwhelming in large doses, Michelle offers enough variety and gritty emotion to her voice to keep the listener captivated. Her backing band included stand up bass, accordion, guitar, cello and drums. They had a world music sound that at times sounded like Beirut and at other times ramped it up Pouges/Flogging Molly style. Overall, the band was very impressive live and in one night leapfrogged many other bands and with time may become a local favorite for me. Check them out if you get the chance, you will not be disappointed.

It was a great night for local music with my only regret being that I missed the Private Dancer CD release show, which I will make up for tonight at Eclipse....see you there.