It was a Wednesday night back in October when I first witnessed the joy of Velveteen Pink.
I was in a foul mood, unexcited at the prospect of standing through three questionable local bands in order to see the one I had come out to observe; The Treatment. They had made it into the third round of the Gainesville Battle of the Bands, and all my friends and co-workers were flocking to the Common Grounds that night in support.
I was having one of those “everything that can go wrong will go wrong” type of weeks. I remember coming home from work that afternoon, plopping myself into bed and burrowing deep into the covers only to emerge an hour or so late for my concert date. Upon this realization I believe I stayed in bed another 15 minutes or so before begrudgingly dragging myself to Common Grounds for the show.
I walked in late, and I remember stopping in the entrance, frozen in awe. A genuine smile crossed my face, for the first time that week. What I saw before me was not your typical rock band, it was Velveteen Pink. They were wearing matching blue polyester suits and playing their hearts out, with a stage presence hard pressed to be topped by most acts in Gainesville.
I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. Having been born in the ’80s I’d only been privileged to see such things on television reruns of the psychedelic ’70s.
As I glanced around the room, I saw that not a single soul was standing still. Even the Emo kids with their strange hair cuts and thick-rimmed glasses were tapping their Converse All-Stars to the beat.
I’ve heard Velveteen Pink’s unique sound compared to the likes of KC and the Sunshine Band, Rick James, and New Order – artists that all represent their own variety of upbeat and danceable pop. They are worthy comparisons, but VP has a unique vibe that’s all their own.
They borrow from the funky sounds of the ’70s (citing Stevie Wonder and Prince as two major influences) and give it their own twist, adding rocking beats and exceptional melodies. They manage to bring the funk forward to the 21st century with tracks like “Optimistic Love” and “Girls Who Abuse,’” keeping all the booties shaking.
Considering the fact that I can’t even play a basic beat on the drums (even playing air-drums is a stretch), I can appreciate the dual talents of lead singer Nick Robbins, who pounds out the beat while crooning. Sure, it’s been done before, but the coordination this feat takes always impresses me.
Also adding spice to Velveteen Pink are Alfredo Lapuz Jr. and Stanley Walker II. The two both take on the role of keyboard and help bring out the unique synthetic side of the group. The final man adding to the recipe is Timothy Deaux, who does double duties on both guitar and bass. All four of the guys combine on vocals, harmonizing their way to a standout pitch.
Though their sound is unmatched in the new musical mecca of Gainesville, FL, it is their stage presence that truly mesmerizes the audience. Since my first rendezvous with the band I’ve been lucky enough to see them live on three more occasions. Each time they were dressed to impress in matching outfits, my favorite being the pink track suits with matching sweatbands. You can tell that a lot goes into the preparation for their shows, and witnessing that coordinated head-nod can do wonders in brightening a person’s day.
Their energy on stage is intense and watching them have such a wonderful time on stage brings a smile to your face. It’s no wonder they beat out 143 other bands to take the title and win Gainesville’s 2nd Annual Battle of the Bands.
If you’d like to catch Velveteen Pink live, the perfect opportunity would be on Thursday, March 16th in Daytona Beach, Florida, as part of our BTR spring break concert. Also playing will be Beautiful Mess (Jacksonville, FL) and Bracelet (Gainesville, FL).