Groovelily

My first contact with Groovelily was in 2006 when I read about their new show, Striking 12, which had an off-broadway premiere to excellent reviews. I put them out of my head since I wasn't going to be in NYC during the run of the show.

Last night, I had my first opportunity to experience Groovelily live, and it was a thrilling experience. Groovelily has a wonderfully eclectic style that combines elements of theater, jazz and good, old-fashioned rock 'n roll to powerful effect. The music is really driven by the six-string electric violin played by Valerie Vigoda, the founding member of Groovelily. Vocals are shared by keyboardist Brendan Milburn and drummer Glen Lewin, and all three shine as musicians and vocalists. The playlist constructed to give each a number of chances to shine.

The gig last night was a combination of album cuts, songs from theater performances and some new material that will be premiered in a new show next spring. The set was punctuated with a narrative that contextualized the songs and the history of Groovelily. Sometimes the talking seemed a bit much, but it made for a delightful connection between the musicians and the audience.

Groovelily are unique and an always fascinating group. There is great energy in the room and every reason to just want to hang with the band members. They'll be in heavy rotation on the iPod.