A lily with grass rootsFriday, June 21, 2002
 |
 Valerie Vigoda of Groovelily. |
WHO: Groovelily, with Willie Porter and the Road Dog Divas.
WHAT: Pop-rock.
WHEN: 7:30 and 10:30 tonight.
WHERE: The Bottom Line, 15 W. Fourth St., Manhattan. (212) 228-6300.
HOW MUCH: $15.
Groovelily will celebrate Independence Day two weeks early tonight with a headlining show at the Bottom Line in Manhattan. Free from having to be “perfect” for record company executives, the eclectic pop trio is performing for the people who want to be there: their growing following in the tri-state area.
Make no mistake, the door is open for any major players who’d like a piece of these brilliant musicians, but the band has made the decision to grow geometrically rather than obey the rigid and straight path of the “do this” boot camp of the industry’s commanding officers.
“Record company people only come out on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday,” says Groovelily’s witty and gregarious vocalist-keyboardist, Brendan Milburn. “We’ve been told what nights to perform and then never hear from those people again. We’ve been told where we have to be, and when, by insignificant others. It’s time to do things our way.”
Call it the Groovelily Liberation Tour 2002.
“This is our career, and this is the way it’s happening,” says Valerie Vigoda, the headstrong yet affable leader of arguably the most novel and commercially viable band without a major label contract. “We’ve decided not to compromise anymore.”
The classically trained Vigoda, a Princeton graduate and Milburn’s wife, wields the Viper, a custom six-string electric violin that’s gotten more national exposure than her New York-based band during her previous tours with such luminaries as Cyndi Lauper, Joe Jackson, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The Viper is becoming more venomous these days, as Vigoda coaxes guitar-like wails out of the Mark Wood-designed solid body that would make Eddie Van Halen jealous.
And sing? Just ask those who’ve witnessed the Vigoda spectrum, which soars from Broadway chic to arena anthemic.
They are marketable pop-rock sounds for sure, but the people throwing around the greenbacks mistakenly think the sounds – complemented by jazz-influenced drummer Gene Lewin – can’t coexist with Top 40 radio. (Guitarist Chris Tarrow and bassist Malcolm Gold are joining the threesome onstage tonight.)
Having also been embraced by the folk-music community, Groovelily will not turn its back on its diverse fan base, even if it prevents pigeonholing the band – which seems to be a prerequisite for major-label attention.
Having to survive on its own, Groovelily appreciates magnanimous folk festival promoters who’d rather compensate the band than hoard the profits.
Groovelily’s here-to-please-all melodies are ubiquitous on the band’s live CD, “Just the Three of Us,” recorded in Vienna, Va., and Old Lyme, Conn., and due out in July.
“The CD has quiet, thoughtful stuff, and all-out loud stuff,” Milburn says. “When Gene breaks out the full drum kit [in larger venues], we just play much louder.”
And it’s being heard by a steadfast Groovelily street team called the Petal Pushers, a group of fans in various regions nationwide who get the word out on their favorite performers with workmanlike efficiency. Whether it’s tacking a gig poster on a tree or working the merchandise table at a show, the Petal squadron displays mettle. They’ve helped sell 2,500 copies of Groovelily’s 2001 CD, “Little Light.”
Groovelily also is planning a fan cruise to the Bahamas this fall to hang out with, and perform for, its most loyal supporters (www.groovelily.com).
“One thing that keeps us going is we tell people, ‘If you like this music, tell a friend,’ and they do,” says Milburn.
“It makes our fans feel empowered to be part of a quality music revolution,” Vigoda says. “The whole team is working harder on all aspects of this business. We’ll keep doing this until the hardships outweigh the benefits.”
Vigoda says Groovelily is encouraged by Columbia’s recent signing of 24-year-old John Mayer, whose deft pop falls right in line with Groovelily.
“Those same forward-thinking executives [who signed Mayer] are very welcome at all our shows,” she says.