Biography
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Years Active
1999 – present (25 years)
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Members
- Michael Bruce
- Mike Grosshandler
- Todd Minnick
There is/was more than one band called The Velmas:
1) The Velmas were an indie rock band formed in Lafayette IN in the mid 90s. They began showcasing throughout Chicago, gigging several times at Lounge Ax, Empty Bottle and Double Door. They released one album full of charming quirky Midwest Americana pop songs entitled "Landscrapes" in 1996 and were hindered when their bass player left the band and were never able to fully recover and get back on track. The Velmas disappeared from the Chicago music scene as quickly as they bursted on. They are terribly missed by their loyal fans.
BAND MEMBERS:
John deMoulpied, guitar/lead vocals
Jessica Billey, violin/backing vocals
Kevin Dunbar, drums
Guy Crundwell, bass/backing vocals
2) The Velmas are a rock band from Albany, NY. They formed in 1999.
Comprised of bassist Todd "Figaro" Minnick, guitarist Mike Grosshandler ("Harvey"), and drummer Michael "Bruce" Bruce, The Velmas write and perform original rock music. In concert, the Velmas back their music with a playful, high-energy live show.
The Velmas signed with the New York City independent record label City Canyons Records in 2006.
The Velmas have released three CDs so far. Their debut album was Another Day at School (2002). Next was Recess (2004). Recess was a "double EP" featuring new and unreleased studio tracks, as well as several live tracks. It includes a very well-received live version of the Scooby Doo theme song, as well as the song "Restless, Restless," which was selected out of thousands of entries as one of the top 20 finalists on Howard Stern's much-publicized "Restless, Restless" contest. The Velmas released their second full-length album, Station, on City Canyons Records on October 31, 2006.
City Canyons Records released a digital single called "Playground" by The Velmas in 2009. The song was recorded in the same sessions that produced the album "Station" – at Robby Takac's (of the Goo Goo Dolls) "Chameleon West" studio in Buffalo, NY.
The Velmas also appear on a few compilation CDs:
2006 - Twenty Stories Below (A Tribute to Blind Melon)
2005 - Music Is Art 2005
2005 - The Best of Restless, Restless (Volume 1)
2004 - LakeFX Radio's Best of 2004
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