_{By Andy McFerren}

There is nothing like the smell of a summer Velour Battle of the Bands. A musk permeates every inch of that place, and as I take a deep breath in, exhaling slowly, it feels like home. I am exactly where I belong. But enough of that. Let’s get on to the music. 

Lighten Up, Francis

Lighten Up, Francis, which sounds like something the main character of a ‘90s kids movie who’s really a bully would say to a minor character, got the night off to a great start. 

Speaking of the ‘90s, everything this band did, from their look to their sound, exuded that wonderful decade. Watching their set was like knowing your cool aunt and/or uncle had a band but then finding out they actually kick ass. It was truly something out of a Tony Hawk Pro Skater game. An era of ‘90s rock that could never truly be put in any one box of genre. The closest comparison I could find was that they reminded me of The Offspring at times but less gimmicky and goofy, although at one point I did see the guitarist strum his guitar with a drumstick. It sounded awesome.

It’s always hard to start off the night, but they got the crowd going, setting the tone for a phenomenal Night 2. 

Antelope Island 

You can get a lot of whiplash at a Velour Battle of the Bands as genres can widely differ from one band to the next, and I’ll be needing to see a physical therapist or those witchdoctors we call chiropractors after going from Lighten Up, Francis to Antelope Island. 

Antelope Island was the coolest band of the night, and they knew it, wearing matching bulky headphones (albeit as in-ear monitors) and sunglasses that looked like they were purchased from a mall kiosk. While they were not the most technically proficient band of the night, this band runs on pure vibes. 

Their first song sounded more like the beginning of a DJ set, but slowly transitioned into a mix of indie rock and bedroom pop. Their set was heavy on vocal effects and it seemed like every instrument played was oozing with so much reverb that the call to get lost in the sauce was nearly overwhelming. 

When things are so vibey, and there are so many things going on at once, the musicianship—much like yourself—can get lost in the ether, but I think that’s the idea. Each song is so well crafted and made with such care and intention that it works. Unfortunately, it distracted from how good of musicians they are, especially the drummer. 

They ended their set with a finale that would go great with an old school laser show. 

Jumpmonk

The whiplash from one band to the next continued, and it’s so severe that I might need an attorney (if only I knew any). Jumpmonk took the stage and immediately wowed everyone. I can still hear the ringing of Joe Sandholtz’s trumpet playing from their opening song. They were that good and that impactful.

Jumpmonk is a contemporary jazz and soul band that does things with music that I can’t explain. Like, I am not smart enough to explain them to you. However, despite my intellectual shortcomings, my ears know greatness when they hear it, and they heard it.

If you need a very basic comparison that still comes up wildly short, they play the music that John Legend tries to get Ryan Gosling to play in La La Land. Do not come after me for that comparison. I am but a simple man.  

If I have one critique of the band, it’s that they’re not the most interesting band to watch. Their technical prowess is captivating, but their stage presence leaves something to be desired. And much like myself, it’s not that the crowd wasn’t enjoying the performance, but I think they were a little confused at what to do sometimes. 

Comply Or Evict 

Comply Or Evict, who got their name from being threatened to be evicted from their townhome for rocking too hard, finished out the night. 

They do not belong in this decade. They’re at least 20 years later than when they should be. But they take their hard rock vibe and they own it. They know exactly who they are, and it works.  

It’s always interesting when a band says the f-word on stage at Velour, the crowd usually visibly tensing at its utterance, but the crowd last night had the least visceral reaction that I’ve seen. I contribute this 100% to the fact that Comply Or Evict exudes charisma and confidence.

While I would mostly describe the band as hard rock or metal, they do venture into rock rap, with the lead singer somehow pulling off a mix between the Dirty Heads and Rage Against The Machine, all while vaguely sounding like Billy Corgan singing. You have to hear it to believe it. I would be remiss if I did not mention the bassist’s incredible backing vocals, which bring that gravelly quality of Breaking Benjamin or Three Days Grace. Angsty 15 year old me would have loved it.

I would like to congratulate Comply Or Evict for successfully getting a mosh pit—a real mosh pit—going at Velour. It even completely opened up, and for a second, I was genuinely terrified. 

The band dedicated their second to last song to a friend who recently passed away. While they did not win the night, it was a beautiful tribute, and they certainly left it all on the court. 

Result

In the end, Jumpmonk walked away with the win, which was well-deserved. They will be moving on to the finals on Saturday. 

Night 3 of Velour’s Summer 2023 Battle of the Bands kicks off tonight at 7:30 PM! Catch The Lazy Loners, Just Khakis, The Plastic Cherries, and Swerved by Blondes. Tickets are $10 at the door. Make sure to follow Jumpmonk on Instagram and check out “Who I Was” by Jumpmonk and Liawe. below!