Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies: General Info
Member Since
8/7/2006
Band Members
Karen Blanco: Organ, Electric Piano
Fizzy Water
Sheep
Brushed Down Bangs
Jimmy Page or
Richard Wright
George
Amanda Brooks: Singing, Guitar
Scotch and Soda
Rooster
Kneesocks
Syd Barrett
George
Doug Edmunds: Drums, The Egg
Sun: Coffee,
Moon: Dark Beer
Sheep
Black Leather Boots
Deborah Harry
George
Cathleen Keyser: Bells, Glockenspiel, Rattlesnake, Triangle, and then some
PBR w/a Whiskey Side
Horse
Beehive
Kevin Barnes
Paul
Alex Maiolo: The Electric Bass
Islay
Monkey
Boating Blazer
Francoise Hardy
Unapologetically Paul
(but just barely)
Other lovely lovelies in these recordings: Jose Boyer, Robin Chen, Matt McCallus, Meg McKee .
Influences
The Kinks, Syd Barrett and The Pink Floyd, Lilys, The Beatles, Deerhoof, Donovan, Sleater-Kinney, Helium/Mary Timony, Love, The Zombies, Olivia Tremor Control, Led Zeppelin, Bikini Kill, The Ace of Cups, The Feminine Complex, The Raincoats, Marching Band.
Sounds Like
"They make me forget the importance of writing correctly and making sense. They transport me to a wonderful place full of gumdrop people swimming in rivers of pink lemonade."
Created in the Sandoz lab under the direction of Dr. Albert Hoffman, Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies were the result of an experiment that went very, very right. The details are hazy, but what we *do* know is that it involved members of the Shangri-Las, and romantic interludes with various bands that would later surface on the Nuggets compilation. The Zombies were playing on the Hi-Fi at the time.
After an idyllic, technicolor youth, spent picnicking in parks, riding their matching white bicycles around the countryside, and groundbreaking archaeology work, another mysterious occurrence sadly scattered them to various corners of the globe. The only reported connection that occurred during this dark period seems to have been a dream had by all five members, simultaneously. In it, Serge Gainsbourg appeared, waving a kaleidoscope. He told them that the sum of their parts was greater than five, and that they simply must reunite. Various ley line readings suggested that the Chapel Hill/Carrboro region of North Carolina would be ideal.
Amanda was the first to know what to do. The idea came to her while she was playing in a Kinks cover band that made frequent visits to Donovan's ashram. She thought, "What if I reconnected with the Sandoz 5, equipped them with lashings of knee socks, copious amounts of velvet, and a smattering of ruffles, then set out on a quest to find the ultimate sunshine pop song?" The five were reunited immediately, and the task was assumed.
The expedition was ultimately abandoned, however. It seemed as though the ultimate pop song had not yet been written. After a few false starts, they had an epiphany while attending a secret Raincoats concert held on Sleater-Kinney's lawn. With marching orders in hand, the reenergized Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies set out to finally WRITE that perfect sunshine pop song.
To make matters even more perfect, an unearthed will revealed that Syd Barrett's estate had bequeathed to them a magic combo organ, complete with rainbow lights, along with a set of equally intriguing hand bells. A cryptic note was attached offering no explanation beyond the fact that they would "know what had to be done" with these treasures.
With each attempt to write their penultimate song, they get closer to their goal, and their bond grows stronger. No obstacle can get in their way, though a few bands have tried. As usual, what those challenges actually were are unclear, but for now let's just say that offers made to the Pipettes for an ultimate bar fight have, as of this writing, gone unanswered, even granting them Dressy Bessy as backup.
What a time we had with you lovely ladies and gents last night. Thank you all so much for coming out in full force, it really meant a lot to us. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
