The Velocipedes are a rock and roll band from Vancouver, Washington. They formed during the winter of '04 as a way of occupying themselves during an ice storm, when the roads were impassable and both school and work were cancelled. Initially, they performed as an accompaniment for spoken word nights, parties and other social events, plaing mostly covers, jams, and protracted jokes. (well, just one protracted joke mostly, but it was a darn good one) These sessions were not as a formal band per se but as an extension of the friendsip they already had. Gradually, however, they started thinking of themselves as a cohesive unit, developed a band name that wasn't a bad joke, and started writing their own material.

The primary lyrical motivation for the Velocipedes is their current surroundings at the time. Instead of approaching song-writing from a fixed attitude or political stance, their songs are observational, recording what it's about and what it's like to fall in love, to live in a bland Northwest town, and what it's like having your head lodged inside a drum. Not really aligning themselves with any particular movement or sound, the band borrows liberally across rock and roll history, from Bob Dylan and the Troggs to Wilco and the Shins. Their playing is loose and simple, leaving enough space for off kilter soloing and sophisticated word-play. The rhythm section is obedient but loud, making their songs more hefty and substantive than their sometimes decidedly philosophical lyrics would suggest. Sparse keyboards add a touch more melody to their arrangements.

The LiNeUp for the Velocipedes consists of Woogis, on vocals and guitar, BreAna Loranger on drums, Joe Thompson on Bass, and Amber Loranger on Keyboards.

The Velocipedes like very much to play shows, and are available for parties, concerts, weddings, bat mitzvahs, etc.

Thanks to THE MATTHEW SPENCER for writing this bio, which Amber revised a tiny bit.