Night life is exciting. For many, it is a chance
to go out and do something different or adventurous. For a select few, it is a
time to shine. Julian Velard is one of those people– kindergarten gym teacher
by day, but as soon as the sun goes down, he transforms into a deep-voiced,
piano-playing, singer-songwriter. Almost reminiscent of Billy Joel’s upbeat
tunes, Velard’s songs are charming and fun. His self-released 2009 album, Planeteer, is classified as pop on
iTunes, and that is the best way to describe his music. He writes warm,
piano-filled tunes that have a way of staying in your head and making you feel
lighter.
The 11-track album is a charmer from the get-go
with Velard’s talent on the piano complimented by his rich crooning. While his
lyrics are neither profound nor revolutionary, the upbeat melodies will leave
you ready to dance the night away with a lover; or at least sit back, sip a
cocktail, and tap your feet along. Some might even call the album quirky, with
songs concerning both “Jimmy Dean & Mr. Steve McQueen.” He sings about just
enjoying life and running “away to a blue sky/hanging on the ceiling.” The 4th
track, “Little Demons” is a gem touching on those things that “bark and bite”
and can leave us feeling blue, but the songs towards the middle of the album take
a turn towards the repetitive side. Though Velard’s voice is smooth, it is
limited in range which can add to the repetitiveness.
However, the lively piano makes up for the
occasional monotonous feel, and one of the last tracks, “A Dream,” manages to
refresh listeners with a change in mood and sound. The ballad features a
beautiful yet sad melody with Velard singing about a love that has come and
gone; perhaps a tired theme in music, but the song features a new take on it. Following
this turn, he keeps his tunes solid to the end of Planeteer. Overall, it is a
strong album that will certainly win him new fans.
Velard has performed with big names like Ben
Kweller, sassy Kate Nash, Jos? Gonz?lez, and jazzy Jaime Cullum, though mostly
in the UK and other parts of Europe. He is back in the United States at last on
a new tour with critics predicting a dazzling future ahead. Most artists tend
to perform in small theatres or if they are big enough, arenas, but Velard
sticks to piano bars and caf?s, keeping his shows intimate.
Velard’s tour to promote Planeteer and his upcoming 2011 album, Mr. Saturday Night, began in New York, his native city, and includes
a stop in Madison. We will get our very own piano-man for an evening.
Julian
Velard will be performing at the Ivory Room on October 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets are
available at the door before the show.
