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The band Velma are proof that it’s never too late to do anything. The band, comprised of current and former University of Maine faculty, speaks with the prowess of age, but plays with the tenacity of youth. The Orono natives find joy in making music together, whether it’s in front of a youthful crowd at a backyard party, or at Dirigo Pines retirement community.
Their latest gig, a benefit concert at Verve, had the five members jamming along to one bluesy, bluegrassy tune after another. With Margo Lukens on guitar and mandolin, Paul Reichmann on bass, Sue Hamlett on percussion, Harvey Kail on harmonica and Steve McKay on guitar and accordion, Velma embody a relaxed, acoustic vibe.
Formed in September 2006, the band was born from the remnants of a previous musical endeavor Reichmann was involved with. After that band broke up, McKay, Hamlett and Lukens joined to start a more acoustic project with vocal harmonies — Kail joined the band later on.
Five to six months after its inception, Velma started playing gigs ranging from appearances at Woodman’s Bar & Grille to a 50th Anniversary party in Canada.
Rehearsals at the home of Reichmann and Hamlett usually become an open forum for ideas, according to the band. Jokes about Lukens’ tardiness darted around, but Reichmann said the rehearsals were effective for working out issues and practicing songs.
The band’s namesake was also developed at their practice space.
“Their next door neighbor’s name is Velma,” Lukens said. “Right across the fence was her house, and we used to feel like, ‘Oh this poor woman is listening to all the noises we’re making.’”
“She was the first person to hear us,” added McKay.
Velma, who perform almost strictly covers, said their diversity of material allows them have a lot of fun. According to McKay, each member of the band brings different ideas for songs to the table. Each person is passionate about the genre or artist they are bringing to the table.
“Songs don’t stay the same,” Hamlett said. “We’re changing as we go along and we’re learning more and then something that we’ve been playing a certain way all along, we say, ‘Well, let’s try it this way.’ There are a number of songs that we play that have gone through several generations of how we play them. Nothing is sacred.”
The band doesn’t see their age as a limiting factor. They have played for college students and received great responses, and played at Dirigo Pines to the same response, according to Kail. Their performance at Verve was attended by wine-sipping community members packed into the small café.
A recent performance on a radio show and at a block party were great opportunities for the band, according to Kail.
“It was just a hoot to play for college students,” Kail said. “People were dancing and having fun and we really like that. We’d love to play a gig with some young bands. We’d love to share the stage with some college-age rockers. Trade licks and have fun, learn from each other.”
Lukens praised the younger generation for having such accessibility to music.
“They can listen to anything they feel like without having to dust off old records,” said Lukens. “They just go to iTunes and get what they want so they know all this music.”
Velma covers songs written in the ’20s and ’30s, such as Hank Williams covers. They will then jump to Beatles covers or the more recent folk jams by Old Crowe Medicine Show.
According to Hamlett, the band is better than the demos they have recorded. The band said they are not focused as much on recorded material as playing live and sharing their music that way. McKay said he was excited about the group’s recent Facebook page.
While some members have been playing music for years, Hamlett describes herself as a total neophyte.
“I started off by just banging on things, because I wanted to be with these people,” Hamlett said. She began playing the drums after Reichmann’s bandmate left the kit at their house.
“I never thought of myself as a musician, never thought of myself as musical,” Hamlett said. “I think the message in that is never say never.”
“It’s been a great trip and it’s never too late to have a band,” Lukens said, “that’s the really nice thing about it.”
Hamlett said the most exciting part is creating art with the people she loves.
“We’re engaged in an ongoing process of making something, and that is exciting and sustaining,” Hamlett said.
“It’s a rare thing,” McKay added.
