If you haven't heard of My Dear Disco by now, you will soon. Named one of the most promising bands in the country by the American Eagle New Music Union, MDD includes five musical masterminds who came out of The University of Michigan's music department. And what's more, they've created their own brand of music — cleverly dubbed Dancethink — that will have you bouncing on the dance floor in mere minutes.

"There was never a rigid sense of what our sound needed to be," said Guitarist Robert Lester. "Some bands have a niche that they really fit into; we never really had that. We just like a lot of different music and we wanted to include all elements."

My Dear Disco Rubble's Bar, Mt. Pleasant Sept. 10 myspace.com/mydeardisco

My Dear Disco's discography includes DanceThink LP, which was released in 2009, and its 2010 EP release, Over the Noise. Both discs, and an online collection of remixes, paint a picturesque dance party panorama, in which no one listener ever gets left sitting behind.

Though the band's sound is ultra unique, it doesn't go without influence. The members credit artists like Brazilian Girls, Justice, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder as those who have driven their creativity. They've also gained notoriety for their remix of Kanye West's "Love Lockdown."

Perhaps it's the presence of notable influences in its music that gives My Dear Disco such appeal to a diverse demographic. Looking back, Lester remembers a particular performance during the Venetian Festival in St. Joseph where fans young and old came together.

"Little kids ... were dancing and catching fireflies, and on the other side of the stage a woman in her seventies was grooving," he said.

But it's not just the fans who feel the alterable energy during a My Dear Disco show. Lester will never lose the positive momentum he gained from both of the band's BlissFest performances.

"It felt like we were reaping the harvest of our efforts from the first time around," he said of the band‘s July 10 BlissFest appearance. "The first time we planted a lot of seeds and now BlissFest was like an anniversary. We grew our relationships with our fans. It was quite an arrival."

As for the band's positive attention and awards, Vocalist Michelle Chamuel chalks it up as motivation.

"It's a great honor and definitely fueled us and made us push harder," she said.

Lester adds, "It was like a narrow window of time where you feel it and then come back to earth."

Alfonso Civile, frontman for the heavy rock band Know Lyfe, out of Lansing, has his fair share of battle scars.

"I'm actually recovering from a broken jaw," Civile said. "I fractured my left jaw on my bassist's headstock on accident during a concert last Wednesday."

The broken jaw is a testament to Know Lyfe's give-it-all-up-leave-it-all-up-there mode of performance. But, Civile insists, stage injuries are nothing new. He's had his eyebrow slit open, his face bruised, and other fractures. Now, performing with a bum jaw, Civile gets severe headaches after a few songs, but plays on despite the unbearable pain. Given 10 years in any occupation, you'd expect a few afflictions along the way.

"Yeah, we've struggled from time to time," Civile says. "We almost got into a fistfight with our drummer when he said he was going to quit. We've all said we'd quit once or twice, but we weren't serious."

None of the four members of Know Lyfe have quit, however, and now they'll reach their 10-year mark this September. Know Lyfe will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary at The Loft in Lansing, along with four of its favorite local bands - Adrenachrome, Fifth Sin, Atrium and Coal Mine Canary.

Know Lyfe 10 Year Anniversary Party The Loft, Lansing Sept. 18, doors open at 8 p.m. $10 advance, $15 day of show 18+ theloftlansing.com, (517) 267-7898

Even though 10 years together is quite the accomplishment for a band, Civile says Know Lyfe's biggest struggle is not being considered a career band, even after a decade of producing music and touring.

"The thing we struggle with the most is feeling like a horse in a pony show."

Civile has reason to complain. The band has toured nationally a number of times, tearing up stages from Miami to L.A., and has even been on one world tour. It has played with countless bands the members idolize, and opened for the Mayhem Fest — a touring metal festival headlined by the likes of Slipknot, Disturbed, Rob Zombie, and Marilyn Manson in recent years — when it came to Clarkston, Mich.

Know Lyfe's reached such a level of prestige that one female fan willingly wrung out and drank from a band member's sweat-drenched shirt. They also commanded a fan to pee his pants for a free CD — and he did it.

But, until the rest of the metal world realizes their full potential, Know Lyfe will continue to soldier on by owning stages locally and afar.

It's recommended that guests bring a lawn chair to Max & Emily's Eatery in downtown Mt. Pleasant on July 22 if they plan on catching The Saucecats' performance. Just don't expect to actually sit in it.

The Saucecats Max & Emily's Eatery, Mt. Pleasant July 22, 7 p.m. FREE saucecats.com

"We don't play the kind of music you sit in a chair and listen to," said Drummer Perry English. "If they try to stay in a seat, I'm gonna go out there and get them out of it."

This year marks the second time the Zydeco-fueled Saucecats have performed at The Max & Emily's Eatery Summer Concert Series. Last year's hospitality is, in part, responsible for the band's return.

"We really enjoyed it," English said. "In the street, the sound was great and the crowd received us well."

The band‘s enthusiasm and energy is especially evident during songs like "A Night Like This" and "So Hard To Stop." English said the band worked out dance moves and antics themselves to encourage audience participation.

But English said it's more than just the band's enjoyment of performing the music that makes all the hard work worth it at the end of the day.

"The fun and enjoyment that the crowd gets out of it makes it worthwhile," he said. "It's fun music. You could be having the worst day and then come and listen to three of our songs and forget all about it."

So where does The Saucecats draw their New Orleans-funk style from? Zydeco masters like Dr. John and Buckwheat Zydeco have heavily influenced the band since 2001 when it formed.

The current band lineup includes eight multi-talented performers including English (drums, percussion, rubboard), Nick Vermis (drums, harmonica), Kim Braeutigam (bass), Mike O' Dette (vocals, guitar), Maureen Lee (accordion, keyboards), Kelly Hengy (trombone, percussion, guitars), Joe Wright (sax, keyboards), and Jeff Hart (sound).

In 2004, the band released Some Like it Hot, which included several live cuts from performances in Frankenmuth and was overall a mix of Zydeco and Cajun beats. The Saucecats decided to drop the Cajun feel for its next album, Havin' Fun (2006), and record all the tracks in a studio.

In keeping with Zydeco tradition, English said that lyrically, the band's music doesn't go very deep. What it's about is the tempo of the music, the fun, and getting the crowd to forget a bad day's worries.

 

Starting this summer, every Thursday night the streets of downtown Lansing will be filled with live music performances from local artists to entertain the community.

Lansing Live is held on the 200 block of Washington Square with music starting around 4 p.m. Its focus is to bring a new kind of outdoor entertainment to the area, where people can enjoy the summer weather, support local bands, and have a good time.

"We're trying to create a music destination," said Camron Gnass, co-creator of Lansing Live.

Gnass and Kris Elliott (also a co-creator) came up with the concept a few years ago as a way to appreciate the local music scene.

Hosted by Tavern on the Square and Traction, Lansing Live has more than just live music. There are tables outside for seating, a wait staff available to take food and beverage orders, and a large tent outside, and readily available pre mixed beverages.

"It brings people out earlier," Jon Benaderet said, an employee at The Wild Beaver Saloon, whose patio overlooks the Lansing Live stage. "Since Lansing Live has started, it has definitely brought in a better crowd."

Lansing Live brings in two artists each Thursday, and each artist brings in a different sound and genre, from Celtic rock, classic rock covers, dance rock, to blues.

"We aim to create a variety of music," Gnass said.

The bands are all local or regional, and most of them have been playing around Michigan for years. July sees performances from Scott Seth and Global Village (both on July 22), as well as Chris Deiner and Don Middlebrook and Living Soul (both on July 29).

Lansing Live! Downtown Lansing Every Thursday, 4-9 p.m. Free, 21+ lansinglive.org

Rob Klajda, guitarist in the band The Lash, which performed at Lansing Live on June 10, thinks the event has been great for Lansing's nightlife.

"It draws people downtown. You never [would have seen] this many people downtown on a Thursday before."

"I was surprised by the crowd," Gnass said in regard to the May 20 kick-off. "I would have been happy with 50 people ... a few hundred came."

Admission to Lansing Live is free, and offers an opportunity to support the local music scene, and to explore new venues downtown.

Tod Smith, a local visitor to Lansing Live, called referred to the event as "big time" and said he is impressed with the number of people it has brought to the downtown area. Brad Cocklin, a Michigan State University student, and Wild Beaver Saloon employee said, "people should definitely come down and see what Lansing Live is about, it's worth checking out."

Photo: Jerod Karam, RedGroove Photography