Local track review: "The Cold" by Cavalcade

This month's featured track comes from Lansing's own psychedelic metal rockers Cavalcade. More astute readers will recognize this tune as a cover of Small Brown Bike's song "The Cold" from their 1999 album Our Own Wars. This track can be found on the recently released compilation Secret Identities: Lansing Covers Lansing, spearheaded by LansingMusic.TV head honcho Sean Bradley and released on Good Time Gang Recordings. The compilation features all manner of great local Lansing talent covering some of their favorite Lansing-based artists. The Plurals covering a country ballad by Flatfoot is worth the price of admission alone. If this piques your local interest, download the album at secretidentities.bandcamp.com or, if you're a dinosaur like me, head into East Lansing and grab a copy at The Record Lounge, Flat, Black, and Circular, or East Grand Record Store.

Local Spotlight: The Cheap Girls
New record deal, new album

"Oh, you must know Cheap Girls!" If you're in a band and you're out on the road, this is the very first thing you'll hear after you say "we're from Lansing." These dudes (Brothers Ben and Ian Graham, on bass/vocals and drums respectively and Adam Aymor on guitar) have been touring like mad since forming in 2007. They've circled the U.S. multiple times and have even played the U.K. and parts of Europe. All that roadwork has made them the biggest thing to come out of Lansing since the Meatmen. (Ok, they really didn't have much competition, but still!) Along the way they've released two full-length LPs (2008's Find Me a Drink Home and 2009's My Roaring 20s) and a pile of seven-inch records. 2012 promises more of the same as the guys hit the road in support of their Rise Records debut Giant Orange, due out on Tuesday, Feb. 21 (yup, that Rise Records, home of Attack! Attack!). They'll be playing a record release show in Lansing at Mac's Bar on Feb. 17 with support from local rockers the Hat Madder. Not only will you be able to pick up the new record a few days before the street date, but it'll be your last chance to see the Cheap Girls locally for a while: They'll be hitting the road with Cleveland's own Sidekicks for a run of springtime U.S. dates, and if this year is anything like the last few, Cheap Girls won't be around Lansing too much. Catch 'em while you can.