Laminated Menu rocks sparkly and real. Moving indie- and alt-like from vivacious power pop to blazing rockers and back down to earth again, the Hudson Valley-based band spins clever lyrics, colorful imagery and twisting progressions into quick-hit narratives, with passions ignited and the embers illuminated at every turn. There are hints of garage rock, psychedelic, post-punk, dream pop and good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll in their music. But mostly, Laminated Menu has a sound all its own.

The band dates from a sunny summer day in 2009. Sophia Jackson was painting faces at a kiddie party in Garrison, NY. Neal Santelmann was chatting about bands he’d seen on YouTube. She’d sung with a band in NYC. He’d been playing guitar for decades pretty much on his own. Somebody suggested a jam session.

The duo plugged in a few weeks later. Sophia encouraged Neal to sing along, and he was happy to strum rhythm whenever she dreamed up a lead. They set their sights on surviving a local open-mic night and began writing songs. They needed three. By the time they got up nerve to play, they had five. So they kept going.

And going. The open-mic appearance garnered an invite to a music showcase. They kept writing, hooked up with a producer, released an EP in 2011, and found gigs from the East Village to Rosendale, NY.

Then came the rhythm section led by bassist Margaret Hundley Parker, with Candace Cole on drums. Together, the band recorded their “Sugar Cookie” CD, released in spring 2014, with 11 original songs rhapsodizing imaginatively on life, love, triumphs and travails – lots of travails – plus a howling cover of The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s “Who?”

Now, with Jennifer Paull behind the drums, Laminated Menu is a rockin’ band, cracking with energy, dazzling on stage, and tighter than ever.

Check the "Events Future" page to see where Laminated Menu will be playing next.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO SELECTIONS FROM OUR NEW CD ON REVERBNATION.