Two bands with local connections bring new projects to town.

Fans of the local band Dura-Delinquent might be perplexed by Sugar and Gold, the latest endeavor from Dura-Delinquent’s guitarists Nicolas Dobbratz and Philipp Minnig. While Dura-Delinquent was known for playing feral garage rock, Sugar and Gold’s upcoming CD, Crème, is 11 songs of polished, highly produced disco, funk and R&B that recalls The Gap Band of the ‘70s, or Beck during his Midnite Vultures period.

On its last album, Damn Everything But, Dura-Delinquent sounded like a ragged, punked-up take on The Rolling Stones on originals including “The Hollywood Diet.” Another standout track from the release,  “Her Caviar,” was built on greasy, warped rockabilly riffs.

Sugar and Gold’s debut, due out this April, is a far cry from Crème. The album begins with “Do It Well,” where thick synthesizer blasts and a programmed drum beat morph into a funky electro pop number. Later on, “Workout” features funky guitar riffs, a synthesizer solo and a big hooky chorus reminiscent of the disco era, while “On Time” sounds like R&B from the ‘80s. One of the best numbers, an ode to city living titled “Neighborhood,” is a mix of old school funk and modern electronica.

Despite the significant differences between Dura-Delinquent and Sugar and Gold, Dobbratz views his new band as the logical evolution of his musical relationship with Minnig. “Since high school, we have been in a band together,” Dobbratz says.

Back in the early ’90s, Dobbratz and Minnig started playing guitar after school while Pacific Grove High students. Eventually, the duo formed Dura-Delinquent with Nicolas’ brother Hans, who handled vocals, and drummer Jason Moore.

The band was known for bringing their rowdy stage shows to eclectic venues including Sand City’s Three Spirits Gallery and Monterey’s GroveMont Theater. “Phil and my brother Hans were very confrontational,” Nicolas Dobbratz says. “A lot of people loved it, and other times, we rubbed people the wrong way.”

In 1997, Dura-Delinquent decided to leave Monterey and try and make it in the San Francisco music scene. At first, Dobbratz says, there was a lot of enthusiasm towards the band in the city, but by 2001, the music community’s interest started to flag. “We were working harder, but the opportunities were getting less and less,” he says.

Eventually, Dobbratz and Minnig started to add more funk and dance music elements to their sound and developed a new project they called Connexion, which became Sugar and Gold two years ago. “For Phil and I as songwriters, it’s been a steady progression,” Dobbratz says.

Dobbratz insists that local music fans will be able to observe a bit of his old band when his new group hits the stage opening Saturday night at Monterey Live. “If you see a Sugar and Gold show,” he says. “There’s still some Dura-Delinquent in it.”