Show Preview: On An On, The Love Language @ Soda Bar Thursday September 12, 2013

While the San Diego Music Thing has a kickoff show with New Politics at the Casbah this Thursday, Soda Bar is presenting a quality show of its own the same night. Headlining will be Midwestern trio On An On, fronted by keyboardist Alissa Ricci and her two band mates Nate Eisland and Ryne Estwing. Splitting time between Chicago and Minneapolis has kept the band busy since releasing Give In this past January. Their sound is rooted in dream/synth pop with songs which are easy to dance to. I had the opportunity to watch them perform live at the House of Blues earlier this year. It will be great to see them play an extended set this time.

It has been three years since we last heard from The Love Language, Stuart McLamb's indie pop project. Apparently, much of the time was spent recording the band's latest album Ruby Red. Some new band members have joined for touring and a host of collaborators were utilized for recording, yet one fact remains evident: this is McLamb's project, plain and simple. There is much to like about the new album, so more might translate to actually being more. This is lush indie pop music. The listener and critics are always the judge and jury in such matters. It should be interesting to see the band perform the new songs at the intimate City Heights venue.

Be sure to arrive early for L.A. indie rockers Hands. Tickets for the show can be purchased here.

Watch a video of  The Hunter from On An On below.




Watch a video of Calm Down from The Love Language below.

The Howls/ The Love Langage/ Telekinesis @ Casbah- 02.25.11

Last Friday night, the Casbah rocked out courtesy of performances by local act The Howls, The Love Language and Telekinesis. My memory of the evening is a little fuzzy courtesy of half-day Friday and several hours of some good ol' day drinking in celebration of a friend's birthday. The lesson learned there is that the fear of doing something stupid to expensive camera equipment outweighs the enjoyment of a good buzz. More after the jump...



The Howls:

The Love Language:

Telekinesis:

For a few more from the evening click here, and for the rest of my concert photography click here.

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All Images copyright © Nate Vandermeulen, All Rights Reserved.
Please ask for permission before downloading or linking to them.

Jeff's Weekly Pick: Telekinesis & The Love Language @ The Casbah Friday February 25, 2011

(left- The Love Language at the Belly Up, 9.19.2010)

Two distinctly different indie rock bands will bring their co-headlining tour to our city this Friday when Telekinesis and The Love Language perform at The Casbah. Each band features a multi-instrumentalist with a rotating supporting cast. First, Seattle based Telekinesis is the brainchild of Michael Benjamin Lerner, who has enlisted the production support of Chris Walla on both of the band’s LPs, the latest being 12 Desperate Straight Lines, released earlier this month on Merge Records. The sound on this album is much more upbeat than the initial self titled release. The result is much more immediate to the listener, which should also translate well in a live setting.

The Love Language, based in Raleigh, NC, was founded by Stuart McLamb, and the band’s sound is much more diverse in nature. Being more experimental is sometimes risky, but with the help of a youthful upbeat supporting cast, things works well in the studio and live setting (played Belly Up last year). Finding a unique sound in the indie music world is no small task, but the band’s growth is readily apparent on their sophomore release, Libraries. Songs go from soft to frenetic while keeping the listener’s interest. Also part of the Merge roster, there is no telling where this band is headed, but they seem to be on the right track. This Friday will be your chance to witness both of these fine bands in the cozy Middletown venue. It promises to be a truly great way to usher in the weekend.

The Howls set the stage. -Jeff Sperling

Watch a video of Dirty Thing below.

Telekinesis - Dirty Thing from Merge Records on Vimeo.

Watch a video of Heart To Tell below.

The Love Language - Heart to Tell from Merge Records on Vimeo.

This is a video Rosemary shot when they played with Local Natives at the Belly Up in September.