New York power pop sensations The Lemon Twigs return to the Brudenell for a sold-out 2-night stand promoting their 7th studio album ‘Look For Your Mind!’. Brothers Brian & Michael D’Addario have been crafting the perfect harmony-soaked tunes for more than a decade now, and with a now stable four-piece lineup, completed by bassist Danny Ayala and Uni Boys singer/guitarist Reza Matin on the drums, it seems The Lemon Twigs have hit their peak musically, sonically and maybe even commercially on their new opus.

Their brand of jangly, harmony-filled tunes evokes the best of The Beatles, The Byrds and The Beach Boys. For me, they bridge the gap between Redd Kross and the much-missed Jellyfish, and they are a band that is renowned for their energetic live performances. This was a show not to be missed.

First up, though, we have fellow New Yorkers The Stones. Who, apart from choosing the worst band name ever and having no online presence that I could find (try Googling The Stones!), are actually pretty tasty. The four-piece is about as retro as you can get, but not in the same way as the headliners. The singer channels early 90’s Chris Robinson so well, he could front a Black Crowes tribute band, while his guitar-wielding bandmate goes for an early 2000s Strokes look.

Their brand of ramshackle rock n’ roll fits the bill nicely, coming across like a heady mix of The Faces and The Libertines. They certainly have a swagger, and with an energetic and confident performance that goes down well with the packed crowd. I’d like to hear more…if only I could find them!

The Lemon Twigs are the real deal live. What we have here are four lead singers/multi-instrumentalists playing a set of songs so well crafted and so well played that they are just timeless. The sound from the PA tonight is great as well and benefits the multi-layered harmonies and jangly guitars. The opening salvo of recent single ‘Look For Your Mind’ and the glorious ‘My Golden Years’ sets the pace. It’s a great mix of classics and soon-to -be classics.

Both brothers take lead vocals on their respective written songs, and band members switch instruments for certain songs. So, you may get Brian on bass, Danny on keyboards and Reza and Michael swapping instruments at some point. There is more ‘jump-shot’ action than a classic Van Halen show, which is unexpected given the laid-back approach of the songs, but it sure keeps the photographers on their toes. The brothers laugh and joke with the crowd and amongst themselves, everyone is having a jolly good time. Michael even suggested we all “go get cheesy chips after the show”.

When The Lemon Twigs do rock out, they do it well. ‘Bring You Down’ rocks the house like The Beatles in Berlin, and main set closer ‘Rock On (Over & Over)’ is a Bolan-esque glam rock stomper to be proud of.

Brian returns with just an acoustic for his usual solo section. In recent times, it’s rare to silence a crowd during the quieter moments of a set, there are always some idiots who continue to chat, but you could hear a pin drop during his stunning rendition of ‘Joy’ from the new album. His very own ‘Blackbird’ probably gets the biggest reaction of the set so far. He follows it with the twee falsetto-drenched ‘Corner Of My Eye’, before calling back the “rest of the group for a few more numbers”. As Michael plays the riff to the Bobby Fuller Four’s ‘Let Her Dance’, you know it’s the perfect moment for those down the front to let their hair down and dance like no one’s watching, before the band bow out with the sun-drenched anthem ‘How Can I Love Her More’.

While it’s easy to pigeonhole the likes of The Lemon Twigs, they do seem to literally be a band out of time. While sometimes their melodies may drift a bit too close to their heroes for some, they do that multi-layered harmony thing perfectly. For me, they are a band that just gets better and better with each album. At the end of the day, a good song is a good song, and The Lemon Twigs have loads of ‘em!

I’ve seen them twice now, and they are fantastic live, and I would not hesitate to see them again.

Author: Ben Hughes