Événement

LOVE IN STOCKHOLM with very special guest ABBIE BARRETT and THE LAST DATE

Thursday 4/3
LOVE IN STOCKHOLM
w/ special guest
ABBIE BARRETT AND THE LAST DATE
$10 advance / $10 at the door
8:30 doors / 9:30 show
www.loveinstockholm.com
www.abbiebarrett.com

With most bands from their home neighborhood of Allston, Massachusetts being somewhat counterculture, you might think Love in Stockholm's classic rock roots would make them an unlikely standout on their home turf. On the contrary, fans their own age find them hard to ignore, and fans of their parents' generation welcome a harkening back to the golden age of rock music. If 2010's A King's Ransom was a scientific experiment of sorts, 2013's Hold Back the Sun shows that they've refined the formula. Produced by Boston heavy hitter Ed Valauskas (Eli "Paperboy" Reed, The Click Five), LiS makes a twofold statement with this release: they know what they're good at, and they're offering something mainstream music is otherwise lacking. Their hometown blog Allston Pudding perhaps put it best: "Not only are they tremendously talented, but they play a brand of music that is engaging even if you don't know every lyric. Allston may be rock city, but if you can get out of the garage once in a while, Love in Stockholm is one of the tightest bands around."

Indeed, they've built their reputation on the strength of their live show, and keep this in mind when writing new material. At a time when synth pop has made an astounding comeback, it's hard to be relevant as rock musicians with nothing but instruments, amplifiers, and microphones. But the response they get from their audience is enough to show that they're doing something that works. And without hesitation, the guys are back in the studio, cooking up big things for the year to come.

ABBIE BARRETT AND THE LAST DATE
In 2008, Barrett released her debut album, Dying Day, which "Performing Songwriter" magazine declared "a stellar first release." The Noise calls Barrett "a bright light among others of her genre...evident through compelling vocals, ever-changing chord progressions, and spontaneous melodies." With no formal musical education, Barrett has been able to craft unique, unconventional arrangements that highlight her smoky voice. Her band, The Last Date, does a wonderful job bringing her vision to the live stage, offering everything from honky-tonk country rock to ambient, brooding anthems. She credits Neil Young, Radiohead, and Fiona Apple as her main influences. Abbie Barrett & The Last Date are currently working on The Triples, a series of three-song EPs.