Review | Love Love Record Release Party w/ Tanya Donelly, The Needy Sons, Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents

On the last Saturday in May the one and only Lizard Lounge threw a ginormous record release party to celebrate Love Love’s eponymous debut album and pretty much all of Boston’s best musicians showed up to support the well loved-loved duo. If you are from these parts, and have a musical pulse, you know just how exciting it is to see all of your favorites in one club, on one stage, playing songs that make your head and heart soar. All the bands are friends, and all that friendship poured out into the audience in waves of hometown rock n’ roll goodness.

Kicking off the local music festival was Massachusetts muse Tanya Donelly. When you think of the bands that put New England on the indie-rock map she was in three of the most beloved, and to be able to see her play in such an intimate venue is one of the best things about living in this city. It was pretty clear that everyone else in the crowd felt the same way the moment Donelly and her band (which includes husband Dean  Fisher of The Juliana Hatfield Three) took the stage. Playing songs that spanned her illustrious career, including “Slow Dog” from Belly’s Star album and “Mass Ave” from her recent EP Swan Song Series (Vol. 1), the set electrified the space.

Next up on the Boston band bill was Bill Janovitz’s latest project The Needy Sons, a band consisting of the Buffalo Tom vocalist and guitar player, Mike Gent (vocalist/guitarist of Figgs, The Gentlemen), Ed Valauskas (bass player of The Gravel Pit, Jenny Dee and The Deelinquents), and Eric Anderson (drummer for Jenny Dee and The Deelinquents). Playing an eight song set of new material and covers, which included a track titled “The Swimmer” that may be released on a new Buffalo Tom album, Janovitz and crew rocked out like a band that has been together forever. They were joined by Tanya towards the end of the set for a cover of Carley Simon’s “Your So Vain,” a song which pretty much begs for a sing-a-long, and the audience obliged.

The evening’s guests of honor, Chris Toppin and Jefferson Davis Riordan, took the stage to rousing applause as the band squeezed in to fill up the floor. A three-piece horn section joined the duo, along with bass, drums, and slide guitar, to bring the songs on the debut album to life. Toppin is well known for her time with 90’s dreamy alt-band Fuzzy and her indie-rock sensibility is stronger than ever with her newest project. Formed in 2013, Love Love is the sound of two extremely talented singer-songwriters, joining together in life and music, to create songs that bring out the best in both artists. The set focused largely on the new release and the chemistry between bandmates was evident right from the start. They are currently working on a national release, so until you can buy the album you can listen here.

Closing out the night was hometown favorite Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents, yet another band consisting of members who have made names for themselves in other well-known bands such as Papas Fritas, The Gentlemen, The Rudds, and The Gravel Pit. In fact, Ed Valauskas has played a part (either performing or producing) with almost every band/musician on stage for the show. Jenny and the crew were in fine, 60’s pop, form on every number and everyone in the venue was clapping and dancing along. The Deelinquents have honed their live show so perfectly the 8-piece band could perform in a closet and still be perfectly choreographed.

I feel bad for those that missed out on this party. All of these great local musicians in one place, switching back and forth between bands as effortlessly as good friends do, and rocking the night away. It was a helluva time!

Hey look… I took some snaps of the fun.