Review
Review
The Lemon Twigs at Electric Brixton, 05/09/24
The brothers D’Addario bring sunshine to a rainy London crowd with a flawless retro indie-pop set
In the year since The Lemon Twigs’ last headline show in the capital, something has happened. After three solid albums with moments of brilliance, the brothers D’Addario uncovered a golden recipe that resulted in two of the best guitar pop albums of the last 20 years, firing a volley at the sniffier quarters who wrote them off as kids in cosplay. Tonight, the Electric Brixton is heaving with a sold-out crowd that ranges from Gen Z pop kids to wizened Todd Rundgren fans. Some were queuing in the rain for over an hour before doors opened. Whatever’s in their secret sauce, it’s working.
While Brian and Michael D’Addario remain the focal points, their rhythm section of Danny Ayala and Reza Matin have now been in place long enough to feel more like a proper band. That consistency of personnel results in some the most awe-inspiring musical ability in indie rock, not least in the flawless three- and four-part harmonies that leave just shy of 2000 jaws on the floor. With all the recent talk of famous musical brothers – reinforced by the gentleman next to me in a Kinks t-shirt – it’s a resounding reminder that few can match the D’Addarios.
Given their recent successes, it’s no surprise that tonight’s set leans heavily on the band’s last two albums: A Dream Is All I Know and Everything Harmony. From the first notes of ‘My Golden Years’, The Lemon Twigs seem to have stepped out of a portal. Or perhaps a wormhole where they spent the last 50 years rehearsing while remaining fresh-faced and ageless. Bell-bottoms and rib-crackingly tight t-shirts are the uniform du jour, but this is no retro dress-up party. You can’t write melodies this heavenly and play them this well without total devotion to your craft.
Youthful energy emanates from the stage. Brian (centre stage in a pink ringer tee) and Michael (buttoned-up and skinny-tied to his left) bounce around with the giddy pep of teenagers. Instruments are traded, Michael’s stint behind the drums providing the most theatrical flair. Stage banter consists of excitedly talking over each other with the kind of overlapping, interwoven dynamic that only siblings can establish. It adds a charmingly unpolished edge to their flawless musicality.
Among effervescent renditions of ‘What You Were Doing’, ‘A Dream Is All We Know’ and ‘Church Bells’ and a cranked up ‘Foolin’ Around’, The Lemon Twigs throw in a cover of The Keys’ ‘I Don’t Want To Cry’, a lost classic if ever there was one. They add one more cover right at the close but it’s worth avoiding spoilers about its identity, if you can.
Brian returns on his own for a trio of acoustic songs – including a gorgeous new number – before the band return to lead a singalong on the Beach Boys-esque ‘How Can I Love Her More?’ That singalong reaches fever pitch for one final glorious moment and it’s back out to a rainy night that does nothing to dampen the spirits.
