Lovers In Arms began in 2006 as a trip-hop experiment between singer-songwriters Caroline Yohanan and Armando Perez. Their first independent LP, “Belmont Electric” debuted to positive local reviews, and ranges in influence from hip-hop to rock. The album was brought to life onstage with a band that includes Ryan Schoen on bass, Dan Lieber on drums and vocals, and Juan Lugo on percussion and guitar.
L.I.A.’s 2008 album, “Strength For The Weary,” features both live instrumentation and electronics, exploratory writing, and multi-layered vocal harmonies. By experimenting and improvising on stage, the group creates a sort of acoustic trip-hop rock that moves you.
Review by Jim DeRogatis of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
March 10, 2009
"With a gritty, timeless vibe that conjures a spaceage bachelor pad chanteuse singing over gentle, seductive soul/worldbeat/trip-hop grooves late at night on a lonely "el" platform, Lovers in Arms began 2006 as a fruitful collaboration between singers and sonwriters Caroline Yohanan and Armando Perez. The group made its recorded debut with a disc called "Belmont Electric," expanded to a quintet for live performance (with bassist Ryan Schoen, drummer Dan Lieber and Juan Lugo joining Perez on guitar) and returned to the studio last year to craft the new D.I.Y. album "Strength for the Weary," as impressive a disc from a Chicago combo as this column has ever covered.
"I'm addicted/Like a junkie," Yohanan coos in "Shades of Green." "Wrap your arms around me/Let me feel you/Layers of green." That's an invitation that's hard to resist, as evidenced by the sample tracks posted on the band's Web page (http://www.myspace.com/loversinarms), or the considerable charm it exudes in concert."
Jim DeRogatis' blog: Demo2DeRo Category
http://blogs.suntimes.com/derogatis/demo2dero/
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Don't you hate it when lame Rock bands from Chicago, whom you foolishly befriended months ago, randomly appear in comment form to invite you out to their inane shows as if they believe you're gullible enough (you know gullible isn't in the dictionary, right?!) and/or lacking in a social life to actually come hang? Me too. Good thing we're not much of a band or this would be awkward! Awkward like the first dance between two hormone raging teens going through puberty, haha! Alas, it's us, Oui Si Only You, in our most impersonal social networking form. Sorry to get you all excited to read your new comment only to be disappointed like a jilted lover on prom night. It's not all bad, at least we didn't do one of those weird, "Do you like me?" comments, right? I don't think our fragile hearts could have taken the answer to that one! Any who, we're rocking (I know, debatable right, but whether it's master debatable remains the ultimate conundrum!) our last few shows for the year out at a few splendid, unknown little Chicago establishments called Double Door (1572 N. Milwaukee Ave; 21+) on Wed. Nov. 18th at 8pm and Reggie's Rock Club (2109 S. State St.; 17+) on Sat. Nov. 28th at 7pm. We could all perish happily . . . if that's possible . . . knowing you came out and mocked our uninspired /downright ignorant brand of music along with our A.D.D. riddled stage energy. Peace face.
We are very excited about playing at such an awesome jazz club. We have some great sets lined up for you, so don't miss it. Friday and Saturday November 20th and 21st, 5:00-8:30p at Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago
Aaron Koppel -Guitar, Matt Nelson; (Lupe Fiasco, Matthew Santos) -Keyboard, Graham Czach; (Chicago Afrobeat Project) -bass, Robert Tucker (Matthew Santos) -drums
