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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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
Oh no August 21st for Big Sur? I'm out of town until Sunday the 23rd. Hope we can cross paths (in fact lets plan a Palo Alto show if you're not booked that next week). Much love.
