Jesse Lava writes, sings, and plays guitar. Josh Lava writes, sings, and plays keyboards, drums/percussion, and guitar. Gabe Lava plays bass.
Andy Thompson plays extra bass, drums, guitar, keyboard, and various other instruments on the new record.
Influences
The Beatles, Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, Bach, Brian Wilson, Paul Simon, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Bill Evans, Jim Hall, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Sufjan Stevens, Jon Brion, Ben Gibbard, REM, Debussy, Beethoven, Chopin, Glenn Gould, Murray Perahia, Matthew Lurie, Mike Kocour, Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, David Wilhelm, Henry David Thoreau, Paul Tillich, the prophet Isaiah, Noam Chomsky, Paul Wellstone, Stephen Colbert (before he scabbed the writers’ strike), Andy Kaufman, General Zod, Non, and the woman Ursa.
Sounds Like
"Fans of Rufus Wainwright and Steely Dan will find plenty to swoon over in this local outfit's...sophisticated and soulful pop." - TimeOut Chicago
"Their shows are full of fun, including improvised songs, witty banter and name-your-price t-shirts."- Centerstage Chicago
"Well crafted and complex, mellow and laid back pop songs."- ADD Reviews
This Chicago-based band of brothers lucked into the last name of Lava and the genes of grandfather Neal Hefti, a legendary composer who wrote for Count Basie and Frank Sinatra before penning the Batman and Odd Couple themes. Two of his most famous tunes, “Lil’ Darlin’” and “Cute,” were written for the band’s (late) mother when she was a child.
As a result, the brothers grew up in a musical household where harmonizing was as routine as fighting over the front seat. Jesse and Josh played in a high school rock band together, but youngest brother Gabe, who then suffered from a single-digit age, was consistently denied in his efforts to participate. Gabe and his abilities eventually grew, of course, and as of 2007, the Lava brothers have finally become The Lava Brothers.
The band’s songs are tender yet intelligent, combining vulnerable lyrics with intricate chords and arrangements. The result is “sophisticated and soulful pop” that “fans of Rufus Wainwright and Steely Dan will find plenty to swoon over” (TimeOut Chicago). The brothers’ chemistry is particularly evident during live shows, in which the band often improvises songs and segues on the spot.
Before The Lava Brothers, Jesse was a political activist who founded a group for religious Democrats, Josh got a music composition degree from the Oberlin Conservatory, and Gabe gigged as a jazz guitarist.
You guys are cracking me up with the constant posting and re-posting of tunes. My ear tells me that they're slightly different mixes, but maybe I'm just reading too much into it. Either way, they still kick ass.
Jon is a living legend...and his modesty in person is mind-boggling. I got a chance to chat with him briefly after the Martyrs show and I told him that I had covered a couple of his songs from Meaningless and he was incredibly sweet and humble...qualities that I did not necessarily expect from a genius savant. Anyway, I have lived in Evanston for over a decade and am also a huge 12 rods fan. So sad that they split up but, oh well! Keep in touch.
