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| Lovedrug Hits the Road With Matchbook Romance The Ohio-based rock band Lovedrug, local heroes hailed by Cleveland's Scene magazine as its "#1 Band to Watch in 2004, " will bring the band's powerful and haunting sounds to the clublands of America on a major U.S. tour with Matchbook Romance beginning October 27 at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey and concluding November 25 at the Axis in Boston. Rounding out the bill are Gatsby's American Dream and Armor For Sleep. News of the Lovedrug tour dates arrives hot on the heels of the band's recent inking with Columbia Records, who will re-release the band's acclaimed debut album, Pretend You're Alive, on January 24, 2006. Originally released on the indie label The Militia Group in late 2004, Pretend You're Alive debuted at #4 on the Billboard Internet Sales chart, cracked the Top 50 Indie Albums chart, and quickly became the fastest-selling album in The Militia Group's history. Modern music fans may've caught their first taste of Lovedrug when the group's "In Red" was featured in the cult television program, "Point Pleasant." Also, their song "It Won't Last" was featured on MTV's The Real World. Formed in June 2002, Lovedrug released a 5 song EP that August and sold- out two pressings within three months. The stunning success of the group's self-titled EP led the band to enter the studio with producer Tim Patalan (Sponge, "Freddy vs. Jason" soundtrack, Aware compilations), who helmed the second Lovedrug release, the 6 song "Rocknroll" EP, released summer 2003. The Lovedrug-Patalan connection proved fruitful and fortunate, with the group reaching new heights of melodic prowess, band chemistry, and inspired songcraft on Pretend You're Alive. The press began to sit up and take notice. Blender.com called the album " ... a rarity ... Lovedrug combines smart lyrics with hearty rock & roll to create a record full of indiepop gems." "Pretend You're Alive grapples with many deep philosophical issues, " observed Meanstreet, "which earns them legitimate street cred" while Copper Press called Lovedrug's debut "Remarkably polished and passionate." Over the course of the band's remarkable three-year evolution, Lovedrug has shared stages with a broad range of artists including Robert Plant, The Killers, Switchfoot, Joseph Arthur, Sam Phillips, Something Corporate, Copeland, Superdrag's John Davis, Braid, Straylight Run, Mewithoutyou, Action Action, Cat Power, Creeper Lagoon, Elliot, and Eisley, among others. The extensive roadwork has paid off for Lovedrug, whose performances connect directly into the hearts and souls of the group's ever-growing fanbase. Cleveland's Scene, described "Down Towards The Healing, " a crowd- pleasing staple of the group's live sets, as "one of the most affecting songs of the year -- local or otherwise." Lovedrug are: Michael Shepard (vocals, guitar, piano), David Owen (guitar, vocals), Matthew Depper (guitar, bass, vocals), and Matthew Putman (drums). write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |