Part one of a two-night residency at the revered Brudenell Social Club saw The Lemon Twigs return to Leeds to a sold-out — or very nearly sold-out — crowd, with both nights of the run eagerly snapped up by fans keen to witness one of modern guitar music’s most gifted young bands in intimate surroundings.
Support came from fellow New Yorkers The Stones, who were full of enthusiasm and charm from the outset. Channelling the glam rock swagger of Lou Reed, David Bowie and their ilk, they delivered rousing, likeable rock ’n’ roll packed with hooks, personality and no shortage of fun. There was an infectious energy to their set, and by the end the crowd had fully bought into both their sound and songs.
I’d seen The Lemon Twigs once before, many years ago supporting Arctic Monkeys at the very beginning of their career. But what may have been lost back then in youth, distance and the scale of a huge arena was rediscovered here in bucketloads within the confines of the Brudenell hall.
Years of sharpening their songcraft means that when you watch The Lemon Twigs now, you’re transported somewhere between mid-period The Beatles, classic The Beach Boys and a distinctly New York attitude, with just a touch of psych here and a dash of AOR there. Their music feels timeless without ever seeming overly nostalgic.
And while there are the occasional moments that drift a little too close to their obvious influences — or a bar or two that feels slightly too sweet or syrupy — those moments are fleeting. What remains is an hour-and-a-half of classic songwriting chiselled directly into the hearts of everyone in attendance.
It’s all accompanied by brilliant musicianship from all four members — brothers Brian D’Addario and Michael D’Addario alongside Danny Ayala and Reza Matin — who switch fluidly between instruments while effortlessly maintaining their rich three- and four-part harmonies throughout. In essence, it’s a brilliant, joyous musical performance, but one that constantly showcases just how consummate their songwriting has become.
The setlist itself was a reminder of the growing depth and importance of their catalogue. New material from the excellent Look For Your Mind! sat comfortably alongside older favourites, with “My Golden Years”, “Any Time of Day”, “Ghost Run Free” and the glorious “In the Eyes of the Girl” all drawing huge reactions. By the time they closed the main set with the euphoric “Rock On (Over and Over)” and “Fire and Gold”, the Brudenell crowd were completely won over.
The encore stripped things back beautifully. Brian D’Addario took to the stage solo for acoustic renditions of “Joy” and “Corner of My Eye” before the full band returned for “Foolin’ Around” and the stunning “How Can I Love Her More?”, sending the audience out into the Leeds night on an emotional high.
As we make our way out of the venue, it’s impossible not to feel uplifted. What we take away with us is this: The Lemon Twigs need to be enjoyed, supported, witnessed and loved. They are a treasure, and the world would be poorer without them.
