Hey Lovey Dovey

The focus of this blog is a band from the Garden State, Hey Lovey Dovey. These guys are relatively young in terms of their members ages, but they perform with a musical depth that puts them in league with their older contemporaries. Their expressive emoting is tempered by a sense of humor, which adds nicely to their style.
One of the interesting facets of their sound is the incorporation of certain aspects of grindcore in the writing, juxtaposed against a more melodic sound containihng quite expressive basslines (courtesy of Ian Eckstein). It calls to mind early Mr. Bungle and An Albatross, the Wilkes-Barre madmen.
One of the things that is quite interesting about this band is the fact that Brian Berman, the singer, has never fronted any other bands. The only track he has contributed vocals to at this time that I know of is "On a Glass Bottom Airplane", but it is obvious that the boy has talent. He has a strong sense of intonation, which imbues the lyrics (which are a collaborative endeavor) with a melodic expressiveness that enhances the abrasiveness of his tone. Another interesting thing is the fact that the drummer (Brandon Lipman) is only thirteen years old. This kid shreds. I mean he kills. His hits are dead on and he drives the hell out of the beat. His sense of pulse is real strong. He is tight-yet-flexible.
As I sit here writing this and listening, I cannot help but think that while what I said was true, at the same time I hear the talent of everyone involved. These boys can play. Everyone locks into the pulse and drives the beat from beginning to end.
The two guitarists (Justin Lipman and Dan Stone) and the keyboardist (Nick Potters) create interesting structures over the drum/bass complex. There are countermelodies underneath the vocals buried in the riffage and the changing textures of the keyboards and guitar effects enhance the sense of phrasing, which is strong and well articulated, culminating in songs which create highly unique music that still has tons of thrash and backbeat. It is music you can bug out to live, and it is hoped they stick around to become known by all.
The band started in October of this past year as a fourpiece, acquiring the keyboardist and vocalist by December. The resulting six-piece line-up is just a result of the fulfillment of the needs of their sound.
I was given to understand that the hardcore scene in New Jersey is not so unique and that this band wants to inject something fresh and new. They are living up to their intentions nicely. This music is, as above stated, thrashy yet strange, and the combination keeps you on the edge of your seat. The sense of storytelling, of drama, that they inject into the music, imbues the songs with a compelling aspect that simultaneously heightens the intensity and the musicality. Support this band, they are going places.

check em out at: www.myspace.com/heyloveydovey