When Chicago Music Project first heard local band, Lovers in Arms, it was a total accident. We went to go check out a friend, Robert Gomez (Blue Door Studios) perform with his band Subatomico at Subterranean in Wicker Park.
Chicago Music Project was in the middle of organizing their first local music showcase at the Double Door and still needed a couple of strong acts to support headliners Hey Champ. Romi Lovel had just been confirmed right before the show and Kid Static had agreed a couple of days prior. We still needed one more solid act to balance an already super eclectic lineup.
Lovers in Arms took the stage and first impression, we couldn't make them out. They started off with a song that we can't remember but it was really slow. Our executive producer even joked that they reminded him of a Latino Sonny and Cher. We didn't know what to expect and were just waiting for our friend's band to take the stage.
Boy, were we wrong! All of a sudden . . . BAM! The magic commenced and we found ourselves moving to the grooves of the funk/soul ensemble. We were completely taken off guard, Caroline Yohanan mesmerized us with her voice and entranced us with her dancing while Armando Perez continued to astonished us with his guitar skills. And not to mention having the fortune of being backed by some of the best percussionists and bassist that just melded and solidified their sound further.
The party was in full swing and the audience hung on to every note, every word and every beat of the drums. We couldn't help but look at each other, nodding our heads in silent agreement that we were impressed with these guys. And then they played the two songs that sold us. The songs that let us know that all we had listened to and watched over the past 45 minutes wasn't just a fluke. That these guys were legit and were going to be making a huge name for themselves in Chicago.
"The Alchemist" and "Oh My Brother" captivated our musical souls within. And we had to have them. The rest is history, they performed an almost sold out show at the Double Door - and as our videos show, they had the crowd dancing. And since then they've played several sold out shows at the House of Blues.
But now, at the beginning of the new year, we find ourselves wondering what happened to Lovers in Arms. They've disappeared off the maps. Our sources have told us that they have taken a "creative hiatus", but haven't been able to get any comments or responses from the band members. Other sources have speculated that perhaps it's deeper than that. But we can't say and we don't know for sure.
All we can truly say is that we miss Lovers in Arms and want nothing more than to see them come back sooner than later in 2010. They were booming, getting the attention from audiences from different walks of life - They had something special happening and then all of a sudden they were gone, into thin air.
We're calling you back, LIA. Chicago needs bands like you to exist - to make us feel, to make us move, to make the hairs on the backs of our necks stand up because your music is beautiful.
CMPtv On Stage: Lovers In Arms "Oh My Brother" from Chicago Music Project on Vimeo.
Lovers in Arms perform "Oh My Brother" live for CMPtv at the Double Door 06/04/10
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