The Lemon Twigs Live at the Electric Ballroom London Review by Ryan Beardsley
I’m at Electric in Brixton and the atmosphere is just that, it’s a sell out and I’ve never seen the place so crammed with people and rightfully so, the best live band in the world are in town and shame on you if you weren’t here.
Kicking off with album opener My Golden Years, The Lemon Twigs mean business and the crowd are gleefully jumping around South London as the brother’s D’Addario strut their stuff across the stage.
The gig is a showcase for the new record but we’re also treated to highlights from 2023’s near perfect Everything Harmony, In My Head a particular standout for what the band do so well, 3 minute pop rock melodies that stay in your ears for days after.
Devotees from the early days are treated to first album hit I Wanna Prove To You, the song that made so many fall in love with them in the first place, it still sounds completely fresh and unique and knocks the socks off Brixton.
The sheer inventiveness of Brian and Michael D’Addario knows no bounds, they each play every instrument at some point, guitar, bass, drums and keyboard making the show feel like one big jam session and it’s a more lighthearted show than I’ve seen them play in the past, we get a few gags as a couple of tracks hit a false start, but they shrug it off and endear themselves to the crowd even further.
New album standout Peppermint Roses is even better live than on record, transporting the crowd to a psychedelic 60s club, followed by They Don’t Know How To Fall In Place which is Beach boys made flesh in 2024, more than a nod and a wink given the show’s finale.
For the encore, Brian came out to do a few solo acoustic numbers, Corner Of My Eye, a lament to a lost love providing a beautiful moment with the audience assisting on harmonies where otherwise the whole venue was holding it’s breath in awe of Brian’s voice.
The rest of the Twigs come back on to a most welcome surprise in the form of all time classic Good Vibrations, and they more than do it justice here to send the crowd home with a massive, joyous singalong.
On the tube home I overhear a host of conversations from patrons praising the show and asking the million dollar question “Why aren’t they the biggest band in the world?” Honestly if the world was a better place they would be, but I have to admit it’s kind of nice that for those in the know, they’re music’s best kept secret.
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