Lovie

Lovie at Club Dada

Even gruff doorman Beard was enchanted by the firey sirens in Lovie Friday night. The crowd were in sync with the ladies' energy, and even reviewer Rich Lopez came around to the ballads he claims to dislike. Lovie has arrived, and it happened Friday night at Club Dada:

FULL ARTICLE:
Last Night: Lovie at Club Dada
Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 02:21:23 PM

Lovie
January 4, 2008
Club Dada

Better than: being inundated with Britney’s latest publicity stunt.

Lovie is proving that, as a live act, the members are rocking it. A semi-packed house at Club Dada with people specifically there for Lovie also bodes well for the group, as Lovie builds a following with each gig.

And Lovie is the only band in town to kick your ass without you even knowing while blowing a kiss your way at the same time. With a solidified stage presence, the members' cohesiveness is now like a chick onslaught of rock that charms the ear and bops the head with just heavy enough guitars and Rebecca Dixon’s crème brule-like voice –- crisp on the outside delivery with kid-sister sweet undertones. And the audience was eating it up.

Even big gruff Beard, the doorman, was enthusiastic about the band giving all who entered the lowdown on the foursome. In a short time, Lovie has matured its stage presence making leaps from its last gig at the Collision art party.

Overall, Lovie's delivery is consistent with other songs, but "Mindreader" has become the ladies' killer number. Lovie has an infectious joy for its music that spreads out over the crowd, sort of like when The Jacksons sprinkle glitter dust all over the world in their "Can You Feel It" video. Random comparison much? They rely on good songwriting and impassioned instrument playing, creating songs that aren’t necessarily complex but also void of tricks used to veil any shortcomings. At first, I wasn’t crazy about their ballads, but the innocence Dixon brought in her voice to "Release Me" encapsulated the audience like a cloud and filled the club with ethereal aural satisfaction. Lovie basically killed.

It might be fair to say Lovie arrived last night at Club Dada. And the audience was ready for them. -- Rich Lopez

Critic's Notebook
Personal Bias: Drummer Grace Davenport (I call her Gracie, but I’m not sure why) and I had a journalism class together at Richland College. Although, for some reason, I think I’ve mentioned that before.

Random Detail: They opened for touring act Chloe Day, which was interesting to say the least. Day’s weird techno-folk sort of cleared the room, and Beard was none too happy. But the remainder of the audience, which was pretty much on the other side of the bar, gave a rousing applause in appreciation after Day’s last number.

By the Way: Lovie is the new Artist in Residence over at White Rock Coffee for the month of January.




- www.dallasobserver.com

Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Thinking Inside the Box: Lovie
Ever since I started the website, I've wanted a good place to host mp3s so I can share them with you, my faithful readers. I recently discovered box.net and will be using that site to upload mp3's, and then offer a link for downloading. I was hoping that the mp3 could be uploaded directly on my site, but apparently that would require me paying a monthly fee. Sorry, readers, but that's not happening at this point.

Still, it offers me the opportunity to share songs with you, like this song from Lovie. This new tune exemplifies why I named them one of the Ten to Watch in '10, and after you listen, you should feel the same. The band will be performing tonight at the House of Blues Voodoo Lounge, and tickets are only $5. Also, the ladies in the band will be pinching those not wearing green, so if you don't want to get pinched, wear green. Of course if you like being pinched by pretty rocker ladies, then hey, don't wear green. It's all good.

And speaking of good severe awesomeness, click on the link directly below.
MP3: Lovie - "Your Virgo"
- The Ghost of Blind Lemon Music Blog

There is no doubt that all future reviews and articles will somehow incorporate the "clever" remark "people will fall in love with Lovie." The thing is, it's true. This all-girl, oops, all-female band harkens to the day of the Go-Go's and Veruca Salt, with aggressive guitars, head-bopping beats and vintage vocals. They may be easy to dismiss as an aww-isn't-that-cute girl band, but they freshen up a sound that takes listeners all the way back to Josie and the Pussycats, a formula that somehow never wears thin. Of course, they'll probably need to get used to those comparisons from now on. But these ain't no 20-something, Gossip Girl-reading chicks that picked up a couple of instruments, relying on sex appeal to sell tunes. These are women in their 30s—including "a stay-at-home mom of three, a nano-technology public relations professional, a vegan/animals rights activist and a pharmaceutical sales rep," according to their Web site—who have a pure appeal that sells to everyone. And yes, they are sexy. Their sublimely titled debut CD, Harshmellow shows what rock feels like for girls and boys alike.

- The Dallas Observer

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Last week, I got a treat in the mail. It was an advanced copy of the new CD by Lovie, Harshmellow. It’s an interesting title to be certain, as only half of the disc is mellow (my favorite track “Release Me” being a mellow song), and none of it whatsoever is harsh. This ten song collection is filled with catchy melodies, killer keyboard riffs, and a first rate production job by the Pipes brothers. If you are still feeling the void left when Sara Radle headed to Cali to become a Rental, then Lovie will help to heal that void.

If you’re interested in picking up the CD (which you should be), then you have two options. The first option is to purchase the CD through one of these sources: CD World, Good Records, or iTunes. Oh, and Austin folk, fear not: Harshmellow is available at Waterloo Records.

If you don’t mind waiting a few days to get the disc, then you can purchase Harshmellow at Lovie’s CD release party at Club Dada. Sunward, MC Router, and Austin’s Golden Bear are also on the bill. Either way, put a little Lovie in your heart. Sorry, I couldn’t pass that pun up.
- The Ghost of Blind Lemon Music Blog

Lovie not your typical girl band

08:52 AM CDT on Thursday, November 1, 2007

Dallas all-girl band Lovie describes itself as "four girls but not necessarily for girls." Singer Rebecca Dixon is the "band mom" and leader of the group, which has been getting acclaim across gender lines.
"There are some girls bands in Dallas, but none in the indie scene, which is where we've found our niche," Dixon says. "We've been really embraced and we haven't had to call around too much to get shows."

This weekend the band will celebrate the release of new album Harshmellow.

Although this is an all-girl band, don't be alarmed if you see a bearded bass player this weekend – it's Rebecca's husband, Kirk Dixon of El Gato. Here's more from Dixon. Paul Salfen Q: For those who haven't heard the group, how would you describe the sound?


A: Well, typically when someone asks what kind of music we play, I say "girl pop," and the reason I say that is because we're not rock and we're not your stereotypical girl group. Usually when there's an all-female group it's folk-y or "rawk" – we're really sort of in between. We have some heavier songs, some lighter songs, but I'd say we're between the Go-Go's and the Bangles but modernized a little bit.

Q: You're a mom and the other girls have day jobs. Is it safe to say you won't be taking this show on the road anytime soon?


A: I mean, we'd never be able to do it on our own, but it's not out of the question. We'll take it wherever it leads, so if someone calls tomorrow and says, "come to Austin" or "come to New York," we'll make it happen. For me, family comes first, and as the leader of the band I tell everyone else that their family comes first and we'll do whatever we can for Lovie when called for it.

Q: So what's a "Harshmellow," anyway?


A: It's based on a song called "Harshmellow" from a joke we made a joke on our MySpace that "Lovie is harshing your mellow." It means go out and have fun and don't take yourself so seriously – not harshing it in a bad way, but not being so serious and letting things get to you, which we're all capable of doing.

Q: How did you decide on the band name?


A: It's one of those names that just came out and it stuck. It was called Lovie when I was the only one in the band, but I didn't want to play shows as "Rebecca." Lovie solidified us as a girl band. You can't be a bunch of guys and go out as "Lovie" – it's girlie. Lovey Howell from Gilligan's Island did spark the idea for the name.

Q: Your husband has been playing bass for you, but it's back to an all-girl group now, right?

A: Kirk has been standing in for us on bass since we lost our bass player last year. We do have a replacement, but she's still getting acclimated, so Kirk played on the album and he's playing with us at the CD release show.

DETAILS

Saturday at Club Dada with Golden Bear, Sunward and MC Router. 2720 Elm St. Price TBA. 214-742-3400. www.myspace. com/lovie
- Quick DFW (Dallas Morning News)

click on the link.
video titled:
Chandler Talks with the Dallas Band, Lovie:

http://cbs11tv.com/video/?cid=1481 - TXA CH 21 / Dallas

Dallas band Lovie's indie debut Harshmellow doesn't evoke a girl-band aesthetic just because they are...um...girls; rather, it borrows heavily from the alternative pop that hit and flourished in the past 20 years from the (girl band) Go-Go's to (girly-lead-singer band) The Lemonheads to (boyish-girl-lead-singer band) The Cranberries. Lovie has developed a semi-nostalgic sound with just-right guitar riffs, simple keyboards and an astounding knack for fun, zippy backing vocals. That said, it's those same qualities that hold the album back. The disc as a whole never plays with challenging complexities: While their songs are chipper, they are also basic, such that they begin running together, and bam, you're back at the beginning before realizing it.

Harshmellow does work as a hint of a good band with the potential of being great. The first track, "Mindreader," begins with a whiplash-inducing guitar, then immediately pulls back upon the entrance of Rebecca Dixon's vocals. Once the beat and vocals hit the same stride, the song coalesces into a potential radio hit, or as their best bet for a live-set closer. Ballads such as "Release Me" and "Million Stars" just miss—they'd have made better rave-ups than the momentum-killers they are. Perhaps the best and, paradoxically, most original moment comes when the group covers "All the Pretty Girls" by legendary Houston band The Judy's.

Lovie's seething, fun, live dynamic doesn't fully translate into the album. Harshmellow ends up being a nice listen that needs a bit more soul. But it has a lot of heart.

- The Dallas Observer

Live Show review from Club Dada in Dallas, TX / June 26, 2009

Lovie was up next. i've been wanting to hear this band live for quite a while now, and i was very happy that i finally got the chance. and i was very pleasantly surprised - i guess i was expecting sappy bubble-gum pop, but wow - this band can truly rock. very talented group of musicians, really nice collection of catchy, guitar-driven tunes with awesome vocals, harmonies, and keys, all really well executed (despite the sweltering climate). k, so i've made it clear, right? these ladies are fantastic musicians, etc.? cuz i can't write this without mentioning it - these girls are freakin' HOT. there's just somethin about women rockin' out in pigtails, ponytails, short plaid skirts, muscle tees, and knee socks. nice. (sue me - i'm a guy. with a pulse). - Adventures in Live Music Blogspot - June 2009

The Lovie connection
January 21st, 2008 by David Okamoto

Nothing spikes my curiosity about a local band more than the “r” word — so when Lovie set up a four-week Sunday night “residency” at White Rock Coffee Shop this month, I couldn’t help but wander over.

Lovie is a four-woman band that has generated a low-level buzz on the Dallas alternative scene with their debut CD, “Harshmellow,” and hard-rocking gigs at Club Dada and the Cavern. A developing act can hide a lot behind high volume and bright lights so stripping back to an acoustic setting — and even test-driving new material in it — is a brave risk.

But it paid off: Last Sunday, it took halfway through the first set before our ears adjusted to the acoustics and the band locked into a compelling groove. A Farfisa-like organ gives some songs a perky, late-’70s new-wave vibe, but guitarist Rebecca Dixon’s longing voice anchors their sound with a moody, introspective presence that helps Lovie come across as charming but not overly precious.

At their best — which is when all four members sing (which didn’t happen nearly as often as it should have) — they fall somewhere between the paisley pop of the early Bangles and the fragile angst of Juliana Hatfield. They get extra points for dusting off “All the Pretty Girls,” a short-and-not-so-sweet kiss-off recorded in 1979 by Pearland, Texas punk act The Judy’s.

Put the Lovies on your watch list for 2008 — and you’ve got one last chance to see them this Sunday at White Rock Coffee before they plug the amps back in.

- KERA.org