As many of you make the trek to SXSW or follow along diligently from your couch, I find it necessary to tell you a little bit about a band from Cleveland who is making waves as they travel to Austin.
Allow me to formally introduce you to The Lighthouse and The Whaler, a band comprising five good guys with a lot of love in their hearts, some guitars, a mandolin, a keyboard, a glockenspiel, some violins, drums, and an undeniable energy that courses through their live performance, extending far out into the crowd.
The Lighthouse and The Whaler is Michael LoPresti (lead vocals / guitar / keyboard), Matthew LoPresti (percussion), Aaron Smith (violin / guitar / keyboard), Mark Porostosky (mandolin / guitar / keyboard / glockenspiel / vocals), and Steve Diaz (percussion / guitar). Each member of this band floats effortlessly between multiple instruments, showing true musicianship and dexterity that is unmatched by any band I’ve encountered.
Theirs is a sound that tiptoes delicately on the indie-folk line, but they’ve got enough pop to keep you dancing, too. Their music is captivating—luminous melodies are delivered by Michael LoPresti, laced with the delicacy of mandolin and glockenspiel, and supported by guitars, violin, and explosive drumbeats. There’s just something organic that happens when these five men perform; the energy is shared across the stage, manifesting through dancing and head nods, reaching out to the audience and embracing it in a warm, humble sound.
Today marks an important day for The Lighthouse and The Whaler as they have just released a much-anticipated EP, Pioneers, that is the teaser for the second full-length due out this summer from the band, This is An Adventure. So, if you’ve liked what you’ve heard, hope over and buy the EP. It’ll tide you over until the summer when you can purchase the full-length and embark on your own adventure. Be sure to thank the band for the soundtrack to your summer.
