Preview: Angela Perley & The Howlin' Moons, Love Alive / Jan. 28 / Casa Nueva
By Nichole Moorman, Contributor
Casa Nueva / Thurs., Jan. 28, 2016
This Thursday, two bands from Columbus, Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons and Love Alive, are making their way to Athens for a show at Casa Nueva, at 10 p.m. Cost is $7 for 18+, $5 for those over 21.
Opening the show is Love Alive. Love Alive made the move to Columbus from Cleveland in 2013. Their sound takes a “modern twist” on ‘60s and ‘70s rock and roll, drawing inspiration from the Stones, Hendrix and Zeppelin, with an added touch of psychedelia and funk.
Love Alive first played in Athens over a year ago, before they signed with their manager Ryan Miller, founder of A-Town Roots Productions. “Coming down to Athens is always a great time,” remarked vocalist and guitarist David Lurie. The band even performed during High Fest last year.
“We played at three o’clock in the afternoon; it was probably one of the most fun shows we’ve had as a band so far. So many people were there, everybody was just dancing and focusing on the music,” remarked Lurie.
Lurie says Athens has had a major impact on the band. “That was really the first city that truly, we felt accepted and had a great time playing. We look forward, every time, to playing at Casa or anywhere else. We put on a live show that we put a lot of thought, heart and soul into, and we really appreciate Athens people giving that back to us by coming out.”
Angela Perley grew up in Hilliard, but went to school here at OU. She went from recording demos on her computer at school to recording in studios, when her college roommate gave her demos to the CEO of Vital Companies in Columbus. It was there she began recording with lead guitarist Chris Conner and bassist Billy Zehnal on their first EP.
Athens’ impact on Perley is complicated, but it was significant enough to warrant a song. Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons’ debut album, Hey Kid, featured the single “Athens,” which won first place in the 2014 International Songwriting Competition’s Americana category. Perley says the classes, music, and community at OU inspired her, and some relationships made a mark as well.
“I really fell in love with the art and music community in Athens,” she says. “I also had a lot of romantic beginnings and endings in Athens that were quite dramatic, so that is something I can never forget and will always be nostalgic about.”
Perley and the band have recently released their second full-length album, Homemade Vision, which has been in the works since late 2014. Perley says their team and sound have both grown since the last album. “We are super comfortable with each other and the music is more band oriented than singer-songwriter now. Our songs have gotten more fuzzed out and dreamy in the last year so that’s been really fun.”
Be sure to stop by Casa Nueva this Thursday to witness two bands, who are passionate about the Athens community, do what they do best.
