As the live show coverage continues to flow here at DaveCromwellWrites, new locales are discovered featuring performances by familiar names. Venturing out to previously unattended venues create opportunities for expanding your horizons both geographically and through people newly met. Combining that with those you’ve known for seemingly forever makes for a heady mix of exploration and adventure. Additionally, fresh recordings by top creatives are always featured here in the DCW universe.
Hearing that decades-long friends and noted deep-gazer band The Stargazer Lilies were playing a show nearby in our now residing state of Florida was reason to rejoice. Having known John and Kim since our days together in New York City, with attendance at their midtown Manhattan loft parties a frequent occurrence, a new show now was once again the place to be. This time performing at The Ritz Theatre in Historic Downtown Winter Haven (not coincidentally the bands new home town) it wasn’t too much of a trek from my own Orlando area location. The theater was cool, the vibe excellent, and the show performed follows below.
The promoters run an event dubbed "Live & Loud" that happens every first Friday of the Month.
The venue itself is quite beautiful, with roomy seating, high ceilings and a professional stage.
After opening the show with their "Ambient Intro," the band then played one of their most recognizable tracks, 2013's "We Are The Dreamers." Emphasizing this cut's timeless appeal, Kim Field's soft falsetto vocals and pulsing bass lays the foundation for John Cep's wall of pitch-distorted guitar forays.
Live drumming from new member Brendan McGowan (centrally positioned with a classic drum kit) added one more ferocious element to the overall sound.
Moving ahead to their 2016 "Door to the Sun" album, the dreamy 4th track "When With You" was played with gazey appeal.
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Next up was "Forever Today" from the bands 2022 "Cosmic Tidal Wave" release.
Featured single from 2025's "Love Pedals" came positioned as the sets centerpiece with the stunning track "Shining Yellow." The accompanying award winning video actually opened the show to the delight and wonder of everyone in the audience.
That was followed by "Ahhh" which featured on the bands 2017 outtakes and compilation album, "Lost." The track was also released as a digital single in December 2012.
Dipping back into their "Door to the Sun" material, a magnificent version of album opening track "Golden Key" was performed.
The mood is slow, dreamy ambiance that taps into "sunshine" feelings.
The final foray of the night had the band performing their frequent show closer "Space Jam." Fully instrumental and fluid in it's construction, it perfectly blends the jam band aesthetic with full-on gazer sensibilities.
Post-show merch table experiences are one of the live shows most rewarding experiences.
As are the catching up with old friends who are still playing shows better than ever.
And in these days, Social Media Shares spread the word far and wide.
Speaking of which, follow this band on their Social Media - Facebook - Instagram
Previous Features on The Stargazer Lilies can be found on this site HERE - HERE - HERE - HERE - HERE and HERE.
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The musical tandem of vocalist Bryce Boudreau and instrumentalist Christopher Murphy have been writing and releasing their own recordings as Lunar Twin for over a decade. Multiple reviews of all their works have been meticulously detailed here on this site throughout that time period. They are now in the process of putting out a new album called “Night Jaguar.” Two singles have been released so far in advance, with a DCW review of them now presented below.
The recently released second single from Night Jaguar “Sound City” comes via a special mix from like-minded fellow associate musician Matthew Nowhere. Like much of Lunar Twin’s music, the mood is mystical, building around droning textures and world-beat percussion. Vocalist Bryce Boudreau half whispers his lyrical mantras, while keyboardist Christopher Murphy floods the ambient background with synth chords. A central meditative audio tone is repeatedly struck through the tracks progression cycle, creating even more of a metaphysical experience. Bryce sets the mood with “hmmm” voicings and lyrics about how twisting rivers “turns away to sea” ultimately leading to “a bridge to sound city.” The poetry becomes more emotional as Bryce declares “I never cried so hard in my life,
I never tried so hard so many times.”
Listen to this introspective track here:
Earlier this year, the band released their debut single from Night Jaguar with the up-tempo “Disappear into the Earth.” Also mixed by the prolific Mr. Nowhere, the rhythm and beats are more dance floor ready. Synths bubble and percolate over dynamic percussion, merging an 80’s vibe with modern sonic qualities. Lyrically presenting a metaphor of “border walls” with “the spirit in your heart,” the songs title references how merging with this planet’s “dirt” shows how “we are forever.”
Though time may pass longer than one expected, the high-quality music label Shore Dive Records is rarely far from the sensory perceptions here at DaveCromwellWrites. Label runner Nico never fails to introduce this site to new music that evokes immediate attention. This go round is a Canadian dream pop solo artist called Eau the Music with her newly released album “Light in the Dark.” Written, produced and mixed entirely by the artist herself, she covers nearly all the instruments as well, with only some assistance on bass guitar.
Album opener “In This Silence” is an impressively constructed studio recording. Icy synths support ethereal vocals, before a strong rhythmic undercurrent of hard plucked bass tones and complimentary percussion add sonic depth. Floating “Do do do do do do do” voices add a creative dreamy element before layered title-line vocals cascade alongside buzzing and melodic guitars. Follow-up cut “Can’t Explain” bookends the track with lines “we give away lock away our fates” where “the things we name” (attempt to define?) “begin to fade.” With a driving buzz-bass pattern and accent sensitive drumming (hard to believe these are programmed and not actually played) the track alternates between vocal enhanced driving rock and ambient interludes.
“Life” (Album Version) emerges from a sparse vocal reading against tribal percussion, as it slowly builds to fuller instrumentation. Driving electric guitars join in and move the progression forward, as angelic backing voices float around the primary vocal line. The mysteries of existence are lyrically explored to contrasting conclusions. “Dark Star” quickly morphs from stark, sparse instrumental first verse into straightforward rocker. Unfolding lyrics accepting and applying blame in equal parts, “waves of hate” and “a dark abyss” ultimately “can’t outshine a thousand suns.” The French language sung “Ici Par Là/The Rest of Me” continues the inclusion of now recognizable elements. Specifically, strong melodies, direct structured-to-the-song percussion, forceful bass guitar and voices both personal and enhanced through modern technological placement.
Album title track “Light in the Dark” features a harsh, distorted – almost industrial guitar as it’s dominant musical component. Apparently written about the birth of a child, the drums are so prominent and fluid, it’s hard to believe aren’t actually being played, and are instead credited to “programming.” Vocal phrasing is impeccably placed, with momentary minor key forays, like on the lines “touched off the ground.” A piano is introduced along with the lyrics “now the day takes away” for additional unexpected sonic touches. However, it’s central vocal hook repeats the phrase “the last time my hands touched the ground.”
“Dreams” starts out like a long lost cousin to Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” with it’s soft, vulnerable vocals supported by thundering tom toms. A chunky, distorted electric guitar soon joins in, as well as clattering, cymbal heavy drums. An interesting post-hook coda emerges stating “in the back of your mind, this was the best time of your life.” Penultimate track “All We Have” builds around a driving bass line, enhanced by the vocal stylings we’ve now come to know and love throughout this recording. It’s essential theme is as universal as it is simple, stating “this time is all we have, it’s not for sale.”
Album closer “We Are All Stars” is a straight-forward mid-tempo rocker that bursts into an utterly catchy, truly memorable chorus. Along with the title line, the lyrics “we will falter, there’s no other” emphasize a universal celestial sentiment. Passing through this chorus for the second time finds those lines embellished by a tasty guitar hook in-between. After an ambient interlude leading to what one might expect to be a giant final chorus, the artist pivots in another direction. What closes out the song (and album) instead it an understated and somewhat subdued variation of that chorus.
The debut album ‘Light in the Dark’ is now out everywhere.
Dave Cromwell has been writing about music since the dawn of the internet age. In addition to the steady flow of features here on this site, he has been a regular contributor to The Deli Magazine (both Print and Web) since 2010. With numerous Print Issue cover features and weekly contributions on the Deli website, scores of artists have received the Cromwell point of view. Along with ongoing contributions to this site and The Deli Magazine, Dave has written for Dingus, My Social List, The Waster, Spin and Rolling Stone magazines.
