Lately I’ve had the pleasure of not only watching Brooklyn’s Ava Luna play a few live shows, but getting to hang out with/make last minute Jack Daniels runs for them as well. It is rare that I met bands as friendly and down to earth as Ava Luna, but not as rare as finding bands as fun, dedicated and most importantly, as good as Ava Luna are. Made up of three girls and three boys, the band has a unique line up. The girls sing backup in a style reminiscent of Motown, while the boys aggressively rock out with keyboards, drums and the occasional guitar from lead singer and songwriter Carlos Hernandez. Though these contrasting elements may sound un-fusible, I promise you they are not. These elements may also seem gimmicky, though I also swear that those fears may be put away. The push and pull of the electronic/rock sounds against the smoother harmonies of the ladies is what gives Ava Luna their tension, energy, catchiness and ultimately their beauty. Both elements serve as a balancing act for the variety of sounds the band incorporates. When things threaten to get too pretty, the drums and synths rear their heads. When Carlos and his tight rhythm and keyboard section threaten to jump the tracks with their intensity, the girls reappear, soothing the songs way back to the melodic and composed. While watching Ava Luna, I am equally reminded of the fat, black, female gospel singer in my soul, and the punk loving boy of much basement show attending I wished I was in my youth. Rarely are these opposite inner voices unearthed, and even more rarely are they exposed at the same time. Watching and listening Ava Luna play, the collision is joyously unavoidable.
Though they only have a few songs up on their myspace right now (which I have also posted for free below), I know first hand that Ava Luna are passionate and hardworking, something they prove in the craft of every song and in the energy of every performance they put on. They are currently finishing the final leg of their self funded first tour and they play shows in Manhattan and Brooklyn constantly. They will soon be participating in both BAM’s Sounds Like Brooklyn Festival and the Bushwick Arts Festival, two events that all Brooklynites and Manhattanites in the know are greatly looking forward to. Below is a list of upcoming Ava Luna shows as well as a few FREE mp3s. See them play, dance about, smile broadly and then buy them a drink afterwords and tell them that you dug their set. The best part is, you’ll actually want to do just that.
Ava Luna – Six Seven
Ava Luna – Four Five
Ava Luna – Girlies
Upcoming Shows!
Jan 16 2009 8:00P
The Golden West Cafe Baltimore, Maryland
Jan 18 2009 8:00P
The Silent Barn – Tour Homecoming Ridgewood/Bushwick
Jan 23 2009 8:00P
Crash Mansion The Bowery
Jan 31 2009 8:00P
Market Hotel Bushwick
Feb 14 2009 8:00P
BAM Sounds of Brooklyn Festival @ Goodbye Blue Monday Bushwick
Mar 7 2009 8:00P
Bushwick Arts Festival @ Goodbye Blue Monday Bushwick
Apr 23 2009 8:00P
Crashin’ In @ Public Assembly Williamsburg
