Interview: Before Tampa debut, The Lemon Twigs talk influences, family and more

Brother acts have long been prevalent throughout music history and in rock and roll have been responsible for creating some of the genre's most memorable and enduring contributions. Ray and Dave Davies, the masterminds and brothers behind one the greatest British rock bands of all time, The Kinks, immediately come to mind. Not to be overlooked are Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis, The Black Crowes’ Rich and Chris Robinson, the Wilson clan from The Beach Boys, The Everly Brothers, and, of course, The Bee Gees.

A pair that might be unfamiliar to some, but should be added to the list of historic musical brothers, is Michael and Brian D'Addario. Both are in their mid-20s, but their collective musical acumen and pedigree far pre-date the number of years they’ve been alive. The sons of Ronnie D’Addario, a longtime musician and songwriter and unabashed lover and fan of music, the brothers grew up with a steady diet of good music serving as the basis for their adoration of the art form and their drive to form their band, The Lemon Twigs.

Writing songs and learning to play instruments at an early age, the D’Addario brothers were quickly noticed for their unbelievable range and depth of talent as teenagers. The pair released an independent cassette of their songs in 2015, and, the following year, released a first proper album, Do Hollywood, on the respectable 4AD Records label, best known as the home of more ethereal and goth acts like Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, and Bauhaus.

While still not of voting age, the D’Addario brothers made their mark with that debut album and got the attention of critics and peers alike. Brian and Michael, then 17 and 15 years old respectively, created a record rich with harmonies, pop sensibilities, and well-crafted songs. Each handled lead vocal duties on the songs they’d individually written, and the pair played the bulk of the instruments on the record. Since then, the band has continued to build a catalog of fine albums that only get better with each subsequent release. The group has also managed to receive accolades and praise from musical luminaries like The Roots’ Questlove and legendary pop outfit, The Zombies.

The Twigs’ current offering, A Dream is All We Know (Captured Tracks), was released only a few weeks ago and is the band’s richest and most sparkling offering to date. Steeped in the obvious influence of the bands the brothers grew up listening to, there are plenty of nods to The Beatles and The Beach Boys throughout. While hardly a nostalgia act or a throwback outfit, The Twigs manage to add flavor to their musical creations, which helps to avoid unfair accusations of thievery or pilfering of the music of their musical mentors. Other less obvious nods go the music of The Association, The Hollies and 10cc.

Quirky harmonies, unusual melodies, and an air of contemporariness help The Lemon Twigs maintain an aura that faithfully and lovingly looks backward while exuberantly and joyfully looking forward in carving out their niche.

While preparing to embark on a major concert tour to promote the fine new album, the band is traveling to locations they’ve never before reached. Included in this jaunt is the group’s Tampa debut. Both D’Addario brothers spoke briefly to talk about the new album and the band’s first-ever local show. They shed light on their brotherly bond and their deep love and admiration for the music they grew up listening to and loving.

Tickets to see The Lemon Twigs play Crowbar in Ybor City on Sunday, May 12 are still available and start at $22.
“When we were finishing mixing [2023’s] Everything Harmony album, we already had four or five songs for the new album,” Michael told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. While that album leans more on ballads and quieter numbers, in contrast, A Dream is All We Know relies more on straight-up power pop and draws heavily on upbeat, melodic offerings.

A guest appearance from Sean Ono Lennon on the new album, as co-producer and bassist for one of the album’s best tracks, “In the Eyes of the Girl,” came about after Lennon collaborated on a project with Michael and Brian’s father, Ronnie, on one of the senior D’Addario’s records.

“He [Lennon] reached out to us, and we came up to his studio. We spent five days working on basic tracks and we worked on the song that’s on the flexi disc b-side,” Michael added, referring to “Gifts,” which appears on a web store exclusive pressing of the new album. “It was fun. We got to track things in a live way, and we did quite a few overdubs. He was a good host.”

Asking about the pair’s father’s obvious musical influence, both brothers chimed in. Besides turning his sons onto the music of The Beatles from an incredibly early age, he was also a major factor regarding the process in which the brothers make and create music. “We’d play him a song and he’d offer what he thought would be an interesting chord or melody, but there were cases where we ignored him,” Brian mentioned.

Citing other less-obvious musical influences, the brothers brought up composer and songwriter Burt Bacharach, whose compositions might not have had the same impact on them when they were ‘tweens, when their dad first introduced them to that catalog, but are more receptive to it now. Other less obvious influences their father brought to the young brothers include old television show theme songs. Brian mentioned the theme of the 1960s sitcom “Car 54, Where Are You?” and another one whose name eluded him.

“What was the name of it? The one with the one-armed man in it?” he stammers. “You mean ‘The Fugitive?’” Michael ased. “Yes! That’s it!” Brian exclaimed, in a relieved tone.

But both cite each of their parents when tracing their love and admiration for the arts.

“Our dad and mom have similar tastes. They share tastes and they’ve always loved movies from the ‘30s and the ‘40s” Brian said, adding that he and his brother were also interested in musical theater. The influence is evident from the fact that he and his brother Michael had stints as child actors on Broadway and a handful of television series in the earliest days of their careers.

When asked if there was a particular record or artist that led them to gravitate toward music, an unexpected but understandable answer was revealed. “The Dave Clark Five” Michael quickly offered, referring to the 1960s British Invasion rock and roll band that at one time rivaled The Beatles in fandom and popularity.

“I was going to say The Dave Clark Five too!” Brian added, which only bolstered the significance that the band had on their collective musical palettes. “They were so raw and really energized!. The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Herman’s Hermits…that model of mid-60s pop meant so much to us as kids, in forming so much of a bridge for us.”

The brothers then started rattling off songs that made an impact on them and how they approached music: The Beatles’ “She Loves You,” The Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Summer in the City” and The Kinks’ “Dead End Street."

“That song had an edge to it” Brian recalled. “Those songs were outside of the realm of a typical song” he added.

And, outside the realm of typical songs and musical acts is exactly where The Lemon Twigs reside. Students of great, classic pop music, thanks to the influence their music-loving parents provided them at an early age, Brian and Michael D’Addario have taken sounds and vibes of the music that was created long before they were even alive and added their own quirky, unique twist to it. The result is one that, despite its familiar leanings, leaves listeners with a combined sense of intrigue and wonder.

And, at last, local audiences will have the chance to experience the joyful, artful blend of style and sound The Lemon Twigs have to offer, from a live stage, for the very first time.

Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter