I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: September 12, 2025] The Lemon Twigs

I really liked the first album from The Lemon Twigs.  Their second album was weird by fun, and then the pandemic came and I lost touch with their new music.  But I really wanted to see them live because I had heard they were great.

When they played around the last few times, for one reason or another I didn’t go and as it turned out, I didn’t love their two newest albums as much as I liked the older ones.  So I had kind of given up on seeing them.  But I was really excited when they were listed as the opening band for Car Sear Headrest.  This would be a great opportunity to check them out.

And holy cow were they good.  Their newer albums have a kind of soft rock vibe that I really didn’t like.  But live, they totally rocked.  They leapt in the air, they soloed, they shouted–it was a total blast.

They didn’t play anything from Go Hollywood (sigh), but that’s okay because even though I didn’t really know any of the songs, they were catchy and fun.  Brian played a big old fashioned looking guitar and Michael played an old school Rickenbacker.  The two of them sang lead and harmonies, alternating (see the setlist for who sang what–on some songs).

But it was when bassist Danny Ayala (also on a classic Rickenbacker) and drummer Reza Matin sang along with them that the harmonies were out of this world.

They played four songs from the new album, three from the previous album and one from General Public.  The rest of the set (they were allowed to play for 45 minutes!) includes some unreleased songs, some covers and a song from Brian’s solo album (I do wonder why he needed to release a solo album if he’s the primary songwriter in the Twigs, but whatever.

Their whole set was great, from their infectious attitude, to their super catchy songs.  And the crowd (I have no idea if the crowd knew them) responded really well. There was much (justified) applause and cheering.  I’m so glad I got to see them and to see that even if their albums have gotten more poppy, their live show still rocks.

1. My Golden Years ≅ [M]
2. What You Were Doing ∞ [M]
3. I’ve Got a Broken Heart Ø
4. The One π [B]
5. In My Head ∞ [M]
6. Flash in the Pan (Brian D’Addario song) ♣ [B]
7. Church Bells ≅ [M] 
8. If You and I Are Not Wise ≅ [both]
9. Ghost Run Free ∞ [both]
10. You’re Still My Girl Ø
11. Love You So Much (The New Colony Six cover)
12. Bring You Down §
13. No Matter What You Do (Love cover)
14. Rock On (Over and Over) ≅ [M]

§ unreleased (2025)
♣ Till the Morning (2025) (Brian D’Addario solo album)
Ø unreleased (2024)
≅ A Dream is All We Know (2024)
∞ Everything Harmony (2023)
π Songs for the General Public (2020)

When they played a full show they also played

1. Till the Morning (Brian D’Addario song) ♣
2. Any Time of Day ∞
3. Peppermint Roses ≅
4. They Don’t Know How to Fall in Place ≅
5. I Just Can’t Get Over Losing You Ø
6. Corner of My Eye ∞
7. How Can I Love Her More ≅
8. Leather Together π