In the back room hookah lounge of the Mediterranea Cafe, Love n’Co gave a sneak peak into their musical take on chocolate and hope, a week before it lands on the band’s first-ever EP.
If you’ve been paying attention to New Haven’s bustling live music scene, you might know Love n’Co by now. The band has been around town ever since they formed in 2019 — whether the members were performing at shows or screening movies.
On WNHH FM’s Tuesdays @ the Mediterranea Cafe livestreamed concert this week, lead vocalist (and graphic designer-co-songwriter-content creator-booking agent) Lovelind was backed by guitarists Lamar Smith and Cliff Robbins-Sennewald (who also produces their music), along with Clancy Emanuel on drums. The band played songs that had our tiny audience of WNHH-affiliated listeners dancing in our seats.
“They said something’s wrong with my brain again,” Lovelind began, kicking off the show with “Identify Crisis.” “That there’s imbalance in my head / something that they can’t explain.”
The band previously recorded a performance of the song as their Tiny Desk contest submission, and it was clear why — the song made you want to keep listening.
“Now I’m in a rage / With all this pain,” Lovelind sang, staring head-on at the camera, or, the digital audience. It was a proclamation and a challenge, only a little sweetened by their occasional dancing. Lovelind’s rage came in the form of a swingy, smooth number that featured moments of fun and moments of confession. This, it became apparent, was a preview into what the rest of the set would hold.
With Love n’Co, it’s hard to separate the vocals and the instrumentation. They complement each other — tight melodies, riffs, and guitar solos are elevated and emboldened by Lovelind’s full-bodied voice, so strong that it reminds us that the voice is an instrument, too.
Lovelind cites musical influences like Christina Aguilera, Jazmine Sullivan, Aretha Franklin, and, with affection, “Adele — oh, Adele.” Lovelind’s lower register — sometimes clear, sometimes satisfyingly guttural — creates a sound that is both fresh and classic. Rock, funk, pop, soul — it’s hard to pin the band down to any clean-cut category.
The set continued with “Chocolate” — a song released on Spotify in February that asks, “What would you do for a chocolate bar? / How do you know that the love will take you far?” and “What do you say when you’re scared and afraid?” and answers, “Just do it anyway.” Although the band was missing its bassist, the two guitarists, with the support of Emanuel’s drumming, made sure that the music wasn’t missing anything.
The band also performed “Cease,” a new, unreleased song Lovelind wrote in December and the band performed over the weekend at the Palestine Museum in Woodbridge. The song promoted solidarity with Palestinians as Israel’s war in Gaza continues. It captures both hope and grief, pushing back against the instinct to continue going on as if things are normal.
“Ain’t they people after all? / See how they love life,” the chorus of the song begins. Soon, the band hopes to release on Instagram a call for recordings, so that the released product can include a collection of different voices on the chorus.
The set concluded with “Koffee,” a ballad about losing someone who loves the smell of coffee in the morning. Still, the song’s pace picks up, and it ends on a line that’s devastating or optimistic, depending on how you look at it: “I miss you, but I know you’re OK.”
Love n’Co’s in an exciting place — their debut EP is dropping May 24, and they’ll be having a release party at Bradley Street Bike Co-op on the 25th. With gigs coming up around town and in New York, and a YouTube channel flush with more content, there’s a lot of Love n’Co for anyone who can’t get enough.
If your band is interested in performing on Tuesday @ the Mediterranea Cafe, reach out through the “Email the Author” form above.
Previous “Tuesday @ the Mediterranea Cafe” performances:
