Things Which Warm My Heart

When you're a pop fan, you just get used to the idea, after a while, that the music you love must be some sort of arcane language opaque to others, that the shifting influences of the mid-sixties, the subtle interplay of influence and innovation, just doesn't sound the same to everyone. Personally, I don't get their lack of getting it, but then that's just me.

And then sometimes, out of nowhere, it works for someone. I've blogged about Steve Lawrenson before (here and here): his brand of psychedelic power pop, heavily influenced by Jeff Lynne in his various stages, is bound to make you smile. And not just you, or even me, because things are happening for Lawrenson.

This weekend, for example, Lawrenson played three times (3!) at the Dewey Beach Pop Festival (once with a full band, once acoustic, and once solo) in Dover, Delaware.

The rich harmonies and layered arrangements of Stephen Lawrenson’s songs will be heard in both an electric set at 7 p.m. Friday at the Rusty Rudder Stage D, and an acoustic set at 11 p.m. that night at booksandcoffee. {He ended up filling in doing a solo set on Saturday evening as well.}

“After being a drummer in my previous band for years, it’s great to be able to strap on a guitar and have some freedom on stage,” he said.

This will be his first time at the Pop Fest, and Lawrenson plans to stay the entire weekend to check out some of the other bands performing.

In addition to this good news, he's also had songs picked up for two forthcoming compilations: NotLame is including "4U," a track from Lawrenson's full-length CD Every Summer, on a sampler album, and an as yet unreleased track, "Hey," will be appearing on IPO #6, due out this summer. Add in regular gigs at IPO itself (Philly on 2004 and Nashville in 2005, so far), and you've got an absolutely respectable small pop career.

Such are the things which warm my heart.