Los Angeles, CA (Top40 Charts/ prespakpr) - You can't take 20-something Joe Luckinbill too seriously. He never writes any really deep lyrics, eschews metaphor and distances himself from diatribe. But can you dance to it? Just try to stop yourself this coming Thursday, May 20, 11:45 as Joe hits Delancy's Bar (168 Delancey St., NYC 212-254-9920.
Songs like 'Everybody Hates Me' showcase strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies and economical arrangements. Most importantly, make sure to notice those guitar riffs throughout. Luckinbill is no newcomer to the music world having played jazz on the stages of his native New York with such luminaries as Lucie Arnaz. With his own band, he's been working the Hollywood club scene since 2006, becoming something of a semi-regular at places including The Viper Room. Luckinbill is accompanied by a young and very energetic band: Joe Costello-drums, Eric Carrillo-rhythm Guitar, Dre-Keys and vox, and Tony Gilcrest-Bass and vox.
Like his Power Pop brethren, Luckinbill exhibits a definite taste for 1960s British and American pop and rock, though tempered with a taste of the hyper intelligent cynicism made popular during the Eighties by influential bands like DEVO and The Normal. His is a unique mix, familiar, fresh and just a little bit funny.
There's a sense of humor in the lyrics and a touch of self-denigrating humor in the artist himself. Luckinbill wants to be cool like David Bowie, respected like John Mayer and a guitar hero on the same level as Stevie Ray Vaughn. He's going to do that by keeping his melodies front and center, building his audience fan by fan, soon hitting the road with his band and bridging that big geographical gap between his birthplace and adopted home with songs everyone can relate to.
Expect Luckinbill to hit your town really soon. Music is what he does. It's how he makes his living and it's what keeps him alive. There's a restlessness to him if he's not behind his guitar. 'It's like a pro surfer when there's no wave,' he says. 'He feels like less than who he is. You just have to feel the butterflies in your stomach and be willing to get through it.' That is some serious business.
