You could be forgiven for mistaking The Lighthouse And The Whaler for another whale-related indie pop outfit. For a while, it seemed like Freelance Whales had cornered the market on warm melodies, glockenspiel, and precious pop songs. And at first blush, especially on standout track “Pioneers,” the Cleveland-based Lighthouse (I know) sounds a whole lot like that Brooklyn band.
On Monday night at Mercury Lounge, after a warm-up from BK natives Ravens & Chimes, The Lighthouse And The Whaler kicked off with that "Pioneers," and immediately showed that the comparison stops at the name. Freelance Whales' stage show is balanced and endearing; The Lighthouse was rambunctious and infectious. Led by Michael LoPresti, the quintet ripped through a set of songs old and new, including one that the band had “only played in front of its basement walls.” From top to bottom, the set was high voltage.
You could be forgiven for thinking that this band is green behind the ears. Hell, I'd never heard of them until a week before this show, and grabbed tickets on a whim. But this isn't some shaky first-try-at-music group. The quintet was confident and consistent on stage, sure of where each footfall was going to land. It was as fun to watch as it was to hear, as the boys ping-ponged from instrument to instrument, each showing their chops on everything from standbys like guitars, drums, and keys to the rarer mandolin, violin, and glockenspiel. The freewheeling feeling crescendoed to a peak at the show's conclusion, with the band crammed five abreast at the front of the stage, looking for the life of them like they were thrilled to be playing music. Smiles onstage echoed in the crowd.
You could be forgiven for overlooking The Lighthouse And The Whaler, but only once. They caught me off guard and turned me into a believer within minutes, the first band to make my blood buzz in months. “Thanks for coming out on a Monday night,” said the band at the opening of the show. By the end, it was the crowd thanking the band.
