When Brett Dennen’s Loverboy tour comes through town, he and Bobby Long will be supporting their latest albums. The exciting news is that all proceeds from Dennen’s album sales at his shows and through his online store will go directly to Invisible Children. The charity works to end the use of child soldiers and restore communities in central Africa. That’s just the latest charitable project with which Dennen is involved. But just because the causes he supports are serious, don’t think that translates to the music.
“I knew from playing so many shows live that I absolutely have to play music that makes people happy,” Dennen said on his website. “I want to make you dance and sing along. I want the music to be fun to listen to, and fun to see live.”
| ONSTAGE |
| Bobby Long in support of Brett Dennen |
| » When: 8 p.m. Saturday |
| » Where: 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW |
| » Info: $22; 800-955-5566; 930.com |
Besides supporting a good cause, the show also brings fans plenty of great music. Dennen is touring behind his fourth studio album, “Loverboy,” with songs that perhaps are best described as melding soul, reggae and other sounds into his own indie rock. The album debuted at No. 15 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart.
U.K. artist Bobby Long, who is playing in support of Dennen at the local show, has seen his latest release chart on both Billboard’s Heatseekers and Folk charts.
“Winter’s Tale” is perhaps best described as gritty folk with touches of blues and soul. Long said recording the 11-song album in London with Grammy Award winner Liam Watson (the White Stripes) as producer was a career highlight.
“He was a total pro,” Long said of Watson. “I always wanted to do something that wasn’t processed. I wanted it raw and fairly young-sounding, much like the Beatles or the Monkees. I just love the gritty, raw sound.”
But don’t think of the music as basic. Working with top-flight musicians and vocalists including Nona Hendryx of Labelle, Icelandic singer Lay Low and pedal steel player B.J. Cole, who has played with Elton John and Sting, gives the music plenty of textured nuances.
“It was as much about capturing the moment as it was playing,” he said. “We were really recording and it was pretty intense, but we were literally laughing up to the second we started playing. [Watson] is a master at this.”
