courtesy Harvest Records |
A different version of my review originally appeared at ocregister.com
The
Olms have a distinct retro-minded aesthetic.
Comprised of Pete Yorn and relative newcomer
J.D. King (a Norco native), the
duo produced, mixed and played nearly two dozen instruments on their self-titled
debut album.
The winsome
collection came out on the just re-launched Harvest Records last June. It was recorded on analog tape and it touches upon earthy folk/rock and
chamber pop sounds that could’ve appeared in 1966.
Performing to a small, yet enthusiastic crowd at the Constellation Room on Tuesday, the five-piece live band made the most of a potentially awkward situation. Upon arriving onstage, Yorn seemed surprised and said, “this
is a tight little crew here.”
“On the
Line,” featuring King’s droll lead vocals and keyboard work, launched the
55-minute Santa Ana set on a jaunty note. The guys’ harmonies got a good spotlight during the
bluegrass-tinged “A Bottle of Wine, etc.,” where King’s fragile vocal delivery
recalled Harry Nilsson.
Yorn switched from acoustic guitar to drums for a rousing
take on “Mental Revenge,” Mel Tillis’ top 20 country hit from 1975. Here, lead
guitarist (and regular Yorn band mate) Jonny Polonsky tore off a memorable solo.
The Olms also previewed an in-progress second album by playing the promising, Glen
Campbell-esque “Arkansas” for the second time live.
A yearning “Only One Way” was in a similar vein as Yorn’s
introspective efforts. Following “Christmastime,” a mellow folk original sung by
King, his musical partner delved into the past. The melancholy “Just Another,”
off Yorn’s gold-selling 2001 debut CD musicforthemorningafter proved
breathtaking.
Later, idyllic tune “Another Daydream” found King adding
flute flourishes and Polonsky did subtle guitar lines; the murder ballad “She
Said No” came across weirder in concert, with spastic ending (think: Soundtrack
of Our Lives); the yearning gem “Someone Else’s Girl” provided the perfect
example of one of Yorn’s specialties – sad lyrics with a glimmer of hope.
King was front and center for an easygoing cover of
Barbara Mason’s 1965 pop and R&B hit “Yes, I’m Ready.” The Olms finished
with a spirited Stones number, “The Last Time.”
Opening the evening was Simon Petty, backed by Malcolm
Cross. Each were members of the California-via-England roots rock outfit
Minibar during the 2000s and have toured with Yorn in the past.
Here in the Constellation, singer/guitarist Petty added musicians as his satisfactory half-hour set proceeded.
Standouts among the earthy tunes (earmarked for an upcoming album) included “Highwire”
and “Brand New Mistakes.”
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