Vermin & the Beachrat - Dinner by Candlelight
Folk, Rock, Singer, Songwriter
Massachusetts, United States
Overall Impression: Capturing the essence of insecurity that accompanies the nervous anticipation of a first date, Vermin & The Beachrat's original Lo-Fi Indie Rock song "Dinner by Candlelight" brings a Folk Rock-adjacent instrumental feel to heartfelt lyrics - exploring the ambivalent inner monologue of a love-struck suitor as he waits patiently for his date to finish work and join him at the table.
Strongest Point(s): Joe Lamore's vocal approach is unusual and stylistically engaging - granting Vermin & the Beachrat's sound a very raw and accessible emotional quality! "Dinner by Candlelight" takes familiar instrumental tones and a classic Americana Rock song structure and elevates them through the artist's open and unrefined inflections, with moments like the raspy vocal break at 1:14 imbuing the lyrics with emotional gravity and an infectious sense of passion. Similarly toeing the line between rugged and sweet, "Dinner by Candlelight" is punctuated by stings of electric guitar, overdriven enough to give color and character to the sound and understated enough not to crowd the vocal focus of the experience!
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of emotionally raw Lo-Fi Americana and Indie Folk Rock will appreciate the sound that Joe Lamore is crafting, with Vermin & the Beachrat's "Dinner by Candlelight" striking a chord that feels both deeply familiar and completely original! With a sound that screams of passion for the craft and lyrics that resonate with the most human elements of courtship and loneliness, "Dinner by Candlelight" stands to find a warm welcome among listeners from a variety of backgrounds - but especially among those that appreciate artistic authenticity. - Jon W.
Artist target suggestions: Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, The Mountain Goats, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Magnetic Fields, Paul Baribeau, Car Seat Headrest, The Decemberists, Bright Eyes, Rilo Kiley, The Microphones, Deerhunter, Real Estate, Pavement, Broken Social Scene, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Morphine, Smog, Scott Walker, Yo La Tengo
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About the Reviewer:
Jon Wright is a trained multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and music educator with nearly twenty years of experience in the field. Working with musicians and their individual sounds is his passion and profession, and he strives to interact with and understand every aspect of the production process - from theory and songwriting to recording and mastering. He continues to teach students of all ages and is currently collaborating with artists across a wide range of genres.