By David McIntyre, Lyons Bluesologist
Todd Adelman and The Love Handles reached #4 on the National roots chart, #1 on the Colorado Roots chart, and broke into the AMA top 100. There have been quite a few Alt-Country bands that have surfaced in the area over the last five or six years and The Love Handles are definitely one of the best.
Adelman knew creating music was what he wanted to do with his life long before he was an accomplished musician or the front man for the Love Handles. He remembers being “blown away” listening to radio station WNEW play an entire side of The Band’s “Music From Big Pink” album as he and his mom drove across the George Washington Bridge. He had never heard anything like it and from that point on, he said, “I needed to play music.” There are two primary bands that influenced the formation of the Love Handles: Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers, and The Band.
Todd couldn’t have hand picked a stronger group of musician’s for the Love Handles. The band consists of: Don Ambory on Telecaster guitar, Todd Moore on drums, and two-time Grammy award winner Gene Libbea on bass. Adelman also owns a recording studio on nine inspiring Rocky Mountain acres, just 15 miles west of Boulder. The Mountain House was created as a place to make great records in a relaxed environment with classic recording studio quality. Many local and national acts have recorded there like John Magnie & Steve Amedee of the Subdudes, and Molly O’Brien, plus many more.
The Love Handles signature sound has been described as “from-the-gut roots country Americana music.” Adelman said the “band lives somewhere between the Flying Burrito Brothers and Neil Young’s Stray Gators.” Their first release “Henry’s Diner,” received rave reviews from critics all around the region and the word “brilliant” comes up time and time again. His songs conjure up the roots, folk, and Americana spirit, while his execution and performance tear down the barriers.
Their latest CD, chock full of potential classics, was lauded by Chris K. from Colorado Sound as “easily the best Alternative Country record of the year out of Colorado - and maybe the best Alt-Country record I’ve heard all year.” Honest, heartfelt, and personal, this release showcases Adelman’s ability to combine rock, country and folk into one seamless package that not only gives courteous nods to his legendary predecessors, from Gram Parsons to Uncle Tupelo, but also forges it’s own path of uniqueness. Come on out to Oskar Blues-Lyons, on Saturday, October 22, and hear some great Alt-Country music and listen to Adelman and his terrific band; see if he doesn’t call up the ghost of the under appreciated Gram Parsons with his great countrified vocals and songs.
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