Preview: The Lemon Twigs at the Empty Bottle, 1/26

Elton John's favorite new band is coming to town this weekend. Two brothers in Long Island formed The Lemon Twigs based on a shared love for sanguine, sheen pop and gritty, coarse rock 'n' roll. And Elton John's endorsement probably gives you a rough idea of what these young guys might sound like: glammy, glossy, and oh-so-1970s. When listening to their late 2016 debut Do Hollywood, Wings-era Paul McCartney springs to mind as well as the power guitars of '70s band Big Star and Todd Rundgren's proggy production. The vocals could almost pass as Macca himself on the upbeat, tinny "Those Days Is Comin' Soon" or the reflective, piano-based "How Lucky Am I?" Foxygen's Jonathan Rado produced the record (who also produced Whitney's Light Upon The Lake), and both Foxygen and the Lemon Twigs share an admiration for the golden era of songwriting during the '60s and '70s. But while The Lemon Twigs indulge in their musical inspirations, they also write fun hooks that are layered in front of full harmonies, dense orchestrations, and tight songwriting. Local music magazine Houseshow Magazine wrote, "It was pretty staggering to hear such well-honed classic sounds coming out of a group that looks like they could’ve just left their school’s Battle of the Bands." Chicago locals Glyders and Nashville rockers Savoy Motel open this Thursday at the Empty Bottle. Tickets cost $10.00 and can be purchased here.