Miami New Times – Concert Review: Radioboxer with Lavola at the Annex in Hialeah

8/13/2010

“Some time around midnight (the details become fuzzy where kegs and red Solo cups are concerned), West Palm rockers Lavola took the stage. Comprised of vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Julian Cires, drummer Brian Weinthal, and bassist Matt Hanser, this three-piece indie-art rock outfit really do fill out the stage. They opened with a large, atmospheric and very nearly hypnotic guitar loop built on one of Cires’ pedals and awash in chorus. Listen to their stuff, it sounded a little like the beginning of “We Were Heroes For the Day,” only much bigger, a wall of sound buffeting the crowd. Then they broke into “The Queen is Dead.”

Hard, driving, guitar-driven rock pierced by Cires’ high-pitched vocals are the norm for Lavola. And it’s shocking really, reconciling what they put down live with the fact that they’ve been performing together a very short time. This is undoubtedly a band to watch.”

-Miami New Times