The Lemon Twigs at Bearsville Theater Woodstock, NY on Friday June 6, 2025
The LEMON TWIGS brought their dynamic power-pop performance to The Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, New York on Friday June 6, 2025. The Lemon Twigs consist of brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario (who both provided vocals, guitar, and bass at times, with Michael also on drums on a few tunes), as well as Danny Ayala on [Paul McCartney Hofner] bass, keyboards, and vocals and drummer Reza Matin (who also played guitar). The Long Island band has been creating catchy 3-minute songs for more than a decade, with a throwback, yet fresh and original 60s-70s sound that includes innovative melodies, rich intricate harmonies, and vibrant, trippy, electric rock pop instrumentation. The enthusiastic audience, that ranged from ages six to sixty, showered them with praise throughout the night’s performance.
Waiting in the long line outside for the venue to open, the crowd was greeted by Ray Gayle manning the door, who established the feel-good vibe by announcing a colleague’s birthday and having the everyone cheer for him, then leading them in singing verses to “All Over,” a song he later confessed was his original composition, as he doled out high fives and best wishes for the night. The Bearsville Theater has a great musical history, which was palpable in the air, as patrons flocked to the merch table and chatted with fellow attendees prior to the show. Besides the sea of Lemon Twigs concert jerseys, others donned t-shirts of The Beatles, Wings, and The Who, all influences of this talented, ever evolving, and up-and-coming band.
The New York City power-trio BROWER proved to be a good band pairing, warming up the crowd with a fast and furious ten-song set of their high energy songs, which kept everyone in good spirits. After a short break, the Lemon Twigs took the stage while Allen Toussaint’s funky 1975 “Basic Lady” played over the PA. The band opened the show with “My Golden Years,” with its lush Beach Boys style harmonies and infectious Byrds guitar rhythms. Both brothers were leaping about with what Geddy Lee of Rush deemed “rock’n’roll joy juice” throughout the night – to start some songs, in the solo sections, or to end certain songs. The brothers traded off singing lead vocals and backing harmonies, which were also augmented by Ayala’s vocals as well. Five songs in, Michael (who looks strikingly like a young Pete Townshend) finally addressed the crowd with a quick, “Thank you, thank you, this is great,” referring to the lively vibe and positive energy the appreciative crowd was giving them after each song. https://brower.bandcamp.com
At one point, Michael cheekily announced, “Here is one from Brian’s solo album [2025’s Till The Morning]. It’s not bad, but I think it is better when I am involved.” A patron yelled out, “We love you!” to which he replied, “Thanks for the love.” Then, turning to Brian asked, “What song are we doing?” “In the key of G,” was all Brain offered before they launched into “Flash in the Pan” (with its George Harrison inspired slide guitar textures). Afterward, the band surprisingly switched instruments, with drummer Reza Matin playing guitar, Ayala playing keys, Michael manning the drums, and Brian playing bass for the 70s soul tinged “Any Time of Day” and “I Wanna Prove To You” (with its classic 50s chord progression), Michael bashing away at the drums in Keith Moon fashion while Brian provided one of the night’s many stellar vocal performances. They introduced some songs with quick one or two-liners (“Here’s one from a few years back – a rocker!” Michael asserted, before “They Don’t Know To Fall in Place,” and “Here’s one for this season. Sometimes we learn the rules, just to break the rules” before playing “This Summer”), but they mostly let the music do the talking. The audience ate it up, and showered their approval of the band by swaying and dancing to their music, as well as with cheers, screams, and raucous applause afterward.
“You’ve been a fantastic, fantastic audience,” Michael exclaimed before ending the night’s set with “Rock On,” which could have easily been an outtake of an early Paul McCartney and Wings album. The crowd remained hooting and howling, hungry for more, until Brain returned alone and picked up an acoustic guitar. From the first notes he played, he had the entire audience spellbound and silent with his wonderfully sublime rendition of “When Winter Comes Around.” The band returned to play a faithful version of The Rolling Stones’ “Mother’s Little Helper” before ending the night with their own upbeat “How Can I Love Her More?”
The Lemon Twigs are certainly a band to watch, with their familiar yet unique mixture of 60s British invasion instrumentation and the groovy pop-rock 70s sounds and sensibilities (influences from Wings, The Alan Parson’s Project, ELO, and The Bee Gees were all apparent). These extraordinarily talented musicians have a long career ahead of them, and – if the brothers navigate their success together as a family unit and can avoid the tumultuous and often volatile sibling squabbling a la the Davies (The Kinks) or the Gallaghers (Oasis) – they will hopefully make more magnificent music together for years to come.
For more band and tour information: https://www.thelemontwigs.com/
LEMON TWIGS SETLIST:
My Golden Years
I’ve Got A Broken Heart
What You Were Doing
The One
In My Head
Church Bells
If You And I Are Not Wise
Flash In The Pan (Brian D’Addario)
Any Time Of Day
I Wanna Prove To You
They Don’t Know How To Fall In Place
Foolin’ Around
Ghost Run Free
You’re Still My Girl
Come (The Toreros cover)
This Summer
Corner Of My Eye
Rock On
ENCORES:
When Winter Comes Around
Mother’s Little Helper (The Rolling Stones cover)
How Can I Love Her More?
