Twenty-three years after the legendary and now deceased Arthur Lee sang pop and rock anthems like Alone Again Or or She Comes in Colours by the historic Love at the Bilbao Action Rock (B.A.R.) festival, the unforgettable songs of the 60s American band will return to the Biscayan capital. This time, guitarist and co-founder of Love, Johnny Echols, will perform them at the Kafe Antzokia, alongside Baby Lemonade, the group that accompanied Lee in his final years, under the name The Love Band.
“"We played various musical styles, and that's what keeps the name alive and sparks the interest of younger audiences. We couldn't be pigeonholed into one specific type of group."
Echols emphasized that his project is not a "tribute band" and criticized the polarization experienced in the United States. The guest band for The Love Band will be Rubia, the project of Biscayan composer and singer Sara Iñiguez and her current group: The Bandits. The concert will take place at 9:30 PM, with tickets priced at 25 euros in advance and 30 euros at the door.
The guitarist explained that he rejoined Love in 2003, after being out of the band from 1969, although he did not participate in the concert the band offered in Bilbao that same year. He also announced that in 2027, they plan to undertake an extended tour to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Forever Changes, their third and most well-known album, viewing the current concerts as a "prelude" to that celebration.
Echols stated that for these shows, they will revive "some old gems" to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the band's first two albums, the self-titled debut and Da Capo. He believes that Love's most special contribution was their "very personal commitment to the fusion of folk rock, psychedelia, jazz, and baroque pop," which keeps the band's influence alive today.
Echols recalled that Love consisted of "five unique individuals" who brought their own styles, which gave them great freedom to experiment. He also denied that the band's name implied "hate, ego, and drugs," asserting that "freedom" was what prevailed during that era. He described the current world as an "absolute disaster" and expressed concern about the polarization in the United States.
Finally, Echols confirmed that in his youth he played with Little Richard and Billy Preston, and announced that they will release a live album for Record Store Day, which will include the concert they performed at the Beachland Ballroom Tavern in Cleveland last year.
