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Lovedrug

By: Jessica Grose

The word lovedrug conjures notions of late night raves, fondling glow sticks, and the superficial feeling of chemically induced elation evaporates with the light of dawn. The band Lovedrug conjures an entirely different feeling of elation, one that’s more realistic and far more deeply felt. With spiritually inclined lyrics, well-woven balladry, and a lead singer whose voice wavers and cracks with emotion, the medicine Lovedrug pushes will take at least 30 days to wash out of your system.

Though there are several uptempo songs on the band’s debut, Pretend You’re Alive, Lovedrug’s strength is the acoustic-based ballad: “Spiders” highlights the versatility of frontman Michael Shepard’s high-pitched croon. His voice is so evocative that he can infuse new gravity into lyrics that on paper read like good high school poetry. “If God was on the radio,” Shepard wails on “Spiders,” “I know he’d say to thee / Love is spiders on the edge / and we’re hanging by a thread / Connected to the other end / Of this twisted frequency / I’ve spun.”

The Ohio-based band has been touring heavily for the past year to support Pretend You’re Alive, and Shepard, along with guitarist David Owen, bassist Matthew Depper, and drummer Matthew Putman, will launch another tour next month with Mae and the Audition. If Lovedrug is coming through your city, take a hit of the guitar-based euphoria they’re selling.

Lovedrug tour dates:

2/11, La Jolla, CA (UCSD Price Center Plaza)2/12, La Miranda, CA (Biola University Gym)2/17, Las Vegas, NV (Jillian’s)2/22, Columbia, MO (The Blue Note)2/23, East Lansing, MI (MSU Union Ballroom)2/24, Wheaton, IL (Wheaton College Gym)2/25, Holland, MI (Hope College Dimnent)2/26, Nashville, TN (Exit/In)2/27, Covington, KY (The Madhatter)3/1, Ithaca, NY (Emerson Suites)3/2, Allentown, PA (Crocodile Rock Caf�)

Lovedrug official site