A Recipe for Holiday Harmonies

By Molly Golubcow | Photo courtesy of BlackRock
Center for the Arts

What ingredients do you need to create a special evening of
holiday entertainment with a twist? Not just a bland plate of “Jingle Bells”
and the like, but a really unique version of holiday and nonholiday songs that
are guaranteed to please any palate. First, you need one helping of a
state-of-the art concert facility. Then, you must add a generous portion of
really good music, meaningful lyrics, and knock-you-out-of-your-seat voices and
harmony. Mix it all together and you get a recipe for the Lloyd Dobler E­ffect
(LDE) Holiday Show at the Black- Rock Center for the Arts on Friday, Dec. 9.

LDE, a Silver Spring–based rock band comprised of five
childhood buddies from Montgomery County, has been together for about 10 years.
The group is very well known in local venues and has also been popular on the
national college circuit. LDE performs more than 250 days a year locally,
nationally and in venues all over the world. In 2005, LDE was voted one of the
top 10 best bands on the East Coast in a Washington Post readers’ poll. In
addition, LDE has performed on the same bill with such rock heavy hitters as
Santana, Steve Winwood, The Fray, Jane’s Addiction, Better Than Ezra, Eminem
and more.

In June, they recorded their fifth CD, “The Experience
Unplugged,” which includes favorites like “Meet Me in London” and “Cool as
December.” Rendered acoustically, these popular songs soar as band members’
voices blend in perfect harmonies to express lyrics and music written by LDE
musician and singer Phil Kominski. Other band members include Chris Bruno
(vocals and guitar), Donnie Williams (percussion), Carlos Nalda (percussion)
and Patrick Hughes (bass), along with Albert Ketler (tenor sax) and Chris
Brooks (piano). Lead vocals and harmony extraordinaire are provided by
Elizabeth Coyle-Kominski (yes, married to Phil).

In addition to favorites like “Meet Me in London,” the
BlackRock Holiday Show will feature songs with “a twist of jazz, swing and a
change of tempo to give the song a whole new life,” says Kominski. He promises
that whether an LDE original piece, rock classic like “Lookin’ Out My Back
Door” (Creedence Clearwater Revival) or “In Your Eyes” (Peter Gabriel), or a
holiday favorite like “Santa Baby,” the band’s acoustic arrangements and
perfectly blended harmonies will create a unique LDE experience.

What else can you expect to hear at the BlackRock Holiday
Show? Kominski promises two sets of half-holiday, half- LDE and classic songs.
“What we are hoping is that our fans will walk away hearing their LDE
favorites—unplugged. And we hope folks new to LDE will be happy, have a good
time, and enjoy the diversity of the music.”

According to Amanda Johnston, BlackRock marketing and
communications director, LDE was a must for the holiday lineup because their
spring unplugged concert was such a huge success. When BlackRock planned their
2011 holiday series, which includes Metropolitan Klezmer and Lift Every Voice,
A Holiday Gospel Celebration, they wanted to bring LDE back to their stage
because of the band’s appeal to audiences of all ages. In addition, Johnston is
excited about the LDE pre-show happy hour that BlackRock is hosting so “people
can mix and mingle before hearing some rockin’ holiday music and LDE faves.”

 WHAT
Lloyd Dobler E­ffect Holiday Show

WHEN
Friday, Dec. 9, 8 p.m.

WHERE
BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown

COST
$15

MORE INFO
301-528-2260; www.blackrockcenter .org or www.lloyddoblere­ffect.com

Arts BlackRock Center for the Arts, Lloyd Dobler Effect, Molly Golubcow