Boston band Dear Havanah returns to Ohio University tonight as a part of a tour to promote an upcoming album.
Dear Havanah will perform at 8 p.m. in The Front Room of Baker University Center and at 8 p.m. Friday at Jackie O's Pub and Brewery, 24 W. Union St. Both shows are free.
We came here last year to promote our first album
and as we are working on our second one we thought it would be great to come back and perform here again said Mike Blong, Dear Havanah's drummer.
The group's first album, Chasing Butterflies, was released Dec. 28, 2008, and the untitled follow-up album is expected to be finished by September. Band members said they are influenced by many genres including folk, blues, funk and rock.
I would say we are mainly a mix of Black Crowes and Dave Matthews Band but we are eclectic and have other influences as well
Blong said.
The variety of musical genres will combine with live performance for a concert that will allow the audience and band to interact with each other.
The audience can definitely expect a lot of interaction. Sometimes audiences are at a concert where they are watching the band and it is very disconnected. At our shows we like it to feel like it is a group of people who are hanging out and listening to music
said Dan Htoo-Levine, lead singer.
The low-key atmosphere doesn't mean audience members won't have any surprises.
It's a real show. It's not rehearsed or organized
there is a lot of improv. Also we are all really good friends and so there are no personality clashes in the band. So we see our shows as a group of friends playing some music and having a really organic and soulful time
said Colin Healy, who plays electric bass.
The three band members that comprise Dear Havanah will have some extra help on this tour.
We are bringing a horn section with us
which will be a cool touch. Also we are bringing two saxophone players and an organ player. So it will bring a whole new dimension to the performance
Healy said.
At both shows the band will play tracks from their first album, but also new material as well. Three free downloads from Chasing Butterflies are available at dearhavanah.com.
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