Matthew Kaner has been on a roll. Not only did his highly successful business venture with Dustin Lancaster, Bar Covell, become a Los Feliz staple last year, but he also began consulting some of the city's best up and coming restaurants (most recently Olive & Thyme) with his beer and wine expertise. He also recently launched his private wine label AM/FM with Saarloos & Sons Vineyards, a boutique small-production winery in Los Olivos. Now Kaner's getting into the music game with his own AM/FM record label and debut of his band Liquid Love Letter, who will be debuting at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood tomorrow night (April 6).
To those who know Kaner, it is no surprise that the relatively young wine connoisseur is pursuing music. He's been playing music for about a decade and keeps good company with many talented musician friends, many of which he has joined forces with to produce Liquid Love Letter's debut album. The record features drummers Aaron Sterling and Joey Waronker (Beck, Atoms for Peace), Beau Koster from My Morning Jacket (organ, piano, Rhodes), John Gold (bass guitar), Jason Soda of Everest (electric guitar), Erik Arvinder (violin), Morgan Kibby from M83 on back-up vocals, with Kaner manning the acoustic guitar and lead vocals. It is scheduled to drop digitally this July and on vinyl in August. According to Kaner, Liquid Love Letter (which got its name from the documentary "Blood into Wine"), is a project that he hopes will showcase both sides of his musical personality. Their eight-song debut will be split into two sides; the first being a more uptempo full band sound and the b-side showcasing Kaner's more intimate, acoustic side.
Drawing inspiration from favorites like Jeff Tweedy, the Beatles, Ryan Adams, and Harry Nilsson, Liquid Love Letter's recordings are full and vibrant with a subtle 70s-style charm resonating through heartfelt lyrics and an almost blues-like undertone. You can catch them tomorrow at their debut performance at Hotel Cafe, 1623 1/2 N Cahuenga Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028 at 8p.m. www.hotelcafe.com, $10, 21+.
