Stephen Talkhouse Amagansett, NY
Contact: lina@linamaxine.com
Web: linamaxine.com
Players: Lina Maxine, vocals, acoustic guitar; Dean Aladay, vocals, lead guitar, keys; Parker Lyons, pedal steel and guitar; Nick Sferlazza, bass, backing vocals; Jake Schott, drums
Returning to one of Long Island’s premier clubs, Lina Maxine showcased her brand of alternative indie rock, debuting new material along with her mainstays. Blessed with a profound curiosity and a rich imagination, Maxine delivers songs that are probing and thoughtful. Themes center on relationships, not only between humans but with the physical world as well. In “Fiction,” she grapples with the harsh realities of life: “I’ve gotten into fiction/it helps me get to sleep/I’ve got a little system to keep it nice and neat/I believe what I see when I see what I need/and when I don’t/in fiction I dream.” In “Nightingale’s Melody,” she recounts a memory communing with nature: “It’s about the birds,” she says, “A simple thing. Just birds.” “It’s been a world since I’ve heard a bird outside my window/…oh how I miss the Nightingale’s melody.” “Mango,” (Man-Go), a play on words, urges us to get that no-good man out of your life. “Save your juice for someone new/he’s drinking the life out of you/…deep down you know/you gotta let the man go.”
Maxine started her musical journey back in London while studying for her master’s degree in neuroscience. It was there that she connected with songwriter and producer Dean Aladay. They toured the U.K., refining their act before moving back to the States and focusing on the Long Island club scene. Aladay also plays a dual role as duo partner and sideman. Proficient on guitar as well as keyboards, together they have created the core sound of the band. Though most songs are guitar driven, there is the occasional piano number, a welcome interlude adding diversity to the set. As a whole, the other band members are a tight unit providing strong support.
From the moment she takes the stage, Maxine exudes a “cool chick” demeanor; confident, seemingly relaxed, and stylish. Moving about the stage effortlessly, she echoes the songs with her movement and nuanced gestures. Her voice is deeply tied to the material, their style, and structure, and it would be hard to separate them from each other.
Lina Maxine reminds us that everything we do in life informs us of what we do next as she aptly demonstrates by marrying her science background with her music. At times, the songs are as investigative as they are entertaining. Her new EP is scheduled for release this coming September.
