The Love Experts

*Rock that owes no debt to 1-4-5 blues.*Here's what people are saying about the Love Experts:"If absence really makes the heart grow fonder, St. Louis music fans ought to be absolutely enamored with the Love Experts. Since 1988 this on-again, off-again collective has taken local stages something like fifteen times, always leaving its small but rabid fan base breathless for more.The Love Experts are a vehicle for the songs and passions of frontman Steve Carosello, who expects music to be big and bold and full of emotional power. Fortunately, he gets this from everyone who's ever been in the band with him; the Love Experts generally make at least one personnel change every time they take a year or more off from playing. Currently the lineup includes mainstays Dominic Finocchio on guitar and Steve Scariano on bass, third-year veteran Dave Collett on guitar and prodigal son/original member Bob Trammell just now returning on drums.Intricate, interlocking guitar licks from Finocchio and Collett, often aided by counterpoint from Scariano, who locks in rhythmic fusion with Trammell, back up Carosello's intensely emotional and richly melodic vocals. Those who have seen this band even twice are known to go around singing songs like "Your Shining Hour," a catchy, soaring number referring to the act of getting one's member immortalized by Cynthia Plaster Caster. The Love Experts always pay homage to their influences, too, having covered material from the likes of Hunters and Collectors, the Bangles and ABBA over the years.Word is the band may play a few times this year, but it never pays to take a chance and miss one of the Love Experts' shows, as they are all too few -- and always great." (Steve Pick, Riverfront Times)"There there now, music fan, stay calm and note, if you have yet to, that the Love Experts, also known as the Bee's Knees to more St. Louis rock critics than not, have recorded a new album. I'll wait until you've stopped cheering to continue.... Yes, that's right, the second coming of the Rolling Stones is back in rare form: playing gigs, promoting a record, satisfying the salivating masses and leaving rooms charged with an electricity that is anything other than static, conveying the kind of relative dynamism so uncommon in a city that sports as many average bands as potholes. Yet from the pool of mediocre cess otherwise known as rock & roll, the Love Experts rise again -- rejuvenated, perfected, ready. You may resume cheering." (Riverfront Times)"...These guys playing together are as rare and precious as a flawless diamond. Hearing their polished, catchy rock, you can't believe that these guys never rose to the top over the years. With echoes of XTC and R.E.M. in their sound, maybe they should have chosen a shorter name. That's all you can think of." (Jordan Harper, Riverfront Times)"... I like just about every aspect of what they do- the melodies, Steve’s vocal delivery and the way the band builds these elements into a fully developed, joyous sound." (Rick Wood, vintagevinyl.com)"…The Love Experts were on tonight. I always enjoy what they do, even on those nights when the band seems less than pleased with their own performance. But tonight even they seemed happy with how things went. I’m not sure I can add to the reference points I’ve used before (impressive, stylized vocals akin to Brian Ferry/Guy Keyser, mannered song structures along the lines of Roxy Music and an animated 2 guitar thing ala The Soft Boys and/or Television), but beyond the blah, blah, blah I could go into, there were a few times when I was just lost in the moment when the two guitars would lay on the joyous, shimmering leads. Drums and bass stood out at times, too…and that’s quite a compliment, given how stellar the guitars were. In addition to the always pleasing “Your Shining Hour”, they did “I’m Sorry” and “Troubadour”. Somewhere in there, they covered “Desiree” by The Left Banke (I had to ask). They ended with “Bright Red Carnation”, allowing the guitars to once again, send me reeling and smiling." (Rick Wood, vintagevinyl.com)