The Little Ones

Troubadour - May 15, 2008

Live Review by Thomas Hillard

It was only shortly before I had been given the assignment to review the Little Ones live at the Troubadour that I had heard them. When I downloaded their 2006 release Sing Song I was hooked before the first track was entirely stored in my iTunes. There was no warm up time required, and I could play it for friends in the car. We all caught the bug on the spot. If they were a drug, they’d be happy indie rock crack.

The Little Ones emit this radiance of carefree positivity with their poppy live element made in a home style cooking music recipe of hand clapping, tambourine shaking, harmonies with guitar and keyboard married melodies. Sometimes (before seeing them live) I would take their name way beyond any obvious connotation and imagine them as little lemmings working hard to satisfy their great lemming leader. All the while singing these cheerful whistle-while-you-work-ish hymns.

As it turns out much to my surprise when they came on stage at the Troub, they weren’t lemmings at all! They are the five member combination of Ian Moreno, Brian Reyes, Ed Reyes, Greg Meyer, and Lee LaDonceur. With the exception of Ed (lead vocals and rhythm guitar) and Greg (drums) they all mix up their instruments between songs, bouncing from bass to percussion to keyboards, which caught me off guard. I hardly noticed the switch ups, maybe cause I was still in such disbelieve that they weren’t lemmings. Or maybe it’s because they officially got me to achieve spin tingle which in my ratings system of 1-5 is like an 8.

As a band in general and especially as a live band The Litte Ones were a treat of all treats. They came on after Ra Ra Riot, who have been touring with them all spring supporting The Little Ones' April 2008 release Terry Tales & Fallen Gates. Ra Ra Riot warmed up the room and then The Little Ones stepped it up a notch, firmly experienced in the know-how of putting on a show for the less then easy LA crowds.

You know how it can be disappointing to see a band live for the first time because they sound EXACTLY like they do on their record? I have this problem frequently; some people argue that they think it’s great, but I personally expect something new and intriguing. Even just some awesome stage presence soothes this demon of mine but I need anything to put the frosting on the cake that is a live performance. Anyhow, The Little Ones played their songs note for note, but they brought it! They have such a happy uplifting feeling to their whole ensemble, in person it was obviously not just some mastery in the studio. They are all smiles - bobbing heads, a family living in perhaps the better moments of their life as they ring each song out for the masses. The peak of this experience was when they played “Cha Cha Cha” easily my favorite song off Sing Song, it was at the moment they were singing the “la la la la’s” in full harmony that I got the spine tingles. Good work, boys - that ain’t an easy feat these days.