Not unlike
Hot Rod Circuit, the pre-
On a Wire Get Up Kids, and the sorely missed
Superdrag, the Cincinnati four-piece known as
Lightweight Holiday come off like rock & roll heavyweights on their Porterhouse Records debut. From the punchy,
Cheap Trick-inspired guitar hooks on "Goodbye and Goodnight" and the rollicking, lovelorn "Keep On" to the winsome, harmonica-peppered ballad "The Prize," dual frontmen/songwriters Justin Sheldon and Andy Gabbard are a recognizable force, bolstered by the drive of their bandmates. Defying expectations, Porterhouse honcho Greg Hetson (of
Circle Jerks and
Bad Religion fame) looks outside the circle of punk to help out a modern rock band with all the right influences. And
Lightweight Holiday is more than just some emo gang -- just check the group's awesome,
Sloan-like, harmony-rich nugget "Please" for further proof. ~ John D. Luerssen