Raised in suburban Connecticut, Filipino-American Jeremy Calvar embodies the real American Dream, not some cliché. Adopting the work hard and dream big ethos of his parents has served him well as a musician and his new single “Lightfoot Sunflower” reflects that discipline in action. It’s his latest musical foray since the act formed with his brother Joshua, Friends of Enemies, declared themselves on indefinite hiatus and, if he has nerves putting music out under his own name, you can’t hear it. Calvar, instead, brims with audible confidence throughout the performance. It’s a confidence born from experience and playing such renowned venues as Toad’s Place and The Space in the Connecticut area. Calvar, however, has the songwriting and musical chops to take his music much further than regional hotspots.
“Lightfoot Sunflower” shows that. Switchblade guitar riffs exert a near-hypnotic hold over listeners from the outset – there is no needless preamble. His guitar playing has enough immediacy to take your head off. The arrangement boasts several clever rhythmic twists and turns without ever losing the plot and the accompanying drumming keys itself to the six string work. Some listeners might crave a more audible bass presence in the mix, but it doesn’t mar the song in a meaningful way.
The mounting drama of the song’s chorus is especially effective. It’s hard to not pump your fist when you hear the rising energy during those passages. Another crucial moment comes a little more than half way through the song during the guitar break. There isn’t any guitar soloing during this performance, fans of self-indulgent wanking can look elsewhere, but sparks jump from his guitar playing when the rest of the band falls away and Calvar centers everything, for a few measures, around his guitar alone.
The vocals have the same energy. He straddles the line between singing and sounding unleashed quite well. His vocals during the song’s chorus are especially potent as Calvar grabs the song’s improbable melodic strengths by the throat and draws listeners even deeper into the performance. It’s a song made for live performance and there’s no question that he possesses the necessary vocal strength to put the song over for a concert audience. If anything, you can expect he’d bring even more energy to bear for a raucous crowd.
The production helps emphasize the cut’s virtues. It concentrates on the guitar playing, without a doubt, but likewise captures Calvar’s unbridled bray as well. He keeps things short and snappy, as well – there’s no overextended nonsense weighing down the recording. Jeremy Calvar’s “Lightfoot Sunflower” hails from his new EP I Love You to Infinity and, if the remaining songs are as strong as this, there’s no question that Calvar is set to make a major statement regarding his potential and continuing artistic growth. It’s thoroughly modern hard rock, but even traditionalists should find something to love about this single. It’s certainly a reminder, if one is needed, that powerful young artists are making their way up the ranks and staking their claim.
Chadwick Easton