Gotta love a jam session before the real show to get you ready for the real thing.  But with Lemon Sun, the music and the talent blend in so well that you can hardly tell the difference between the real thing and practice. The stage was filled to the edge with five full-grown men and eventually even a tap dancer, Lauren Brown. Lemon Sun had the comfortably packed room excited for more before they had even started.  “We are Lemon Sun, nice to meet you,” said lead singer, Rob Kolar, as the band dropped straight into their first song “Congratulate The Thievery.”  A perfect mesh of harmonious vocals, guitars, bass, drums, piano and even a trumpet made their performance worthy of more that just the cramped stage at Hotel Café.  Their presence in the room was much bigger than they were, and judging by the lack of sweat, I’d say they do it without even lifting a finger. For a crowd originally expecting a calm acoustic set, Lemon Sun took the audience through an amazing dream sequence.

Hotel Cafe has designed itself like an old jazz club, with tables near the stage and standing room in the back.  This may have proven beneficial for Lemon Sun, however, putting them in more of a spotlight and enhancing their presence.  This was most obvious during “Fall For You,” their semi-love song that made even the guys in the room feel like they were the You the song refers to.  Kolar’s continuous smiles throughout the song gave both the song and performance even more credibility. As the set moved from a ska sound to a more blues-y vibe, the band relaxed, emitting a Southern feeling to the Hollywood crowd.  Laura Brown’s tap dancing added to the realness of this sudden dip into the South and gave the band a very unique addition to their live performance. It is clear these guys didn’t just find each other on Craigslist.  The vibe they give off during their performance implies a much deeper relationship and talent. Lemon Sun successfully incorporates music through the decades to produce a very likeable performance. Their eleven-song set ended in what seemed to be a rock opera, including a cover of “Melt With You,” with a strobe light, Felipe Ceballos on his feet slamming the drums and the whole stage illuminating the dim room with their energy.  It is no surprise that Lemon Sun is essentially based on a dream Kolar once had—by the end of a set, they have glided you through your own dream sequence leaving you refreshed and desiring more.

—Britt Witt