Recent Posts
Culture August 2, 2019
We know and love Frank, but let's meet the Lovemakers.
ENTITY introduces the Lovemakers.Hobo Johnson and The Lovemakers are a small band based out of Sacramento. They’re known for their eccentric, emotional, jarring music that takes inspiration from rap, rock and slam-poetry. If it sounds overwhelming, that’s because it is—but in the best way! It’s the kind of music that would fit nicely on both your turn-up and your breakup playlist.
Hobo Johnson and the Lovemakers, Romeo and Juliet
We’re just Romeo & Juliet, but getting drunk and eating percocets just to ease the stress. But soft what light, through yonder window breaks
It is the east, but Juliet just puked off the balcony”
Since the band uploaded their 2018 Tiny Desk Contest submission, “Peach Scone” last March, they have been on a steady rise to fame. “Peach Scone” now has nearly 15 million views on YouTube, and their once small following has become an international cult-like fanbase. They have toured the United States, Canada, and the UK, and are revving for the release their latest album.
That being said, it’s easy to isolate lead singer Frank Lopes Jr.—also known as Hobo Johnson—as the star of the show. Frank has an incredible stage presence and his authenticity is off the charts. He’s incredibly dynamic and engaging; But without the Lovemakers, there would be no Hobo.
Guitarist Derek Lynch, keyboard player Jordan Moore, bassist David Baez-Lopez and drummer Ben Lerch make up the Lovemakers. They are a talented group of men, and it’s unfortunate to see them backburner-ed as their music picks up momentum.
California native Derek Lynch, 29, learned to play guitar in his bedroom. But before he was on the fast track to fame, Derek was going to City Colege in Los Angeles, CA. In 2015 Derek made his first step into performing professionally by joining a wedding band he found on craigslist.
Playing for weddings put Derek in contact with other local musicians. Derek and Frank met at an open mic night in Sacramento, and well, the rest is history. Since then, they have been working together to create unique music.
Before becoming a Lovemaker, singer-songwriter Jordan Moore was already developing a fanbase in Sacramento. Jordan’s music is passionate and poetic. When you dig into Jordan’s solo career his influence on Hobo Johnson and Lovemakers’ music is clear.
Jordan also met Frank at an open mic night where their collaboration began to bloom. After the event, Jordan played as an opener for the then solo Hobo Johnson. Later, Jordan became instrumental in recording Hobo Johnson’s Live From Oak Park series that has now been viewed millions of times on Youtube.
In a 2017 interview with marketing agency hofisbetter Moore said, “It’s really easy to slip into pop. You can stop yourself from slipping into pop if you care a lot about the words you are using. There’s just a thousand ways to say something and it’s really easy to stop at the first one.” Today, the band strives to uphold this value and continues to resist the urge to produce pop music. Time and time again this sets them apart.
Bass Player David Baez-Lopez, is a well-versed bassist and was in several bands before he became a Lovemaker. He has a rich history of solo work and music composition. In a 2018 fan meet-and-greet bandmate Jordan Moore said, “David was just very, forward. It was like the musician equivalent of hitting on someone.”
“He was like, ‘Hey I think you need a bass player,’ and Frank was like, ‘I think I do,” said Moore. Since then, David has been an incredibly valuable member of the band, especially in the performance aspect. During performances, David has been known to whip off his pants and play the show in his underwear.
In addition to his musical success, David will soon be celebrating 9 years of marriage.
Drummer Ben Lerch is a bit of a question mark in the band. There is not very much information about him online, and his social media accounts mostly just promote the band.
However, its indisputable is that Ben is the heartbeat of the band. Some of the most powerful songs from Hobo Johnson and The Lovemakers showcase Ben’s incredible skill. The song Creve Coeur in the Rise of Hobo Johnson album particularly showcases his talent
She’s like a Skrillex song that never drops, she’ll never talk
Hobo Johnson and the Lovemakers, Creve Couer
She’ll never talk about the feelings that she felt today
Better kept inside of a fence, inside of a cage, inside of a safe
That’s safe for her, ’cause they, they just hurt.”
If you still haven’t listened to Hobo Johnson and The Lovemakers, you need to! A great place to start is the tiny desk competition song Peach Scone, but don’t get stuck there. The Rise of Hobo Johnson album is a great example of the direction the band is headed.
In 2019, the band will be dropping a new album, and have announced another US tour. So now that you know the Lovemakers, go see them! Live, this band is a powerhouse and will undoubtedly leave you wanting more.
