Lloyd Dobler Effect

For a band that has toured over forty states and thirteen countries you would think that their discography would be as numerous as their tour stops. However, Lloyd Dobler Effect is celebrating their much-anticipated self-titled studio debut. Phil Kominski, lead vocalist for the group, explains that "the plan was to have had this album out way back in 2004. We recorded several versions of songs that are on the new album, but our constant touring schedule and lack of satisfaction with the previously recorded efforts hindered us from releasing this album any sooner. Instead, we released two live albums as place-fillers until this new record was ready." Drawing from the diverse Washington, D.C. music scene, Lloyd Dobler Effect fuses rock, percussive rhythms and vocal harmonies to create an intricate and fresh sound. LDE's multi-layered and upbeat music showcases their universal appeal to both mainstream modern rock lovers and culturally diverse audiences. Chris Bruno, the group's guitarist, says that "our music seems to relate to a broad spectrum of ages and races. I think that people who appreciate good song structure, well thought-out lyrics and passionate live performances appreciate our sound, and so in this way, our music crosses any sort of barriers pertaining to age, ethnicity and gender." The band's list of accomplishments is impressive: winners of the 99.1 WHFS Big Break Contest that pitted LDE against hundreds of area rock bands and led to several main stage appearances at the HFStival; headlining multiple international Armed Forces Entertainment tours; and being voted one of the top ten best bands in the DC area in a Washington Post reader's poll. However, that is only the beginning for the group. Kominski says, "We aim high. We want a huge fan base and we don't mind collecting them one fan at a time. We will tour until we have what we are looking for. We treat our fans as our friends." Drummer, Donnie Williams, explains that merely calling their fans supportive is "an understatement. There have been times when our fans have carried us though seemingly impossible situations. When our trailer was stolen in the fall of 2007, there was no way that we would have made it through without the out-stretched arms and limitless help that our fans gave to us." As a young, energetic band, LDE has earned a loyal following throughout the United States and other parts of the world. LDE's fans enjoy the memorable songwriting, thought-provoking lyrics, and exceptional musicianship that anchor the group's high-energy live performances. The band is able to create a bond with the audience that transcends the music. According to Kominski, the fans are everything: "The day that our trailer was stolen from us, I sent an email out to everyone on our band mailing list. Within one hour, I had over 500 replies, each asking what they could do to help us." The trailer was eventually recovered but without the fans, the group could have very easily ceased to exist. Lloyd Dobler Effect, an entire album of original work, is a testament to the band and their fans. "This record took a long time to make," says Bruno. "We put our hearts into recording, producing and engineering the music, artwork and layout for this album. We did it all on our own, and that is the most meaningful thing." The future is bright for this group of twenty-something's. When not on the road, the band gathers once a week to write new material. "Each song we write is better than the last," Kominski says. "This has always been the way for our band as we work to better our songwriting. We will never stop this progression because we owe it to our fans and to ourselves." LDE will continue to add to their growing fan base in the months and years to come.