Holding the lights on was a starting point for L&J. They took the equipment they had and maxed it out trying to get the cleanest recording sound they could. They took chances with vocals and experimented with clothespins (the wet rag sound on Simple Times). They recorded songs without being afraid of the dark, but always tried to keep the light on. So that's what the title's about. Keeping the light on while looking into the darkness. J's Larrive guitar, L's dark upright bass, their combined efforts as vocalists really shine in this cd because they keep it simple. HTLO's focus was to maintain the intimacy of a duo while using modern production enhancements. Stay tuned to www.landjmusic.com/news for their current and future exploits. Their style is a blend of Americana, Contemporary Folk, and Country with a touch of Pop. Coined "hypnotic folk" by Stuart Davis, their songwriting touches on the realities of life: joy, loss, hope and healing. They have been featured on WMSE radio (Milwaukee) and were featured artists at JazzKlub Kromeriz, Czech Republic. The duo performed regularly at Uncommon Ground in Chicago. Lyrically, holding the lights on explores grief, change and the ties that bind our minds and hearts to the past. Although an introspective debut, the vocals and arrangements glimmer with hope, pleading the listener to hold on for tomorrow. Stay tuned for L&J long anticipated follow-up coming in Fall 2007