Published 2024-10-10 06:00
Love On Drugs, or Thomas Pontén and band, curiously and passionately blend americana and indie pop, mixing influences from both sides of the pond into a rare and unique cocktail. The brand new single, “Watch Out!”, to be released October 18th, 2024, is an epic pop song reminiscent of ELO, Beatles or Supertramp. It features Markus Åberg as producer, playing additional keyboards and percussion and Jenny Lundin on backing vocals. We're living in troubled times dreaming of better yesterdays, but hasn't every generation felt just like this? That Armageddon is just around the corner.
Love On Drugs' music has been compared to among others Jayhawks and Teenage Fanclub, but also to legends like Neil Young, John Lennon and David Bowie. Thomas mainly feels kinship with artists and bands that are a bit 'all over the place' genre wise, namely Bob Dylan, The Band, Joni Mitchell, David Bowie, XTC, Kirsty MacColl and Elvis Costello, to mention just a few. German FolkWorld describe the music like this, ”This is on the rockier side of folk rock. Love Pn Drugs definitely establish a nice groove, which gives this the edge over many other bands you hear playing in clubland”.
Love On Drugs has performed with among others Ted Russell Kamp (US), The Mommyheads (US), Pi Jacobs (US), Sarah Macdougall (CAN) och Gordie Tentrees (CAN). Through the years he’s played everything from reggae to avant garde in various bands and constellations. With Love On Drugs however, it’s the 1st time in his music career that he fronts a band and sings lead vocals.
In the spring of 2016 Thomas and band released their debut album ”I Think I’m Alone Now” and in April of 2018 his 2nd album, ”Solder”. In March 2021 Love On Drugs released the 3rd album, “meLODies”, and the latest album, “Fluke”, was released early June 2023.
All 4 records received great reviews and lots of airplay throughout Europe. In between albums Love On Drugs have also released several singles, of which “Afternoon Whowers” was the latest, released late August 2024.