Avan Lava, Gas Monkey Bar and Grill
By Ryan Javier
DALLAS -On a cold and damp evening at the Gas Monkey Bar N Grill, New York trio Avan Lava played for the first time in Dallas and I had the pleasure of attending. Dozens were on hand as the pop/electronic group took to the stage to open for Electric Six, their touring partners. While a multifarious cast of costumed characters, including a pope and a doctor, perused the lively dance floor, Avan Lava played a strong set of well-crafted and overwhelmingly energetic tunes.
As the house tunes gave way to Avan Lava’s distinctive brand of Pop, the audience immediately came alive. The atmospheric change from a shifty uneasiness to rave-y blithe was difficult not to notice, as it quickly became apparent that the boys from the Big Apple had indeed won over the Texas crowd. Avan Lava’s stirring vocals and sharp driving beats echoed throughout the house and literally sent all the ticketholders into a dancing fervor. Their stage presence, along with their music, was as impressive as it was enthralling.
Drawing on musical influences ranging from rhythm and blues to artists such as Daft Punk, Avan Lava transcends traditional pop boundaries is a way that is decidedly unique. Their sound is all their own and isn’t easy to classify, falling slightly outside the confines of pop, electronic and dance hall, with a trance-y industrial edge. Avan Lava’s music is not trend; it’s trend setting.
Formed a little over four years ago in Brooklyn, Avan Lava consists of keyboardist Le Chev, lead vocalist T. 
C. Milan and percussionist Ian Pai. Veterans of the stage, these exceptionally talented musicians had been performing separately in various incarnations for years. In the early part of the decade and while in a band together, Le Chev and Ian began working on a side project and shortly thereafter, singer Milan was hired and Avan Lava was born. Unlike most groups, song writing is a responsibility that is shared equally among the trio, with each member bringing his own ideas to the table. Avan Lava’s discography features over half a dozen successful singles and EPs. In their short, albeit advantageous life, Avan Lava has traveled the world over playing everywhere from Lawreance, Kansas to the infamous Paris discotheque, Silencio.
Currently in the midst of a US tour as well as promoting their new single, Wanna Live, Avan Lava is also getting ready to release another single and possibly even an EP before the year’s end. Be sure to follow the trio on Twitter and on Facebook for show updates and band info.
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