The Power of Sisterhood: Larkin Poe’s ‘Bloom’
Album Review ★ Kenzie Gay ★ @kenzwrites
The power of siblinghood is one that truly should be studied. Maybe not so much for me and my younger brother since we mostly bond over Brad Pitt movies, trauma jokes, and a mutual faux hatred for one another but as for music, absolutely. We’ve seen siblings in so many successful bands over the years: Oasis, The Kinks, Heart, Dire Straits, the more recent Greta Van Fleet and Kings of Leon, the list goes on. There just seems to be this unexplainable connection that resonates in the music because of these sibling dream teams and their unspoken link and it makes for some great fucking tunes.
Let me introduce you to Larkin Poe. A roots—rock duo made up of sisters Megan and Rebecca Lovell, the duo has been on the rise over the last few years for their rip roaring sound and undeniable charm that they carry onstage, in studio, and elsewhere. From touring the world to playing with the legendary Ringo Starr, Larkin Poe is bound for big things that go beyond what they have built so far and their newest record, Bloom, is a sign of that.
(left to right) Rebecca and Megan Lovell
Bloom: A Review
Produced by the Lovell sisters alongside Tyler Bryant (Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown), Bloom serves as an 11 track long masterpiece that dives into themes of love, self acceptance, rising above, growing up, and heartbreak. Lyrically, it covers all bases from songs about romance to songs that are just a good ol’ rebellious rock ballad and instrumentally, it refuses to fall short thanks to the “shredability” of either sister.
Bluephoria, track 3, is one of the standouts within Bloom, as it exudes angst from the lyrics “Brother, I been rocked by a rocky road one time two three many, amen. My fuse is burning pretty short, sweet lord have mercy. I ain't gettin' bucked off again…Mama, calm me down, this rose-tinted workaround ain't workin' for me no more. I said I'm deep in the indigo, eyes shut, vertigo” to the god—like solo that hits around the 2:30 mark. It almost sounds like a battle for power between Rebecca on guitar and Megan on the lap steel, which explodes into something legendary for listeners of all strokes.
Another highlight on Bloom is the record’s 7th song, If God Is A Woman. The song’s general vibe is wayward and as southern as it gets, exuding that Georgia twang the Lovell sisters were brought up on. The piece explores the idea of overcoming hatred whether it be from peers or the public eye through lines such as “If God is a woman, the Devil is too. Better get down on your knees. I'm gonna pray for you” and “Blessed be my haters. I love to hear 'em talk. I make waves like an alligator. Walk on water through the swamp” and it’s flawlessly accompanied with the Lovell’s gritty work on the aforementioned guitar and lap steel (as well as the dobro) alongside a surprisingly prominent Hammond B3 courtesy of Michael Webb.
After the release of Bloom, Megan and Rebecca are hitting the road this Spring for the Bloom Tour 2025. Tour kicks off on April 8th in St. Louis and it will wrap up on June 1st in Asheville with stops in major cities such as Seattle, Los Angeles, Nashville, and more in between. Furthermore, the duo is going overseas this coming October to play cities like Glasgow, Stockholm, Geneva, and more for their UK—EU portion of the Bloom Tour 2025. Dates are listed below as well as access to tickets.
