Lovemakers

The Lovemakers have attracted a lot of press since the band formed in Oakland in 2002, and nearly every article begins the same way: by telling the story of how the band’s only permanent members, Lisa Light and Scott Blonde, used to be a couple. See? I just did it, too. It’s kind of hard to avoid the subject when the band’s sexually charged live shows — including, famously, onstage strip-downs and make-out sessions — were a big reason the Lovemakers were able to sell out large venues before they even had a record contract. But I think the more interesting thing about Light and Blonde is that they kept going after they broke up. They kept going after they lost the record contract. They kept going after third member Jason Proctor quit. And yes, Light and Blonde kept on, from time to time, making out onstage. But lots of couples don’t know when to quit. The more unusual thing is that they kept on making music.

Times of Romance, the band’s 2005 album for the Interscope Records imprint Cherrytree, was a joyously bawdy collection of catchy choruses and ’80s-style dance rhythms. It seemed destined to elevate the Lovemakers to national fame, but record-industry drama intervened, and Interscope dropped the band. Proctor left to return to his computer job full-time. But Light and Blonde, who had broken up just before the recording of the album, kept going. They self-released their next album, the darker and more mature Misery Loves Company, with a video for each of the songs. Next month, the Lovemakers are set to release Let’s Be Friends.

The Muffs and Revenge Club also perform.

LOVEMAKERS: The Casbah, Friday, August 14, 8:30 p.m. 619-232-4355. $10 advance; $12 day of show.