It was a Sunday night. My husband and I had gotten a babysitter with no real plans. We ate dinner somewhere, then wandered through Beacon Hill. It was warm out, and the moon was shiny and bright. We ducked into Clock-Out Lounge and grabbed a beer just before Jimmy James took the stage, followed by a whole crew of musicians. Drums, percussion, bass, horns — everything you need to turn a random night into something unforgettable. From the first note, we were hooked. I couldn’t stop moving. The music — and maybe that second beer — made me feel like I could float off the ground, lifted by the explosive sound.

That was years ago, and now True Loves are one of my favorite bands. Formed in 2014 after a jam session, this Seattle-based group has made a global name for themselves with their funky rhythms, tight horn section, and fantastic live performances. John Richards of The Morning Show on KEXP called them not only the “best live band but the best dressed band in the city,” and he’s not wrong. Their 2018 Live on KEXP session on YouTube has more than 2 million views, and their song “Famous Last Words” has more than 2 million listens on Spotify.

Their latest single, “Good Weed and Red Wine,” marks their first release since the 2021 album Sunday Afternoon. The track was born from a winter jam session, infused with exactly what the title suggests — good weed and red wine. Trombonist Greg Kramer, the youngest member of the group, penned the tune, blending hip-hop influences with the band’s funky, cinematic style. The track was recorded to tape at Seattle’s Avast Recording Studio B by Larson Haakenstad, with special guest keyboardist Nigel Hall on the Hammond organ and Clavinet.

You can catch them at their final summer shows this weekend: Aug. 30 at Waterfront Block Party (Pier 62) and Aug. 31 in Bellingham at Wild Buffalo. After that, they’re off on a European tour later this fall, starting with a series of West Coast dates in September and October.

Summer is coming to an end, and some of you are already taking off for the long weekend. If you’re staying in town, try and catch them live. If you’re already headed out, now you’ve got something to listen to while you travel. Turn it up.