Just Married singer home with new CD

LiLach Perlstein-Bonanni and Gary Bonanni are "Just Married."

Updated: July 17, 2012 10:06PM

Coming home feels better when you’ve got something to show the folks.

So the band Just Married is pleased to kick off their 12-city concert tour celebrating the release of their third album “Waiting For The Changes,” which will bring together Highland Park High School class of ’95 alumni for a reunion at the Toadstool Pub on July 21.

“I want them to hear what we’ve been up to,” said LiLach Perlstein-Bonanni, the Highland Park native of Just Married who performs on vocals and acoustic guitar. “It’s nice to come back and feel like there’s movement — like I’m moving forward. It’s going to be great to see everybody. They’re always so loving and very supportive. They all come out and it’s very cool. It’s always a good, fun night.”

All welcome

The show will include even more familiar HPHS faces when the Chicago based indie rock band Fifth Story makes a special guest appearance. Although the evening will be filled with classmates coming together, the event is open to everyone.

For the past five years, Perlstein-Bonanni and her husband Gary Bonanni are the songwriting duo behind the band based out of New York City, have been working hard and on the move a lot, but it’s good, said Perlstein-Bonanni. “We get to experience our dream of making music, being on the road and visiting places and being in festivals and meeting musicians and playing with some amazing musicians.”

The band’s name began as a joke to get free drinks at bars and attention from cars on the road as they traveled across the country. Eventually, the name rang true as the couple has been married for three and a half years and now travels with their 10-month-old baby. For this tour, Jamie Alegre will also join them on the drums and bass.

With her blues background and his rock background, the band generates an Americana and ’60s rock sound mixed with a hint of blues.

Original songs

The repertoire mainly consists of original songs, but they throw in a few covers Perlstein-Bonanni says audiences will know and love. Wilco, John Lennon and Aimee Mann serve as the group’s musical inspirations, and their influences can be heard on their latest album.

“We love making music. We obviously take it seriously, but not to the point of shutting anyone out. I want everyone to feel like they’re having fun and that we’re in it together,” said Perlstein-Bonanni.

Perlstein-Bonanni describes Just Married’s concert style as friendly and comfortable, while the music is relatable.

“I hope they dig it, obviously,” she said of the music. “I hope they enjoy it so much that they want other people to hear it. There are a lot of songs that are related to what’s going on right now. We definitely write stories, so I hope that people listen and enjoy and want to pass it on and want to hear more.”

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