Nick LaRiviere and the Best Laid Plans – Where We Go (2022)
We all want to do something with our lives that leave some form of mark on the world. This desire has been picked up by Nick LaRiviere and the Best Laid Plans and turned into their soulful single ‘Where We Go’. Through the piano-driven track, the band offers up a personal take on wanting to do something worth remembering, stating what they want to achieve in the time they have on this planet.
Taking a more soulful turn than the band’s usual energetic sound, it showcases a wonderful side of their music. Nick LaRiviere (vocals, trombone), Miguel Valdes (trumpet), Barrie Sorensen (saxophone), Kelly Fawcett (guitar), Attila Fias (keys, vocals), Louis Rudner (bass) and Alex Campbell (drum) form a versatile band that is able to unleash everything from soul to New Orleans party music. Together, they get you bopping to their sound while riding waves of emotion, whether sombre or ecstatic.
The piano line that opens ‘Where We Go’ grabs your attention with its unique sound. There is a touch of contemporary pop and soft rock to the piano line as it sinks its talons into your brain. As the piano line draws you further into the music, the drums shuffle lightly to add texture to the track. This texture has you tapping to the rhythm while still riding the movement of the piano. Through this flow, you feel an interesting wash of emotion that seems to toe the line between hopeful and melancholic. As the horns enter, they continue this complicated emotional hit, leaving you ready to grab onto your dreams, while feeling the slight twinges of uncertainty and sadness. With each new instrumental line that enters the melody, the blend of emotion is enhanced and this works really well with the lyrics.
As you are slowly filled with the emotions of the melody, LaRiviere’s vocals enter with an honest confession of wanting to reach for something more. Through the lyrics, he imparts his hopes and desires for the future, only to temper them with the uncertainty of whether he has what it takes to achieve them. This is a balance of emotion that most people are familiar with and can easily relate to. As the single continues, his performance slides with a soulful vibe into the complicated emotions of the melody. While touching on those emotions, he brings a sense of understanding to them as his performance gives voice to the thoughts that create them. While the lyrics are a personal take on wanting to achieve your dreams, there is a universality to them that hits everyone who listens.
Through the soulful blend of emotion in ‘Where We Go, Nick LaRiviere and the Best Laid Plans touch on achieving your dreams and the uncertainty of whether you can. This blend of hope and melancholy is amazing as it shines through both the melody and vocals. The band takes you on a journey into the thoughts that invoke these emotions and the wash of feelings that churn through you.
Find out more about Nick LaRiviere and the Best Laid Plans on their website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
