As expected, the Owl acoustic lounge was packed on Oct. 20 for the CD release party for Jesse and the Dandelions’s “Give Up the Gold.” Unfortunately I missed an opening set from Amy van Keeken, but I caught the end of another solid set of upbeat indie rock from the Utilities first.

Jesse and the Dandelions played their usual super chill set of laid back indie rock. They focused on the new CD, plying the title track and several others, but also dug deep into their back catalogue. They looked and sounded like they stepped right out of the early ’70s  easy listening AM soft rock.

Frontman Jesse Northey mostly played guitar, but sat down to play the keyboards for a couple of songs including a cover of Crosby Stills and Nash’s,‘“Our House,” which he played on his own.

 The band returned to end their set with “Brother,“ with Northey back on guitar.”