Published: March 20, 2008 11:00 pm         

The Lonely H band to play The Verve on March 29

TERRE HAUTE — There’s enough catchy riffs and melodies on the album “Hair” by The Lonely H to satisfy curious Terre Hauteans who drop in on their show at 9 p.m. March 29 at The Verve. Cover charge is $5.

Lonely H features a lineup of teens and twentysomethings from Port Angeles, Wash., that produced its first CD when three of its members were just 16.

Their most recent release, “Hair,” was cut in 2007 and reveals a musicianship well beyond this quartet’s years.

Although some of the comparisons to Led Zeppelin, R.E.M. and Queen guitarist Brian May in some of Lonely H’s publicity clips aren’t readily apparent on “Hair,” the disc certainly gives listeners plenty to like.

The guitars — especially on the opening track “Just Don’t Know,” “The Meal” and “Say Our Prayers” — pack a thick early ’70s pop-rock punch.

If parallels are to be drawn with genre predecessors, Mott The Hoople and even psychedelic San Francisco bands seem to be a closer kin to Lonely H.

They’re crafty songwriters, regardless of their young ages.

There’s a tight drill among the players — Mark Fredson (vocals), Eric Whitman (guitar), Johnny Whitman (bass) and Ben Eyestone (drums). They’ve wisely hung each song on a solid hook, and it shows on “Hair.”

Visitors to The Verve will have to judge whether their live sound matches up to their studio success.