Yesterday once more: Timeless pop fun with The Bloomfields

In an industry obsessed with reinvention, The Bloomfields are a rare case of a band that thrives by looking back. Their music is a time machine, not a relic, and if you've ever stumbled into one of their shows, you'd know why. The sound is familiar, joyful, even comforting-yet it carries the energy of something happening right now.

- By NEIL RAMOS

THE BLOOMFIELDS (from left): Lakan Hilla, Louie Poco, Rocky Callado, and Nathan Abella.

Formed in 2002, The Bloomfields-Rocky Collado (drums, vocals), Lakan Hila (guitars, vocals), Louie Poco (bass, vocals), and Nathan Abella (guitars, vocals)-built their identity around an unlikely idea: Beatles covers. At the time, the local scene was awash with emo, nu-metal, and the angsty edge of the early 2000s. The Bloomfields decided to zag while everyone else zigged.

"It was meant to make us different," recalls bassist and founding member Louie Poco. "Everybody was heavy, loud, or dark. We figured, why not go the other way? Bring back something bright, melodic, and surprising."

The gamble worked. Almost immediately, they were booking gigs across the metro, their clean harmonies and vintage pop sensibilities setting them apart.