Love Squad

In college towns, bands come and go. They play around town for a bit, maybe tour, decide to get on with life and break up for one reason or another. Die-hard fans, assuming said group is lucky enough to have any, preserve fond memories of their concerts, reserving hope that these long-gone musicians will reunite and transport them — at least for one night — back to their boisterous years. The Love Squad, formed in Lawrence in 1989, saturated the city with its sunny-day, beer-on-a-Friday-afternoon jangle pop before releasing its first album See Red. After moving to California, where it produced 1991’s Every Single Day, then migrating to Dallas, where it played 300 gigs in 1992 alone, the Love Squad released Posertown, moved back to Lawrence and disbanded. Now, the Love Squad returns from the abyss bearing a gift — the unforeseen new album One Day Along the Mississippi Near New Orleans. Though the group remains steadfastly dedicated to harmonies and melody, it’s grown up a little: That’s code for less guitar, more mandolin.