Lohio regroups with EP

• Pittsburgh rock band Lohio has a lot of things going for it, but stability isn't one of them.

Since releasing its full-length debut, "History, the Destroyer," a year ago, Lohio has shed three members. The rhythm section of Josh Verbanets and Matt Miller left to go full time with Meeting of Important People, and keyboardist Craig Smith, a doctor at Children's Hospital, "unfortunately had to move on for obvious reasons," says frontman Greg Dutton.

The silver lining, Dutton says, is that "those departures made way for Sven [Stens] and Chris [Ryan] to start playing with us, and they're both great players, as well as great people to be around."

They join Dutton, guitarist Eric Cirelli and Liz Adams for the latest project, a new EP that will be released Friday at the Brillobox.

Lohio formed in the summer of 2006 with a bit of an alt-country sound and has gradually evolved more toward indie-pop, On the new EP, the sound ranges from the Sufjan Stevens-like "Set Down Your Book" to the muted power pop of "Waiting for the end of the Summertime" to "Old Orchard Beach," reminiscent of a low-key Vampire Weekend.

"The 'sound' of this record came about pretty organically," Dutton says. "What added to the color of it was really the people that we're playing on it. A lineup change brings with it a certain shift in dynamics; where it's not just new members but also people who've been playing in the band for a while that add a new perspective to the songs. So in some ways it's almost like the first record from a new band, which is exciting."

The constant in any version of Lohio is Dutton, a singer with a gentle melodic touch in his vocals and songwriting. He says the biggest influence in his songwriting over the past couple of years has been the people around him.

"I played in Boca Chica for a long time, so I really got to see up close how Hallie Pritts comes up with a song. I admire Josh's talent as a musician and songwriter so much that having him in Lohio really pushed me to raise the bar on my own songwriting. When you're presenting a song to a rehearsal room full of talented band members, you really want to make sure you're bringing your 'A' material, you know? And then, on this record, we worked on it with Jake Hanner from Donora and learning from his process has added a bit to my songwriting palette. So, I guess the gist of it is that I steal all of my friends' songwriting secrets ... haha!"

Donora joins Lohio and Harlan Twins at 9:30 p.m. Friday at the Brillobox in Bloomfield. $6. 412-621-4900.

Seattle bound

• Back in February, a Pittsburgh band called The London issued its debut, showcasing an anthemic wall of pop sound.

The London has dissolved into a synth-pop dance project for frontman Dusty Ray, an O'Hara native who's ready to split town now for a new start in Seattle. First, he is playing a farewell gig at the Hard Rock Cafe Sunday at 8 p.m. Admission is $8.

For a sample of the music, go to www.myspace.com/dustyraymusic.

-- Scott Mervis

Critics Andrew Druckenbrod and Scott Mervis talk about music on "The Beat," available exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.