For a laid back band Low do a pretty exciting gig. Alan Sparhawk's guitar really takes off live, the fuzziness and volume changes add an edge when you can feel the vibration as well as hear it and Mimi Parker's voice comes across as powerful and pure and immediate. I saw them on spec in 2010 and was glad to have the opportunity to see them again particularly as they are touring the excellent recent album 'The Invisible Way'.
The support was a guy playing under the name Hebronix who was strangely diffident for a live performer. The performance involved lots of loops mainly from his guitar but also drum and keyboard loops. I am not a big fan of loops.
Low kicked off with four tracks from the new album and they were immediately in the vibe. The guitar on 'On My Own' which was edgy and exciting and the vocals on 'Holy Ghost' and 'Clarence White'showed how good these two singers are both alone and with their perfect harmonisation. The third member of the band on bass or keyboards was Steve Garrington who fitted right in to the unique Low sound. Next up was a super version of 'Monkey' from 'The Great Destroyer'with a menacing riff, spare and urgent from Alan Sparhawk's guitar. After that there was a couple more tracks from the album including a powerful vocal from Mimi on 'So Blue'. A particular highlight for me was 'Especially Me' just because I love that song but even more riveting was the final song before the encore, 'On its Knees'. This is a short and sweet diamond of a track and a great way to end the main set.
The encore started with 'When I go Deaf', a chance for some more trademark fuzzy guitar and the gig finished with a song I had not heard before 'I Hear...Good Night' a song from a collaboration with 'The Dirty Three' some time back.
This gig was a lot of effort because of geographical circumstances but most definitely worth it. An exciting hour and a half with a musicians who through their voices and in particular the harmonisation of their voices as well as Alan Sparhawks trademark guitar produce an addictive live presence. Of course at the base of it is the songwriting which was what originally drew me to go and see them live a few years ago. It is dark and brooding at times but the songs are always interesting and thought provoking.
Thursday, 25 April 2013
Low 24/4/2013
For a laid back band Low do a pretty exciting gig. Alan Sparhawk's guitar really takes off live, the fuzziness and volume changes add an edge when you can feel the vibration as well as hear it and Mimi Parker's voice comes across as powerful and pure and immediate. I saw them on spec in 2010 and was glad to have the opportunity to see them again particularly as they are touring the excellent recent album 'The Invisible Way'.
The support was a guy playing under the name Hebronix who was strangely diffident for a live performer. The performance involved lots of loops mainly from his guitar but also drum and keyboard loops. I am not a big fan of loops.
Low kicked off with four tracks from the new album and they were immediately in the vibe. The guitar on 'On My Own' which was edgy and exciting and the vocals on 'Holy Ghost' and 'Clarence White'showed how good these two singers are both alone and with their perfect harmonisation. The third member of the band on bass or keyboards was Steve Garrington who fitted right in to the unique Low sound. Next up was a super version of 'Monkey' from 'The Great Destroyer'with a menacing riff, spare and urgent from Alan Sparhawk's guitar. After that there was a couple more tracks from the album including a powerful vocal from Mimi on 'So Blue'. A particular highlight for me was 'Especially Me' just because I love that song but even more riveting was the final song before the encore, 'On its Knees'. This is a short and sweet diamond of a track and a great way to end the main set.
The encore started with 'When I go Deaf', a chance for some more trademark fuzzy guitar and the gig finished with a song I had not heard before 'I Hear...Good Night' a song from a collaboration with 'The Dirty Three' some time back.
This gig was a lot of effort because of geographical circumstances but most definitely worth it. An exciting hour and a half with a musicians who through their voices and in particular the harmonisation of their voices as well as Alan Sparhawks trademark guitar produce an addictive live presence. Of course at the base of it is the songwriting which was what originally drew me to go and see them live a few years ago. It is dark and brooding at times but the songs are always interesting and thought provoking.
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