Minnesota three-piece Low arrived in Andrew's Lane (about 45 minutes late, but no harm...) as part of the Future Days festival this weekend, and treated the crowd to a wonderful offering of their stripped down, minimalist 'slowcore'*. The harmonies between lead singer Alan Sparhawk and wonderful lady drummer Mimi Parker (who I think are a couple) were delightful throughout the gig. Right from their opener, the enchating Murderer, it was clear there was something in the air. The crowd again amazed the band as much as vice-versa, with lead man Sparhawk remarking at one stage that 'this definitely isn't Spain'. The group received such a rousing reception that their second encore lasted three tracks, finishing with Amazing Grace, thanks mainly to the incessant roaring for this song from the tall guy beside us. The crowd were in mesmeric silence throughout the performance, as the group, and particular Sparhawk's at times almost inaudible solo guitar riffs, enchanted. One of the tracks that really got me was Sunflower. This track is slightly more upbeat than most, but the lyrical content is in keeping with Low's seriously dark take on things. Familiar tracks from their newest album Drums and Guns included Sandinista, Pretty People, and the epic Breaker. A brilliant live act, with suitably dry yet witty interaction with the crowd, and one guitar solo played by Sparhawk with his teeth, Low really gave Dublin their money's worth. I'm off to download all their albums that aren't Drums and Guns right now.
Low Myspace
* BTBW did not come up with this phrase.
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Yeah this was a seriously great gig.. haven't heard too many people talking about it, think it got a bit lost in the shuffle what with so many other things being on over the weekend. They've developed the capacity to go from the lullaby hear-a-pin-drop stuff directly into full-on rock assault, which makes for a very intense show. Alan Sparhawk screaming the second verse of 'Canada' into his guitar pickups was fairly mental..
ReplyDeleteYeah you're right Dermot, it really was a quality show, and didn't receive as much attention as it deserved. Even on Jim Carroll's blog there was very little mention in his "the weekend in gigs" thread:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ireland.com/blogs/ontherecord/2008/06/16/the-weekend-in-gigs/#comments
Maybe it's no harm that they remain a secret little treasure....