The Low Anthem: dynamic and unconventional
Last night The Low Anthem played a strong set at Canopy Club featuring a wandering set full of folk-inspired tunes that ranged from slow wandering love songs to raucous distorted jams. They joined us here in Champaign-Urbana while taking a break from a long tour throughout Canada in support of City and Colour. City and Colour features Dallas Green from Alexisonfire who just broke up within the year, not to mention he is Canadian himself, so this was a much smaller night for the seasoned multi-instrumentalists that make up the group.
They started the night with two softer songs off of their second album Oh My God, Charlie Darwin featuring front man Ben Know Miller on a small antique pump organ that really grabbed my attention right off the bat. There is something so charming about the full sound of the organ that has always moved me. This was a beautiful instrument as well. Hand carved, well maintained, and a very rich tone.
I knew going in that the band featured a slew of instruments, but I had no idea their live show was going to incorporate as many as they did. Throughout the night I made a list of these not-so-typical ones: banjo, clarinet, hammer dulcimer, saw, pump organ, trumpet, harmonica, and I am sure I am missing a few more. It is one thing to play so many instruments, but what is so impressive is the way these seemingly random sounds fit so well together.
One thing that did trouble me about this show is actually one of the things that I enjoyed the most about their latest album, Smart Flesh: the dynamics. As I mentioned, they began the night with a pairing of soft tunes featuring the pump organ that really got the audience settled in and all ears. What developed was a disjointed flow of songs that really kept me guessing whether I was in for another delicate folk song or a dissonant jam.
I think part of my complaint stems from the fact that this show was very under-attended. There is an energy that fills a room whenever a band playing a more delicate piece of music captures everyone’s attention and leaves a once chattering mess completely calm. That quiet energy that builds in the attentive crowd translates very well into louder tunes that let everyone let their hair down once again. A show like that, one where everyone is straining in anticipation of the next dynamic shift, can blow you away. I get the sense a lot of their stage presence is built around this idea; that just couldn’t happen last night within the sparse crowd at Canopy.
There was one nice moment last night where the band did ask the crowd to do something I had never seen before. The band uses cell phones to create a really interesting layer of feedback throughout their song “This God Damned House.” They get this sound, which comes across like a room full of crickets, by putting two phones on speaker while they are in contact with one another. They invited the crowd to get in on the cell phone layer to the song and it made for one of the more charming moments of the evening.
Most Recent Music Comments
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
That article almost looks like something out of The Onion
Thanks! I’m looking forward to writing even more….
Yay! Love this! Welcome to the family!
that last photo’s a doozie, Chris. good work.
Most Popular Music Articles (60 days)
- 2012 Pygmalion Music Festival initial lineup
- Elsinore, Common Loon impress diverse crowd
- Tonight in Urbana: Ursula K. LeGuin
- Cursive is so cool
- Look closer: Withershins' Silver Cities
- The Overture: April 3–9
- Record Store Day 2012 in review
- BEST Music
- A breath of fresh air
- Hathaways: growth and transformation
Most Recent Comments
Did the Crave Truck get a permit to park in city metered spots and city right of way? Or did they just get a permit? The city clerk’s office seems to be a suspect here, but it’s not clear they did anything wrong. Did the Crave Truck…
High-profile whining. AKA Lobbying.
it’s quite choice. looking forward to seeing how it and its patronage grow and develop over the course of the year. could be a neat little ecosystem.
“It was at this point, before he started his business, that working with city employees should’ve raised red flags…” But they didn’t because: 1) The City Clerk’s office originally mis-interpreted the rules, or are indeed re-interpreting them. 2) Champaign’s brick-n-mortar merchants hadn’t yet started whining about The Crave Truck.
Super cool! Excellent track, Excellent band.
Looking forward to trying this place!
I’m in the middle (or the beginning or end, depending on how you look at it) of re-reading Slaughterhouse Five. What a great companion column.
Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/
I don’t know about Gerard and a random police sargeant. My (mild) outrage is based on this: “...he worked closely with Champaign City Clerk Marilyn Banks to make sure he was licensed properly as a transient food peddler, filling out the necessary paperwork and paying a $225…
Local Yocal pretty much nails it here. I suspect there will be merchants who oppose food trucks because they arguably don’t pay their fair share to locate their trucks in high traffic (high rent) areas. The food trucks take away business from rent payers, park in city…
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
Facebook
Twitter
Full Site
Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/