Low are a band who I’ve known of for some 20 years but never really got into, mainly because their records are all so quiet and “low-fi” and probably demand more than just a casual listen on my car stereo system. On tonight’s performance I cannot see how they have slipped under my radar all this time, as they are utterly brilliant, mesmerising, powerful, spine-tingling and I am in awe for the whole of the hour and a half set.
Before Low take the stage we are graced by another talented act called Barbarossa, which is the solo work of London based James Mathé. The dark environment of the converted church that is the Norwich Arts Centre makes it nice and atmospheric, which suits his minimalist electronica well. Songs like 'The Load' and 'Bloodlines' have developed melodies that really get under your skin in a good way and his voice is angelic. I would compare him with Junip and Jose Gonzalez, which is valid as he is part of their respective bands!
Onto Low now, the band are counted down on a projected backdrop and the anticipation of the large crowd is electric. At first, the band (which consists of Alan Sparhawk on vocals and guitar, Mimi Parker on vocals and drums and Steve Garrington on bass and piano) looks very sparse and it is as if we are in for a quietly reflective gig, in part this is true, but Sparhawk’s at times loud and distorted guitar makes the whole definitely greater than the sum of its parts. Parker’s harmonies are spot on throughout the set and you can feel every strum of Garrington’s bass, whilst Sparhawk’s vocal range is impressive going from baritone to falsetto easily and smoothly.
The set just flies by and consists of a perfect mix of old songs from the bands huge back catalogue, and new songs from the acclaimed 2013 album The Invisible Way. In fact the band fit the quiet-loud-quiet-loud formula perfectly, so songs such as 'Words' and 'Dragonfly' meld beautifully into more up-tempo numbers such as 'Monkey' and 'Canada'. Midway through the set the band does break this formula slightly with the “happier” song 'Just Make It Stop', thus ensuring the set is not completely enshrined in melancholia! Highlights of the bands set include the almost always misinterpreted Murderer, the crunching guitar near the end of 'On My Own', and 'Words' from their first album: 1993’s 'I Could Live In Hope.'
The band come out to a rousing encore, and as this is the last gig of their current tour Sparhawk modestly asks the crowd if they have any questions. One person shouts out for them to play 'Starfire' and this is immediately confirmed and performed by the band. They also play a very nice version of 'Stay' which, although a Rhianna cover, is very appropriate to the band’s sound and style and further emphasises the bands greatness. They end fittingly with 'I Hear…Goodbye' a song which was written with the Dirty Three many years ago. This is a brilliant performance by a band which I’m now catching up with most happily and can’t wait to see again.
Setlist:
Sandinista
Words
Plastic Cup
On My Own
Holy Ghost
Monkey
Waiting
Just Make It Stop
Nothing But Heart
Silver Rider
Dragonfly
Canada
Pissing
Especially Me
Murderer
Encore:
Stay (Rihanna cover)
Starfire
I Hear... Goodnight
FUTURE GIGS
sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.