The Low Anthem: Live at Lily Pads 1.8.11, preview new songs
Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 7:00AM
Just a few short weeks away from releasing their highly-anticipated follow-up to 2008 breakthrough Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, and fresh off a tour with Emmylou Harris, The Low Anthem played an intimate show in the rural Rhode Island town of Peace Dale on Saturday night. I was lucky enough to be there as the band gave a sneak peek at much of the upcoming Smart Flesh.
Lost on the back roads of Rhode Island, I thought I had made some kind of mistake -- this couldn't be where The Low Anthem was playing, could it? Once I found the tiny church that would serve as venue for the night, I soon realized that it was going to be a special night. Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons took the stage first, bringing an acoustic version of their outlaw country, rock and folk. Joe Fletcher's booming voice filled the room and brought the crowd to their feet. The band's recently-released album White Lighter has been in constant rotation for me (look for a full review soon) and the songs took on even more power in live form as Fletcher's lyrics jumped to life, complimented by mandolin, fiddle, percussion and upright bass. Singalong set closer "Too Many Doors" featured The Low Anthem and forced the packed crowd to bring Fletcher and company out for an encore. A brilliant set from a band you need to know.
After a brief intermission that gave attendees a chance to grab some homemade baked goods, cider and merch, The Low Anthem took the stage. After starting with a couple of favorites off of OMGCD, "Ticket Taker" and "To The Ghosts Who Write History Books", the band began to showcase some of the new songs. "Apothecary Love" and first single "Ghost Woman Blues" have been mainstays in the set for the better part of a year - the former a lilting song of love found over the drugstore counter, the latter showcasing the band's gorgeous four-part harmonies alongside a simply-strummed acoustic guitar and clarinet. "I'll Take Out Your Ashes" a solemn meditation on loss that is probably as affecting of a song as I have ever heard.
While I had become familiar with a few of the "new" songs over the past few months, for a number of the songs this was my first listen. Whisper-soft "Burn" (I believe the only true "premiere" of the night) was gorgeous, featuring a simple melody accompanied by banjo and glockenspiel. Ben Knox Miller described "Matter of Time" as "the laziest love song", but its beauty lie in the simplicity and honesty of the lyrics, a beautiful song. As on OMGCD, there are a number of upbeat songs to balance the slower ballads -- "Hey, All You Hippies!" comes rambling "o'er the Hollywood hills" calling out entitled so-called-"hippies" and "Boeing 737" is a stomping rocker that rides a descending bassline. The centerpiece of the show and a stunning highlight from my perspective was the title-track from the upcoming album, "Smart Flesh" - a deeply personal rumination on the mortality we all share and a simply beautiful song.
It's clear that the band is gaining confidence as performers and reaching maturity as songwriters. Ben Knox Miller has an incredible gift. He writes songs that can make you smile and cry in the same moment; songs that are deeply personal yet universal. In my eyes he is leading the pack in a new generation of songwriters. The Low Anthem were already my favorite band, and they're only getting better. Based solely on this sneak peek, Smart Flesh is going to be hard to top as my album of 2011.
The full show is available for stream below - sound is generally excellent. Thanks to The Low Anthem for their taper-friendly policies -- please support the band by preordering Smart Flesh here.
The Low Anthem
Lily Pads - Peace Dale, RI
January 8, 2011
Ticket Taker
To The Ghosts Who Write History Books
Apothecary Love
Hey, All You Hippies!
Burn
Ghost Woman Blues
I'll Take Out Your Ashes
Matter Of Time
Home I'll Never Be
Cigarettes and Whiskey
Smart Flesh
The God Damn House
Snake and Lightning Rod
Boeing 737
The Auld Triangle
Love and Altar
Charlie Darwin
Full set download: mp3 zip
Keep an eye out for details about what sounds like it will be a special CD release show in Providence. Other area dates:
March 4 - Boston MA, Old South Church
March 5 - N. Adams MA, Mass MoCa
March 7 - Portland ME, SPACE Gallery
Previous recordings from The Low Anthem:
Boston MA, Paradise Rock Club - 4.20.10
Portland ME, SPACE Gallery -4.23.10
Reader Comments (1)
Thanks for the great review, and for recording the show and making it available. Getting The Low Anthem to play at Lily Pads had been a dream of ours for awhile now, and thanks to the kindness of Ben and the rest of the band, as well as Joe Fletcher, it happened. What a great night it was! My only issue with the review: Joe was joined by The Low Anthem on the song "Too Many Doors." Thanks again!