The Low Anthem; Building Arks with Music

A couple weeks ago the State of Rhode Island flooded like no one had seen in 100 years. Rivers overflowed, basements flooded, roads and bridges were destroyed and many families lost valuable belongings and suffered a great deal of property damage. Upon hearing this, Providence based band turned global touring act, The Low Anthem decided to make the hometown stop on their spring tour a benefit show for flood victims and ended up raising $3,000...well done.

I’ve seen the Low Anthem a lot in the past couple years since meeting the band in April of 2008 on their first ever tour outside of Rhode Island (as supporting act for Surprise me Mr Davis), so a Wednesday night show didn’t reel me in at first. But as soon as I heard about the benefit show I knew I couldn’t pass it up. Listen to music AND help those in need, how could you not? I arrived to the show late (Bruins playoff hockey has sucked me in) only to hear the final number of the middle band, Tallahasee. I completely missed the opening set by local band The ‘Mericans, next time I guess.

Lupos is a big theatre, much too big for the Anthem, especially on a week night. But after selling out smaller rooms like the Avon Theatre and Firehouse 13, they were forced to make the jump to the 2,000 theatre in downtown Providence. The band came onstage to the 1/3 filled floor (the balcony was closed) and began with “Oh My God Charlie Darwin”, assumedly played due to the songs chorus “Oh My God, the water’s all around us”. “Ticket Taker”, a love song from the view of a ticket attendant for an Ark followed. It’s one of my favorite song’s in the band’s repertoire but for some reason lead singer Ben Knox Miller abandons his whispery, subtle vocals for a more direct, full voice approach which I flat out don’t like on this particular tune.

Despite the amount of instruments on stage and a new member (multi-instrumentalist Mat Davidson) the Low Anthem are a quiet band. You could hear the crowd chattering near the bar which almost seemed louder than the band. As the set picked up, the crowd got drowned out thankfully. The band rattled through a set I've seen them play a million times before (well, this was my 11th TLA show but you know what I mean) before except for some new songs. “Apothecary Love” has a nice sentiment but sounds just like all their other songs and “Ashes” which featured the band huddled around one mic in 4 part harmony was a nice change of pace but never really went anywhere interesting. There are only so many variations of I, IV and V chords I can stand in one set. Strong tunes of the night were “Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around” and the early era of the band staple “This God Damn House”. The former featured an improved Miller behind the drum kit and the only song the band plays that his “growl” voice works on (IMHO). Bassist Jeff Prystowsky killed the bass intro (as usual) and Jocie Adams lent some nice bluesy electric guitar bends and strong vocal harmony in to the mix. They latter gave us the ghostly cell phone “trick” in which the band encourages the crowd to join Miller and call their friends at the show and hold their phones together thus creating an eerie sonic effect. Its such an original trick that it never gets old. To see what I mean watch the end of this video I found on Youtube.

I left about an hour in to the band's set, being it midnight on a school night and all. I have to admit, the band sounded great. Lupo’s sound system supplied a clean, full sound; their drumming has drastically improved (the band members platoon on drums depending on the song) and newcomer Mat Davidson has a great knack for vocal harmonies and accompaniment skills. A mostly empty room with a chattering crowd and no seats is just not the best venue for a folk band. They would better be suited to keep selling out smaller listening rooms. For a young band on the rise I have to say they’ve come along way in the past 2 years and continue to progress and improve their level of musicianship. If you have never seen them, go, their unique arrangements and instrumentation are a breathe of fresh air.

Opener/s: Tallahasee, The 'Mericans
Venue Info:
Beer sitch: Lupos has a full, reasonably priced bar. $5 sam Adams or Sierra Nevada's are usually my go to.
parking: free street parking was easy to find b/c it was a weeknight
layout: Theatre with a GA main floor and reserved seating in the balcony
capacity: 2,000 (I'm guessing 250-300 were in attendance)
1: Oh My God Charlie Darwin, Ticket Taker, To the Ghosts Who Write History Books, On My Way Home*, Apothecary Love*, Sally Where'd You Get Your Liquor From, Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around, This God Damn House, Ashes*, Sad and Guilty Feeling*
* not sure of title, new tunes.