Low, The Laurels @ The FactoryTheatre, Sydney (22/10/10)

Mon 25th Oct, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Low started out as an experimental project born out of a distaste for grunge in the early 90s. Their sparse luxurious arrangements are a saccharine counterpoint to modern alternative music and their drowsy, pillowy live set at the Factory was perhaps better suited to a rainy Sunday evening than a Friday night bristling with energy. Nonetheless the surprisingly passionate crowd maintained an energy and enthusiasm usually reserved for something faster than 15bpm.

Despite their background (remember the grunge bit), Low was joined by The Laurels, a support act that could’ve been ripped directly from a Melvins tribute night. Their druggy, throwback sound had promise when it drifted into shoegaze, and they certainly had the chops to play some great riffs, but it all collapsed a bit under its own grungy, self-absorbed weight. They’ve chosen an extremely well trodden path and didn’t particularly offer anything new. What was great though was the support they got from the punters. Despite the warm reception, they couldn’t get off the stage fast enough, grabbing backpacks and scooping up gear. Maybe they just wanted to grab some beers and join their adoring fans.

The last time Low played here they performed their landmark album Things We Lost In The Fire for the Don’t Look Back series in 2008. This time they performed a set of songs stretching back the last decade and it was sensational. Some of the more “boisterous” material from The Great Destroyer and Drums & Guns was stripped back a little letting the set flow easier. California and Monkey sounded better without the synth strings and organ from the album version, and Canada from 2002’s Trust sounded cleaner and more confident.

They played a wonderful version of Silver Rider, but the real showstopper was their totally amazing rendition of Shame from 1995’s beautiful Long Division cut – the whole room held their breath as the soft harmonies of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker glided over the haunted twangs of Sparhawk’s sad guitar, releasing a huge collective sigh underneath the applause that followed.

The mix was great, being given maximum room to wield such a small variety of tones and textures. The vocals were clean and were note perfect. Parkers steady vibrato sounded like velvet. She only played a snare, a floor tom, a hi hat and a rider that she brushed standing up, but each beat and swish was so articulated it never felt washed out or ephemeral. *Steve Garrington*’s bass strolled along slowly underneath and anchored the whole thing lest the whole performance drift off somewhere.

Sparhawk traded banter with the crowd and prevented the show from getting too serious which was a good move. He seemed a little distracted, but maybe he’s naturally shy and expresses it through deliberately restrained music. They finished with a stirring shot at When I Go Deaf, proudly declaring the virtues of living without noise before celebrating – wait for it – not being deaf by crashing around the stage victoriously with the reprise. The encore consisted of California and a few requests (Napalm Death?) and we all left with our chi a little more centred. Thanks Low, please come back soon – our world is a little too noisy and restless without you here.

Check out the photos from the gig