The Verse’s Chanelle Manton reviews Lord Huron at Komedia on 24th January 2018.
Waiting years to see Lord Huron live, and accidentally buying double the amount of tickets in excitement, meant I was ready for the band to cure my January blues. Intended to be held at Concorde 2, I was grateful to hear of the venue-change to Komedia – a more intimate location seemed more appropriate for the likes of Schneider and co. Plus, I can’t say I was looking forward to the treacherous coastal trek from Old Steine.
Making our way down to Komedia’s main space, the first pleasant surprise was a 50% off drinks offer at the bar until 8:30. Having arrived at 8:22, we made sure to get our money’s worth in the remaining eight minutes. With a pint secured in each hand, we made our way towards the stage where supporting act, FLYTE, were hypnotising the audience with tunes from The Loved Ones, released in 2017.
The group did an impeccable job of setting the tone for the rest of the evening. Although admittedly only catching their last three songs, I was taken aback by their lyrical and musical mastery. The four-piece did not shy away from delivering flawless, acapella vocals; Archie, Marry Me was goose-bump inducing. Ending with Faithless, the group succeeded in warming up the venue and inciting feelings of nostalgia through their story-telling; a perfect match for Lord Huron. FLYTE have become the newest addition to my Spotify playlist.
Lord Huron
After a fairly lengthy interval, lead-singer Ben Schneider and his fellow Michiganders graced the stage, welcomed by a warm applause. Kicking off with Intro, the band smoothly transitioned through the set-list, a mixture of old classics and new tracks from upcoming album Vide Noir. Their recently released teaser trailer took many by surprise for a seeming change in aesthetic style, loaded with green hues, and a move to a more cosmic feel overall.
Despite showcasing their new stuff, which is equally ethereal to the rest, I was thankful to hear the melodic Meet Me in the Woods and all-time favourite Ends of the Earth amongst their new tracks. Vide Noir is set to be released 20th April 2018 by Whispering Record, a change from their previous two albums Lonesome Dreams and Strange Trails.
Managing to secure a position right by the stage, I was up close to the action. We found ourselves jumping up and down to Time To Run one minute and swaying gently to Ghost on the Shore the next. Despite the obnoxious girls who seemed to want to start a mosh-pit half way through (they obviously took advantage of the 50% off drinks deal), I had a wonderful time, losing myself in the spooky Americana, dreaming of a road-trip. The group ended with The Stranger and departed the stage to an applause loaded with emotion.
Of course, they weren’t quite finished. Lord Huron came back on to finish with The Night We Met, the song which everyone seemed to know the lyrics too. Made famous by appearances in CW’s The Flash, The Originals, and Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why, the tune was an apt choice for their penultimate song. Riding on the audience’s energy, the group finished with Fool for Love, leaving on a high. Although standing too close to the speakers left our ears ringing all night, the group’s heavenly sound and soul-stirring lyrics continued to resonate with me long after the show was over.
