In a music blog where I have set out to write about the music that has shaped my life, it comes as no surprise to those who know me that one of my earliest posts is about the Lowest Of The Low. I listened to Shakespeare My Butt (taped, of course, off a friend’s CD) more than any other album. When they did the launch for Hallucigenia at the HMV on Yonge street just north of Dundas, I was there. When they broke up later that same year (’94) my open letter to the band was published in Eye Magazine and went as viral amongst my friend group as things could pre-Internet.
In 1996 when the Secret Of My Excess came out from Ron Hawkins, I was first in line to get the tape, hoping it was the start of a Low resurgence. It wasn’t, but when they finally came back and started playing shows again, even without Stephen Stanley, I made an effort to catch at least one night of every outing.
Yep, I’m a fan.
The lyrics, the songwriting, the rock star persona that would just as soon punch you in the face as give you a hug… there are a lot of topics to cover here.
Let’s start with Friday night at Lee’s Palace.
As I mentioned in my last post, I was already giddy. Moving to the Annex earlier this month (complete with my newly installed keg fridge at the new apartment) having a holiday Friday night concert by the Low just steps from my front door is the pre-eminent picture of cosmic serendipity. No matter how the show was going to go, I was in a very good head space to make sure the night was going to be an enjoyable one.
The set list was strong – better than the one they played at the ‘Shoe back in December for a few reasons. Back in December they had just launched “The Kids Are All Wrong” and “In The Blink Of An Eye” earlier that week and, while most of the crowd had a chance to listen to the new tracks, they hadn’t hit home yet and probably didn’t rock as hard at that show as they could have.
Not only did The Kids Are All Wrong absolutely fly on Friday night, but the Low played a few tunes off of Hawkins’ brand new album, Spit Sputter and Sparkle, that was released ON Friday and, in contrast to the November show, the songs hit home on the very first play.
“Sliver” is a medium-paced piece with a catchy chorus and, while still a harder tune, it’s played just soft enough to really catch Hawkins’ lyrics and plenty of opportunity for background harmonies and some good jangle. But it was “Beautiful Girl” that had me at note one…
“Asleep in the crook of my arm, my beautiful girl…”
This song is the song I wish I had of written for my daughter. An instant Hawkins classic, this is a very good song.
And I’m focusing on the new here first because, better than any time I’ve seen them before, they mixed the new and the old seamlessly and had plenty of old favourites for everyone in the room to sing along to.
Here’s a quick clip from my vantage point at the show featuring the beginnings of “For The Hand Of Magdalena” – the song that I’d guess wouldn’t make most people’s top ten lists but is arguably one of the most fun songs to sing along to when played live – and “City Full Of Cowards”, which features the best opening bars of any Low song.
Just like at the ‘Shoe back in December, the Low pulled some old tricks out of their hat. Their cannon of potential crowd favourites is huge so for every win, there’s lots of room for disappointment as well that they didn’t play that song, which is really the only bad thing you can say about a Low show.
The top five wins and wishes for the show last Friday:
Wins
– The opening of “Gamble” snuck up on the crowd… those who were really listening picked up on it early, but a great intro to a great song.
– The call and response to “Salesmen, Cheats and Liars” – made all the morning charming when Hawkins’ effed it up himself and led us astray.
– If I were to write a set list it would include coming out for an encore and leading with “Subversives”. It’s the perfect Encore starter.
– Closing once again with “Rosy and Grey” – you can’t go wrong with the song that everyone knows and loves to sing along to, especially the dirty bits
– Again, “Beautiful Girl” stunned. In a good way.
Wishes
– I saw the Low play at the ‘Shoe a number of years ago and they played a version of “Beer Graffiti Walls” during an encore that just killed and was everything you want a Low show to be… would have loved to hear that again.
– While it felt awesome at the ‘Shoe being one of two people in the whole crowd to cheer and sing along to “Bit”, was hoping they’d dig into some other B-Side stuff this time around. “Bit” is a great tune, but was secretly hoping for “Crying Like A Postcard” off the same EP.
– “Dogs of February” – one of my favourite Low songs that rarely gets played live – would love to see this on a future set list.
– Ditto for “The Taming Of Carolyn”
– The last wish of the evening? That it didn’t have to end… not that the band would have kept playing until their fingers bled, but having some place for the family of fans to go after the show where we could continue to play the CDs, pull out some guitars, and drink ourselves stupid even further into the blackness of the night.
Further Listening – More Songs From Lee’s Palace – March 25th
These people had more phone battery than I did and also the patience to watch the show through a lens whereas I just wanted a couple of clips to remember the night by, preferring to catch the whole thing live. Still, great to see a few of these in their entirety and I think the back of my head makes an appearance in one of them.
The full version of “City Full Of Cowards” – one of my favourites to sing along to and play myself.
The full encore of “Rosy and Grey” with everyone at the sing-along best.
“Subversives” – the perfect way to start an encore. Just listen to that crowd…