Over the past year, a ton of new music has been released as usual. Every year I look forward to releases from old favorites but one of my favorite things is getting turned on to a new artist. For me, the standout in the later category has been when a friend introduced me to The Lone Bellow. Their self titled debut album is really something special but it's not until you see them live that you really get a handle on their talent. On the subject of the album itself, there are several stand out tracks such as "You Can Be All Kinds Of Emotional", "You Never Need Nobody" and my personal favorite "Teach Me To Know". This is one of those rare records where you can hear the song writers connection to the lyrics immediately and each of the above tracks are great examples of that.
Upon first look and listen, you may find The Lone Bellow to be cut from exactly the same cloth as The Lumineers or Mumford & Sons. I felt the same way until I was able to see them live in concert earlier this year. The emotion conveyed on their debut LP is pale in comparison to that which they bring to a live setting. You can see all three members mean what they wrote and more importantly, you can hear it. After the first of two shows I witnessed this year, I likened their performance to that of what a Simon & Garfunkel show must have been like in the late '60s. Many examples can be found around the internet but I believe this is one of the best:
In a regular live setting the band is joined by drummer and bass player but if I'm being honest, those components are not necessary. In some cases the added musicians actually detract some from the overall feeling of the songs. Having said that, the live experience is still the best way to experience this music based on the passion displayed by the three principle members.
The comparison to the aforementioned acts is inevitable but I sincerely hope The Lone Bellow get a chance to stand on their own. They are touring the US again this fall and I highly recommend that everyone attend a show if possible. With ticket prices around and well under the $20 mark, it's really and experience that's well worth your entertainment dollar. Here is the schedule for the rest of the year according to pollstar.com:
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