Lord Huron

I didn’t get into Lord Huron right away simply ’cause whenever I read the band’s name in trade papers they seemed like an EDM band.
I heard a few songs here and there on Much Music and CFOX. I did miss them at this year’s Coachella. I was unable to watch their set due to a performance conflict on another stage. I don’t regret missing the performance, however, I did take home an appreciation.
For a band that just came back from Coachella, played Vancouver (and some other small dates) only to return back to Coachella for weekend 2 this weekend, they were energetic and gave it 100%. It was refreshing to see a new band that were concerned about entertaining compared to some of the new toegazer bands.
Their music is folk alternative. A lot of the songs remind me of Vampire Weekend mixed with Two Door Cinema Club. One can also argue that there’s a Mumford and Sons feel… just more livelier on the performance delivery.
Ben was very addicting to watch live. His vocals have a bit of a twang that works with the music. The sound was great which often can be very hit and miss at The Vogue.
The entire new album comes packed with a soundtrack mode. It feels as though you’re in an hour long Vince Gilligan TV episode. The music is very well crafted. What got me initially hooked and sunk was the structure of the lyrics that were both loose and autobiographical. Each song has a distinctive mood. It’s easy to tell one song from another, all of which are catchy and linger minutes on end after the last note drops. My favorite song is Meet Me In The Woods which has a Springsteen feel to it. I listened to this album 4 times in a row from beginning to end.
The songs sounded better live than on the album which has only occurred a small handful of times in my concerting hobby/​career. It also helped that the emotions conveyed on the record were emulated honestly in the live performance instead of most bands who just punch in the time clock.
They came with their own production in the form of textured fabrics that gave a sophisticated element when the lights bounced off it. They had a huge illuminated sign with the name of their latest album, Strange Trails, changed color in synch with the stage lights. Simple yet effective.
The set list was a cross between their last two albums, a full healthy 90 minutes that went by way too fast for me. I was pig in shit when I heard my favorite song, Meet Me In The Woods which has a Springsteen feel to it.
During the entire show my body and soul was going through all sorts of moods. I mentally escaped for the better during a lot of the intention moments.
The audience was extremely diverse. Most were very into the band.
I actually brought a souvenir which rarely happens. The band have marketed themselves well. I bought a Strange Tails comic book and a pack of trail mix nuts in the Strange Trails packaging.
Well deserved shout out to my buddy Scott for talking me into coming to the show tonight.