“We’re going to share some wisdom gleaned over the last 20 years,” promised Low’s Alan Sparhawk to a transfixed Metro crowd. “But just some.” And Low delivered, entrancing the audience with a set that included highlights spanning their double-decade catalog as well as tracks from new album The Invisible Way, which features drummer/vocalist Mimi Parker singing lead on a number of songs. From behind the kit, Parker alternated lead vocal duties with Sparhawk as the pair sprinkled harmonious incantations into the air throughout their soul-cleansing set. Calm on the surface, Low’s expert treatment of swelling tension rendered each brush of the cymbals as visceral an experience as the eventual thunderous guitar eruptions that followed. The night was capped by watching Sparhawk take teeth to guitar strings during “Pissing” as Low proved once and for all, if you’re gonna call them anything, don’t call them slowcore.
Reviewed for Chicago Innerview.
Jessica Mlinaric founded Urban Explorer in 2010 to inspire curious travelers by highlighting history, culture, and hidden gems in Chicago and beyond. She is the author of ‘Secret Chicago’ and ‘Chicago Scavenger.’ Jessica has visited 20+ countries and 30+ U.S. states. She has more than 16 years of experience as a marketing strategist and works as a freelance writer and photographer.
