09/12/09 -Low @ Lake Harriet Bandshell - Minneapolis MN

Activity at the neighborhood bandshell usually winds down on Labor Day. This season it was extended by four dates to accommodate a series of shows by musical acts with higher profiles than the usual "concert in the parks" participants (community choirs/swing bands/original folk singers,etc.)



At tonight's show by Low (their first in Minneapolis in a while) the setlist included mostly songs from each of their last four studio lps; but with a heavy emphasis on older material

Drums and Guns - in silence, breaker
The Great Destroyer - california
Trust - shots and ladders, canada, last snowstorm of the year
Things We Lost in the Fire - like a forest, sunflower, dinosaur act

Live, Low often sounds very similar to their nearly immaculate studio recordings. But tonight they tweaked the songs from Trust by adding extended endings and an odd guitar break or two. Alan's voice cracked and wavered a few times; but in just the right places.



My favorite songs of the night were two songs that, I believe, are new. Written out; words don't due justice to what, at first listen, sounded like the most direct, immediate songs to have come from Low in years.

?new song #1
(2 of 3 verses)

the breath of a bird
a voice never heard
but you knew every word
my love is for free
my love
my love is for free

the dream is enough
the price is too much
but it's nothing to love
my love is for free
my love
my love is for free

?new song #2

left my land
to the wind and the sand
with blood on my lips
and silver in hand
im weary and stumbling
in the desert heat
where raindrops
they burn up
before they reach your cheek
your cheek

if you see my love
if you see my love
tell her im done