A clear upward trend can be observed in Lord Huron’s trajectory. In 2012 they headlined Stubb’s indoor stage. Last year the returned and performed on the much larger outdoor stage, opening for Alt-J. This week, the band headlined back to back nights at Emo’s, selling out the first, and approaching venue capacity on the second. The band’s most recent effort, Lonesome Dreams, dropped in 2012 and has served the band well over the last couple of years. Most of the set Monday night was culled from that album including the title-track and standout single “Time to Run.”
The band’s production and stage set are epically designed, featuring top-notch lighting and a towering paneled backdrop with artwork in the style that Lord Huron frequently employs on their covers and in press photos. Onstage, the members of the band are not outlandishly active so much as they appear intently focused on tightness and solidly playing their individual instruments. This fact is one of many contributing factors that provide the band’s aesthetic balance between folky rawness and polished pop music. Their songs may evoke the wild west, but there’s plenty of their native L.A. lingering in the mix. Lord Huron continues to see widespread acclaim, and we suspect their next album will propel them to even greater public notoriety.
L.A.-based band Superhumanoids opened the night with a set of washed out guitars and electronic soundscapes. Superhumanoids adeptly weave atmospheric moods with minimalist sensibilities. Hazy, reverbed production and female vocals define the band’s sound, which offered a significant contrast to the evening’s headliner. Their debut album is out now on Innovative Leisure.
Check out photos of the night below. All images © Bryan Parker & Pop Press International. Click any image to open in slideshow viewer.
