Last Wednesday, I had a chance to see Low at the Metro in Chicago again. I've seen the band several times over the years now but it felt even more special after a gap of so long and also because my going to any shows has been severely limited.

I discovered Low around 1999 during a huge transition in my life. I would be graduating from University and moving halfway across the country from Rochester, NY to Chicago. Many things were uncertain (they always are) and I was spending my college allotment of funds on records over food (I have more money for food now so things have gotten better!). I started listening to bands who could do much more for me than the ones I was raised on (like The Beatles). Just as I was packing up my bags on leaving in 2001, “She’s leaving home! Bye bye!” Low released Things We Lost in the Fire and my life was changed. Low was one of the first live bands I started seeing when I came to Chicago and I always stuck around in those days long enough to say hi to Alan Sparhawk among other things like “You’ve saved my life!” I must tend to gravitate towards really wholesome patient sorts of people who don’t take these things the wrong way.

The thing is, I learned the truth of reality and aging as I grew older. I always thought that adults sort of had things figured out and that one day all of the problems from my youth would just vanish with one click (not a mouse, but more like a brain twitch) What I came to realize is the big secret that this is actually a lie. Adults do NOT know what they are doing at all. We are making it up as we go along, pretending to be so mature that we’ve figured out all kinds of problems that occur with out of control politics that worsen poverty and racism and well, all the isms. All those bad things you thought that the adults have control over? We don’t. And, these last two years were a testament to that. Danger alert…there are humans in control with white hair and look the part who absolutely don’t have a clue of what they are doing and it only seems to be getting worse.

So, how do we cope with our ever changing existence where we aren’t in control of injustice and inevitable doom? I asked a friend who is a neuroscientist once…why is it that when we are depressed, we listen to music that is the opposite of cookie cutter pop music but will make us continue to think deeper? Maybe it is the vestiges of hope or maybe one of the only things keeping us living is the idea that we’ll get to hear the next album from Low or we’ll get to see Low again next time they tour so we best be staying alive. Yes, that must be it!

www.chairkickers.com/

**All photos are copyrighted**

Tags:   Alan Sparhawk band live concert music flare lens flare cinematic Chair kickers

© All Rights Reserved

I'm often a little extra when I talk about my favorite bands but I've honestly been a fan of Low's music since around 2000 or maybe even earlier...so, over 20 years listening to the same band and having the joy of seeing and photographing them is such an awesome lucky experience.

Low is truly a band I would say are 100% genuine in everything they write and sing and play. There is literally no artifice. They are the real deal. The delicate sense of the songs and how they build to a tumult is incredible.

lowtheband.bandcamp.com/

More photos and photos from Saturday at Pitchfork Music Festival here:

bigtakeover.com/concerts/PitchforkMusicFestivalHighlights...

**All photos are copyrighted**

Tags:   Low band concert festival music Alan Sparhawk Pitchfork Pitchfork Music Festival Chairkickers

© All Rights Reserved

I started listening to Low about the time Things We Lost in the Fire was released. It seems almost a lifetime ago as I was a different person back then. I was much younger and still finding myself and a direction. It's funny how over the course of your life, albums grow on you and make you who you are as a human being.

Some people listen to music because they want to dance. Others because they want background noise. Still others because they want to forget about things that bother them. But I listen to music because I want to remember and I want to survive. Without music, I would be an even more chaotic mess of cells and I would most likely dissolve into a state of insanity.

The world is lucky to have Low and their music throughout so many albums and so many years. Chicago was, in particular, very lucky to experience 2 hour long sets on Saturday night at a small club called Subterannean (or abbreviated, SubT) I've seen quite a few Low sets over the last decade (I wouldn't miss one in my city for the whole world!) and this one seemed all the more special because Low pulled out some songs they haven't played in a very long time here such as "Sunflowers" "Dragonfly" and "Dinosaur Act" in particular. "When I Go Deaf" and "Murderer" always brings me to my knees a bit but even more so was Alan Sparhawk playing a solo version of "Death of a Salesman."

I was a little emotional..well, to be honest, I was pretty much weeping against the stage with my hands over my mouth so that I wouldn't interrupt the song with any loud sobbing. I probably shouldn't have tried to talk to Alan afterwards but he's always so nice when I unload all of my admiration and sheer and utter gratefulness for being alive and creating music onto him. Alan was sweet as ever and even gave me a hug. I felt a little bad for not being able to really express myself clearly. I'm also quite shy around people I don't know. I also realize I'm an in tense melodrama tic person and no t everyone enjoys tha t.

If you don't know this band. I urge you to have a listen. Multiple exposure above is using a drawing on the inside of the insert for the incredible album The Great Destroyer. I took this photo in about 10 seconds and I was totally wrecked when I did it but at least you know I'm sincere about the ones I love.

Some great videos on Low's website here:

chairkickers.com/video/

If you are interested in seeing other bands I like.... :

www.last.fm/user/kirstiecat/library

**All photos are copyrighted. Please don't use without permission**

Tags:   Low Alan Sparhawk trust things we lost in the fire portrait the Great Destroyer Chairkickers Re tribu tion Gospel Choir Drums and Guns Subterannean Subt band live concert music lastfm:event=3860260

© All Rights Reserved

I was really excited to be able to spend some time with Low recently. I never thought that would actually happen because they are such exceptional people. In any case, here's some backstage, soundcheck, and live photos from their show in Chicago at Thalia Hall on Line of the Best Fit:

www.thelineofbestfit.com/photos/live-photo-gallery/low-ba...


**All photos are copyrighted. Please don't use without permission**

Tags:   Low band live concert music Alan Sparhawk Mimi Parker Steve Chicago Illinois US Low band live concert music Alan Sparhawk Mimi Parker Thalia Hall For Rory

© All Rights Reserved

There is a word for this feeling inside us. It's called Low and it might stay there forever.


www.myspace.com/low

Tags:   Mimi Parker Epiphany Church band music I love love love their music. Low Chair kickers

© All Rights Reserved