The Low Lows (band)
Encyclopedia
The Low Lows is an American Americana
musical band formed in Athens, Georgia in 2005, originally composed of lead vocalist and guitarist
Mangham Parker (aka Parker Noon), organist
Daniel Rickard, and drummer
Jeremy Wheatley, all of whom are former members of the band Parker and Lily
. They currently reside in Austin, Texas, USA
and have added more than ten members to their lineup.
Their style is hard to place into any combination of genres (let alone one), but is consistently referred to as experimental
, lo-fi alternative rock
. Their choice of instruments (see link below: members/instruments) is also likely the reason they are also often considered alt-country or progressive country
with old gospel
influences. For reasons not yet explained by the band, their MySpace page defines their style as simply thrash
. They have been compared to bands such as South San Gabriel
, Castanets, My Morning Jacket
, Phosphorescent
, and Band of Horses
.
References
References
Americana (music)
Americana is an amalgam of roots musics formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the American musical ethos; specifically those sounds that are merged from folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and other external influential styles...
musical band formed in Athens, Georgia in 2005, originally composed of lead vocalist and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Mangham Parker (aka Parker Noon), organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
Daniel Rickard, and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Jeremy Wheatley, all of whom are former members of the band Parker and Lily
Parker and Lily
Parker and Lily was an American experimental pop/rock duo originally from New York, NY and formed in 2000. Parker and Lily are not currently touring and have not released any new material since 2005; the band members are all working on other projects; Parker and Lily disbanded sometime in...
. They currently reside in Austin, Texas, USA
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and have added more than ten members to their lineup.
Genre
The Low Lows songs are often considered haunting, surreal and melancholic. Their choruses often grow to become appropriately "noise drenched" and are, in many ways, elegant works of art that swell with a dissonance that is almost chaotic. The choruses often resolve in more familiar ways.Their style is hard to place into any combination of genres (let alone one), but is consistently referred to as experimental
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
, lo-fi alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
. Their choice of instruments (see link below: members/instruments) is also likely the reason they are also often considered alt-country or progressive country
Progressive country
Progressive country is a subgenre of Texas country music started in the early 1970s in Austin, Texas. The term was coined by programmers at Austin's KOKE-FM in 1972 as a way to differentiate the style of country music in Austin from that being made in Nashville...
with old gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
influences. For reasons not yet explained by the band, their MySpace page defines their style as simply thrash
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
. They have been compared to bands such as South San Gabriel
South San Gabriel
South San Gabriel may refer to:* South San Gabriel, California* South San Gabriel...
, Castanets, My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket is an American rock band from Louisville, Kentucky.The band consists of Jim James , Tom 'Two-Tone Tommy' Blankenship , Patrick Hallahan , Carl Broemel , and Bo Koster .-History:My Morning Jacket was...
, Phosphorescent
Phosphorescent (band)
Phosphorescent is the working moniker of American multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Matthew Houck. Originally from Alabama, Houck began recording and performing under this nom de plume in 2001 in Athens, Georgia...
, and Band of Horses
Band of Horses
Band of Horses, originally briefly known as Horses, are an American rock band formed in 2004 in Seattle by Ben Bridwell. They have released three studio albums, the most recent and most successful of which is 2010's Grammy nominated Infinite Arms...
.
Current members
- Mangham Parker (aka Parker Noon) - lead vocals, vox, guitar
- Bryan Crowell - guitar, farfisa, rhodes bass
- Heidi Johnson - trombone, acetone, Wurlitzer
- Greg McCue - drums
- Brockett Hamilton - steel guitar
- Matt Bricker - trumpet, acetone organ
- Darian Mola Momanee - trumpet and tambourine
- Nick Warrenchuck - trombone
- Kullen Fuchs - trumpet and vibraphone
- Mike St.Claire - trombone and trumpet
- Paul Simpson - singing saw
References
Contributing members
- Daniel Rickard - acoustic guitar, bass organ, harmonica, vocals
- Jeremy Wheatley - drums (on the first 5 tours and 2 records)
- Lily Wolfe (on the first 3 tours and 2 records) - organs etc.
- Eva Hanna - bass
- Mikey Dwyer - bass (Euro Tour '08)
- Abram Shook - organ (Euro Tour '08)
- Page Campbell - guitar
- Matt Stossel - steel guitar
- John Neff - steel guitar
- Patrick Ferguson - drums
- Brent Jones - drums
- Josiah McG - drums
- Amanda Kapousouz - strings
- Perrish and Bassam Mussad - trumpets
- Kevin and David Nelson - trombones
- Jared Theis - clarinet
References
Full-length albums
- Fire On the Bright SkyFire on the Bright SkyFire On the Bright Sky is the first album by The Low Lows. It was released on September 12, 2006 via the label, Warm.-Track listing:#"Dear Flies, Love Spider" - 5:26#"White Liner" - 5:29#"Velvet" - The Low Lows, Rickard, Daniel - 4:36#"St...
LP - 2006 (WarmWarm RecordsWarm Electronic Recordings is an independent record label based in Athens, Georgia. Azure Ray, Japancakes, and Crooked Fingers are some of the artists on their roster.-Artists:*Azure Ray*Crooked Fingers*Elk City*Empire State*Japancakes*Liz Durrett...
) - Shining ViolenceShining ViolenceShining Violence is the second full length album by The Low Lows. It was released on March 3, 2008 via the label, Monotreme.-Track listing:#"Sparrows" - 4:11 - #"Raining In Eva" - 4:40#"Modern Romance" - 4:00#"Elizabeth Pier" - 3:01#"Tigers" - 4:18...
LP - 2008 (Monotreme)