OnStrange Trails, Lord Huron's most recent album,songwriter and bandleader Ben Schneider's cinematic storytelling never strays far from the grave. Even the album's most gloriously foot-stomping tracks are overlaid with apocalyptic portents and tales whose heroes have brushes with death. Yet the Los Angeles band's Newport Folk set was jubilant and loud, with thumping kick drum grounding lively, rolling arrangements and electronic fuzz juxtaposed against ringing Appalachian-style harmonies.
"I had a vision tonight that the world was ending," Schneider sang almost gleefully on the chugging "Until the Night Turns," defying that impending destruction throughout the concert by playing with such gusto that at one point his harmonica holder went flying off his neck. If the end is nigh, Lord Huron seemed to say, at least we've got rock 'n' roll.
LANGUAGE ADVISORY: This recording contains profanity.
Set List
Credits
Audio: Joshua Rogosin, Suraya Mohamed and Monique Mizrahi; Photography: Adam Kissick.
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