Tag Archives: Low

New Low: Disappearing

Video: Low – “Disappearing”

Directed by Dorian Wood. From Hey What, due September 10 on Sub Pop.

Oops I forgot to queue this up before I left on vacation. It’s still good though!

Every time I see that ship go out, it feels like everything’s complete
Somebody somewhere is waiting, some other ocean at her feet.

The throbbing, distorted guitars remind me of Neil Young’s Le Noise. Or my last trip to the dentist office… I like it.

Star and director of the video says, “I was inspired to offer a personal glimpse of what I’d been up to during the pandemic year. I’ve been doing art modeling on the side for years, mostly for art schools. Once the schools physically shut down due to Covid, I was invited to pose for dozens of virtual classes. I borrowed a friend’s empty guest room and twice a week I would set up my laptop and lights and pose for three hours at a time. During these long stretches of time, I’d lose myself in thought while delivering poses that best showcased all this fat brown beauty. In my mind, I traveled to places and memories, and in the case of ‘Disappearing’, I not only visited the ocean in my mind, I became it. Even at its most empowering and meditative, a modeling session was often a reminder of how lonely one can feel when the other humans in the room immediately vanish once the laptop shuts down. And still, a semblance of hope always lingered. We shot the video at Human Resources, a performance space in L.A. which also served as a creative sanctuary for me during the pandemic year. There’s a lot of ‘coming home’ love in this video. I’m honored to be able to share this love.”

Low: Tonight The Monkey Dies

LowLow at the Miramar Theatre

Milwaukee, January 26, 2006

You wouldn’t think that Low would attract the type of showgoer who still thinks it’s hilarious to scream “FREEBIRD” during a quiet moment. Yet that’s exactly what happened two-thirds of the way through their set in Milwaukee at the kickoff of their winter tour. Singer Alan Sparhawk took it in stride; he blinked, leaned in close to the microphone and said dryly but firmly, “No.” This provoked a wave of appreciative laughter from a crowd that had clearly been through this one too many times. Seriously, guys, we’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: That joke is not funny anymore. With the exception of Freebird Guy and another guy behind us who felt it necessary to whistle tunelessly along with every song, occasionally mutter some lyrics that had no audible connection with the song that was being played, and at one point jump up to do a strange, disjointed dance while drumming the top of the bar that was set up in the back of the room, the audience was a model of quiet, awed respect. The first several rows even sat cross-legged on the floor to better appreciate their heroes.

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