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Healing

11/14/2015

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Yesterday, while attending The Lone Bellow Happy Hour set with people whom we love, Paris was under attack. Of course, we didn’t know it was happening. We didn’t know that while we were listening to our favorite musicians discuss the many stories they’ve heard from fans- stories of how their music has healed people, brought them out of despair, and made them feel alive again- people some 3000 miles away from us were being violently targeted while they were in a concert hall, undoubtedly enjoying the musicians they came to see, undoubtedly feeling like they were experiencing something special together, in the way that only live music allows. When we heard the news out of Paris,  we were devastated. And, as anyone who has been in a city that has been under attack can tell you, it is impossible not to recall what you have also been through, to know too well the panic and chaos, the worry, the endless sirens, the waiting for the news that you are safe again.
 
 The very first time we saw The Lone Bellow we had just been through this ourselves, as it was just after the marathon bombing.  Their music was undeniably a part of our own healing.  They were a new discovery for us, this largely unknown band, in a tiny space, reminding us that music is a gift to be shared, a simple and meaningful way to connect us to one another. And here we were again, in NYC, a city that also knows the sorrow and fear of being under attack, with these same musicians, in need, again, of their words and music.
 
We can tell you that just like in previous shows this band was flawless. We can tell you that we cried, we laughed, we danced, and sang loudly.  We are grateful, as always, for this band and everything they do. We want to give you all of the details from the NYC shows, but we’re just not quite ready. Perhaps in a few days time we will be. For right now, though, we want to hold these memories close to our hearts, as we are holding the people of Paris close to hearts, hopeful that they will soon see light from the darkness, and that they, too, will heal.
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Higher Ground Burlington, VT; House of Blues Boston

11/12/2015

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We are writing this from the road. We have completely lost all control and decided last night, at the Boston show, that we really need to be at both NYC shows. We had already made plans for Friday, but since we literally cannot get enough of seeing The Lone Bellow on stage, we are adding another one to our list.
 
We started this week in Vermont where we met up with another loyal fan (Hi, Paul!) and settled in for the happy hour set.  These acoustic sets before the show are incredible.  We really hope they continue to offer this on their next tour because it is such a neat way to see and interact with the band.
 
One of the best things about getting to be part of the happy hour show is the Q & A they do with the audience.  TLB has always been so gracious with their fans and these Q & A sessions are an extension of that.  Even when the receive questions they've answered at previous shows, they are always completely courteous and respectful in their responses.  Of course, they get asked all kinds of questions and these last two shows were no exception to that.  We learned what music the band is currently listening to (it ranges from Ryan Adams’ 1989 to War on Drugs). Someone asked Brian about his Alabama shirt  and  after a brief discussion about that band’s influence on him, they broke into a cover of   “Dixie Delight."          
 
At the Boston happy hour, we learned about the first time each of them ever appeared on stage. Jason shared that he and Kanene competed against one another in their 8th grade talent show, but neither of them won. When asked what they thought about Spotify, Zach compared it to the aunt that always gives you the best presents, but isn’t a nice person to be around, and went on to describe it as a love-hate relationship.  A moment of reverence came when someone asked the band about their first show in Boston, which was right after our city had been ordered to shelter in place because one of the suspects was still on the loose. That show was also our first time to see TLB live. It was such a cathartic and meaningful experience for us and it felt good to be able to personally thank the band for their performance that night. (We’ve written about that show here.)
 
As for the actual shows, there just are no words.  We can say with certainty that both Burlington and Boston love TLB. While this was only our second time seeing the band in Vermont, the crowd was just as enthusiastic and energetic as the first time, and Boston crowds never disappoint.  We love how much the audience seems to fuel the band’s performance. 

As for the highlights: We are loving  "Lovely in Blue," and hope to hear it on a future album. In Burlington, we were treated to a cover of CCR's "Long As I Can See The Light" (so much fun!), where the band was accompanied by Hugh Masterson and the members of Anderson East. Our favorite moment at the Boston show, although it's hard to pick just one, was when they performed "Looking For You," a song we love, but rarely hear performed live. It was breathtaking. 

On a personal note, last night's show was my (Abra) 20th. I was so happy to have that happen in my hometown, and I can't wait for the next 20. 

​

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The Lone Bellow's Happy Hour set at House of Blues Boston.
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Guest Post: Happy Hour with The Lone Bellow, Pittsburgh

11/6/2015

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One of my favorite things about being an extreme Lone Bellow fan is meeting other extreme Lone Bellow fans, and making connections with people I wouldn’t normally have had the chance to know. One such fan is Skip, who we have now run into at many shows spanning both coasts, despite us all living on the East Coast!

Skip was at the Pittsburgh show this past Tuesday, and graciously agreed to write a recap of the happy hour that night, and share photos from happy hour and the show.

Is a happy hour still happy hour if booze is not being served?  In the case of The Lone Bellow at The Rex Theatre on Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, the answer is always yes!  Serving host to an enthusiastic crowd of a dozen fans Zach, Brian, Kanene, Justin and Jason shared tails of TLB history, favorite fall movies and serenaded the crowd with classics and always fun to hear, new tunes.  Plus it turned out to Brian Elmquist’s birthday which meant a hearty and loud Happy Birthday would be sung later in the evening.
 
The musical portion of the Happy Hour started out with Zach proclaiming he had a few nerves which translated into an “bonus verse” and big smiles for all the band on “If You Don’t Love Me.”  The audience quickly got the questions flowing by asking about the origins of the name of the band.   Zach told a story about his grandmother’s guest room which was decorated in clown faces (yikes, not cool Grandma!).  Zach also saw a ghost out of his bedroom window...which thankfully turned out to be a trash bag caught on the fence.  One night a bull bellowed and ever since writing TLB songs reminded him of his grandparents music…thus the threesome became The Lone Bellow.
 
The next question inquired about the evolution of the band’s writing process from their debut album to the stack of new songs they have been debuting on the road.   Zach described the process as free flowing and collaborative with Brian chiming in that “having a bus helps.”
 
Conversation soon turned to the band’s thoughts on fans having cell phones at concerts and often viewing the show from the camera lens rather than their own eyes.   Kanene didn’t think the behavior was bad, more just evidence of today’s “sharing culture” to show their friends they were at the show.  Though Zach questioned if anyone ever actually goes back and looks at the videos they took with their cell phones.
 
Returning to the music the band busted out a new tune titled “Jessica.”   It will certainly become another TLB classic with the blended harmonies, exceptional song writing and sincerity that fans love.  The next question inquired as to how audiences differed.  The band believes a venue and audience can really dictate the tone of a show.  Some venues are most accustomed to sitting thus perhaps keeping a more subdued vibe for the audience.
 
The band went on to share with the audience the story of how they met.  Go visit www.thelonebellow.com for the answer if you don’t know it already!   As they waited for the next question Zach decided to throw one out to the band asking for everyone favorite Fall movie.   Kanene responded with the true classic “ET.”   According to other audience members, Brian allegedly said Legend of the Fall (but I couldn’t confirm that in my notes).  Jason with all of his seriousness said the Disney movie Pocahontas!  Justin with his quick wit responded with “Fall Out Boys.”  And not to be outdone, Zach said his favorite fall movie was “Sweet Home Alabama.”  Really Z???
 
The last question of the evening asked the band about other artists they have played with while out on tour.  There have been a lot with so many great bands that everyone in TLB felt blessed. A few names that stuck out to the band included Dawes, Leon Bridges, Blind Boys of Alabama, and Brandi Carlile.  
 
The final two song requests of the Happy Hour had the band playing “Button” and “Fire Red Horse.”  For the last story of the afternoon, Zach shared with the crowd that the Fire Red Horse was actually his uncle’s horse that he nursed back to health after it became entangled in barbed wire.
 
If you haven’t had a chance to attend a Happy Hour with The Lone Bellow there are a few shows left to do so!  Don’t miss out on what has been such a neat opportunity for fans to get to know and hear the band in an intimate setting!
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    Who We Are

    We are Abra and Bobbie, two friends living in Boston who go to a lot of concerts together. We saw The Lone Bellow, having never heard of them, and could not believe our good fortune in discovering such talent. We now try to go by the "Four-Hour-Rule", meaning if we can get to a show within four hours, we will be there, hopefully right up front.

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