Lord Huron at the Lexington

Lord Huron at the Lexington | Live review

10^th May 2018

10 May 2018

Arriving fashionably late to their own show in the cramped setting of Pentonville Road’s Lexington pub, Lord Huron set the tone for an understated, intimate affair with some calm tuning of guitars and a dash of playful interaction with an equally serene and impressively patient audience.

Founding member and lead singer Ben Schneider’s opening address to the crowd detailed how the band had previously played at the venue, prompting a couple of people to shout back that they had been there. “Someone’s been here before?” asked the vocalist, wincing as he peered beyond the stage lights in an attempt to put a face to the voice. Upon spotting that the face in question was one of an elderly gent, Schneider delivered an inquisitive response: “Wait, Dad?” Laughter ensued and a bond had been established between a convivial audience and an affable frontman. A raucous rendition of Never Ever to warm the fans up cemented te relationship further.

Yet for all the mutual appreciation between the band and their spectators, very little energy was exuded from either. This is understandable considering the often plaintive sounds of the group, and though occasionally branded an indie/folk/country hybrid, their music is far from conducive towards a hoedown. A vast number of the crowd were also – inexplicably – clad in suits, many unwilling to take their jackets off. Combined with the searing heat of the Lexington’s top floor, those reluctant to exert much physical effort could be forgiven.

The purpose of the gig was to promote the LA ensemble’s latest album Vide Noir, released on the major label Republic Records back in April. Although enjoying positive reviews and solid streaming figures, no tracks have ballooned à la the Netflix-popularised single The Night We Met. And so, to satisfy the demands of a well-versed audience, fresher material was interlaced with fan favourites from Strange Trails and Lonesome Dreams.

Disappointingly for Lord Huron, having one universal hit can be more trouble than it’s worth. The longer the gig went on, the more it resembled a waiting game for The Night We Met to be played, detracting attention from the celestial sounds of their ambitious new numbers.

★★★★★

Jake Cudsi
Photos: Nick Bennett

For further information and future events visit Lord Huron’s website here.