Lord Huron at Hammersmith Apollo
It must be a glorious feeling when a band experiences the love and appreciation of fans from outside of their home country. For Los Angeles-based alternative indie band Lord Huron, that euphoric feeling must’ve been realised by the joyous welcome the crowd at the Eventim Apollo gave them. The American band, primarily consisting of Ben Schneider (lead vocals, guitar), Miguel Briseño (bass, keys), Mark Barry (drums) and Tom Renaud (guitar), have been touring both sides of the Atlantic in celebration of the release of their latest album The Cosmic Selector Vol 1. In the first of their two scheduled performances in London, Lord Huron gave their British following a show to remember.
With a packed set full of their signature fusion of rock and folk, Lord Huron swept up the Apollo audience and embarked on a voyage through their discography, playing songs from each of their five studio albums. Starting strongly with Who Laughs Last, a rock track that features the recorded musings of actress Kristen Stewart, it was also an introduction to the powerful sound system and acoustics of the famed Hammersmith venue, with each of the instruments, particularly the drums, sounding dynamic and animated. The combination of Schneider’s resonant vocals and the warmth of the emotive harmonies ensured that the folk pieces such as Looking Back, Ends of the Earth, and I Lied, were easy crowd favourites.
Perhaps as a result of a tour that has lasted for months, the overall set was incredibly polished, with each song blending seamlessly into the next. But rather than feeling stagnant or unimaginative, there was a palpable sense of creativity and thought behind some of the artistic and musical choices in the set. The addition of a double bass in The Ghost on the Shore added a richness to the song. For Wait by the River, alongside the captivating bass line, Schneider made use of a microphone that added reverb, echoes and other vocal modulations that were reminiscent of a vintage era. Further tying everything together was the expressive use of lighting throughout the gig, which built upon the already spirited enthusiasm of their fans, although the flashing lights went slightly overboard in Ancient Names, Pt 1.
There is a relatable sense of yearning and reflection that is distinguishable through the introspective lyricism of many of Lord Huron’s songs, but particularly those from the band’s second album, Strange Trails. Unsurprisingly, tracks such as Frozen Pines, The World Ender and the platinum-certified The Night We Met were enthusiastically received by the Hammersmith audience. Aided by their unrelenting energy and a visceral chemistry and connection amongst them, Lord Huron’s undoubted love of sharing their music will follow them through the rest of their 2025 tour.
Sunny Morgan
Photos: Virginie Viche
For further information and future events, visit Lord Huron’s website here.
Watch the video for Bag of Bones here:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
RSS