Photos by Emily Waugh
I started my November off strong, sitting down to listen to the sweet melodies of Lord Huron. Not only was this their first performance at the Kia Forum, but it was also my first time visiting. (For any future Kia Forum attendees: I recommend using third-party parking sites to help you secure a cheaper spot and avoid paying a hefty $60 for the venue’s lot.)
The band opened the show on a desert landscape stage by performing one of their new album’s tracks, “Who Laughs Last?”, which features spoken verses from actress Kristen Stewart. Their set design included a jukebox, vintage TV sets, and an old phone booth that doubled as a microphone that lead singer Ben Schneider periodically sang into. While the band may be comprised of seven members, one detail I noticed was the sheer number of instruments; they had two separate racks stuffed with about 20 different guitars, as well as a violin, lap steel, and an upright bass on stage with them — an ode to the careful intention behind their unique sound.
As they moved through their set, Lord Huron played many of my recent favorites from The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1, including “Looking Back,” “Bag of Bones,” and the upbeat “Watch Me Go,” as well as touching on some of their older hits, such as the classic “Ends of the Earth” and “Wait By the River.” I must acknowledge Schneider’s talent as a singer. I was especially impressed by his vocals on “The Ghost On The Shore,” as well as his ability to seamlessly transition from guitar to piano while simultaneously engaging with the crowd.
Lord Huron’s performance was more than just a concert — the show featured a dance component as the band was intermittently joined by two dancers who portrayed a story of growing love alongside songs like “Long Lost” and “I Lied.” About halfway through the concert, Schneider took a moment in between songs to address the audience on the importance of longer projects and the rarity of albums in the current music industry. As he recognized, with the growing dependence on social media platforms, attention spans are shortening, which results in shorter songs. He touched on his refreshing preference for older listening formats, specifically vinyl, admitting, “I like that crackle; it warms the heart.” I appreciate the band’s perspective, emphasizing the beauty of an album as a whole. Schneider hinted that when listening to the new project front to back, “New meanings reveal themselves.”
For my favorite album, Strange Trails, one more set change illuminated the stage in a new way. Vines wrapped around string lights descended from the ceiling, lighting up the stage for some of their most well-known songs: “Meet Me in the Woods,” “La Belle Fleur Savage,” and the one I was most looking forward to, “The Night We Met,” which did not disappoint. The dancers returned, swaying to the nostalgic, ear-catching harmonies that brought me back to fond memories of hearing the band for the first time.
It’s hard to believe they ended up playing over two hours — I was shocked to check the time during the encore and realize just how much time had passed. It’s safe to say they kept me well entertained. After much cheering and a sea of flashlights lighting up the stage, Lord Huron came back to generously perform four more songs, one of which was the catchy and most popular song from The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1, “Nothing I Need,” before ultimately bidding the crowd farewell for the night.
As I was exiting the venue, surrounded by a herd of fans, I reflected on the range of music contained in Lord Huron’s discography. Even after everything I saw, I was still wishing for more time with them, recalling some favorites that weren’t featured in the night’s setlist, like “Love Like Ghosts,” “Is There Anybody Out There,” and “Fool for Love.” While bittersweet, the slight sadness associated with wanting to hear more live is always an indication of a great band.
Listen to The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1 here!
