Low
Low in concerto a Bologna: 20 ottobre 2015, Teatro Antoniano

October 13th.

A friend of mine goes, "Hey, did you know the Low are playing at the theater on the 20th in Bologna?”

I (still dazed from that sometimes impenetrable brick that is the latest studio work by Gira and co.) didn’t think much about it and almost rudely replied that the American trio would surely only play songs from their latest albums (which, to be fair, are worthy albums, but I had other concerts in mind).

However, upon reflection, I remembered that I hadn’t even touched a track from their new work.

And so, I approached it with the necessary interest but not the necessary expectations (since the Low I so loved are the ones up to the late '90s; the rest are good albums but didn’t capture me like any Long Division).

Despite this, I really liked the first track Gentle and decided to delve into the album with more attention. Well, guys, without dragging it out, I started listening to the album every day, increasingly fascinated by the electronic experiments that the Low have poured into this latest effort, and I adore it and love it.

October 20th, the big day is almost here, and you can't imagine the joy I carried in my heart knowing I was going to attend a Low concert at a theater (a place, by the way, magnificent and with practically impeccable acoustics).

A duo of guitars and voices opens— not bad, but the sweet notes of the Low kept swirling in my head.

The trio takes the stage.

Moments of silence and it begins...

As expected, Sparhawk and the gang start with the splendid Gentle. And already, powerful emotions; Parker's sweet voice delights and embraces the whole theater with infinite sweetness and warmth.

Applause, moments of silence again, and it continues with No comprende.

More magic, the Low are impeccable, they play like gods, and it almost seems like listening to their CD for how faithful and precise they are.

The magic had just begun, and here they switch albums, moving to The Great Destroyer, and the Low gift us one of the two tracks that will literally make the Antoniano vibrate thanks to their sudden bursts of violence that cannot but remind one of Shoegaze and their pioneers MBV.

After performing Monkey, that concert took on a different shape for me, and I find it difficult to find the right words to describe the emotions I was experiencing. I only know that my ears hadn't screamed with joy like that since this summer's Slowdive concert.

They continue with other tracks from Ones and Sixes and The Invisible Way, then reach another concert high point, and here comes On my Own.

The Low create an incredible wall of sound that seems never to end, my ears are pleasantly pierced by that sound, I perfectly immerse myself in the mood, and feel those notes as if they had always been part of me, surely one of the best live experiences I’ve ever had.

But the magic had only just begun, and here comes my favorite track from their latest work: Spanish Translation is of an indescribable sweetness and I am moved, those gaps and silences enchant the Antoniano and leave everyone speechless.

They continue with other tracks from their latest work and other albums like Secret Name, Things We Lost in the Fire, and The Great Destroyer (a special mention to Lies, which stands out as one of the concert peaks thanks to Mimi’s magnificent voice and the delicate electronic carpet that Garrington creates).

We are now at the end of the concert, and the Low pretend they have finished, but here they are back after a few seconds.

Alan mumbles a few words into the microphone, announcing that the song we are about to hear comes from a very old album.

My heart starts beating fast... everyone knows what Alan is talking about and everyone awaits it anxiously.

Here it is, right in front of me, and I can’t believe it... it’s Words.

And I don’t think there’s anything else to add, only those who know I Could Live in Hope can understand the joy we, the audience, were feeling.

The Low were magnificent, impeccable, and therapeutic.

All night in bed, I did nothing but stare into the darkness losing myself in their magical worlds and thinking about the wonderful event I had just witnessed.