Root Down in the Shadow

I got the email recently from the Low Anthem fan list with their big news (amongst a whole bunch of great tour news) that 'Boeing 737' has now seen it's video release. The video/article can be caught at Spin.com commemorating the release, including all the details about creating the video. While sitting and trying to understand the song, I've been watching the "making of" video, recorded at the Pasta Sauce Factory, where Smart Flesh was made.  I find two themes in the song. The first being a hazy look back @ the terrorist attacks of 9-11. Whether it was meant or not, especially since the only 737 involved was one that nearly ran into a 767(one of two) that did fell the towers; imagery of those events are created. Past attempts from other bands thought back to what they were doing, what they felt or where they were. To me, the Low Anthem entry looks at the second theme more prominently.  Looking at the intended step down from the peace keepers side,...

Daniel Lefkowitz is a talented singer songwriter, who once upon a time was in an early version of the Low Anthem .  'This God Damn House' which he wrote endures as one of the best Low Anthem tracks to date.  Last year he got together with former Low Anthem mates Jeff Prystowsky and Ben Knox Miller to produce Wilder Shores of Love , his debut album.  After officially returning to Virginia, Dan Lefkowitz went out on tour in late February and early March with The Low Anthem and band Bobby . Dan McGurk of mcgurkmusic had a chance to meet Dan Lefkowitz at the Philadelphia First Unitarian Church 2-25 show, and later exchange some Questions & Answers. MM (mcgurkmusic: You’ve had a hiatus, before returning to the music scene. How long have some of these songs been percolating? What’s the oldest song on the album? DL (Daniel Lefkowitz): Most were written about a year ago, as I started to conceive of the album. For the most part they formed together. Th...

Tomorrow night, at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia, I will be meeting up with an old friend and watching a band I have really come to enjoy.  The Low Anthem is the headline act, following a band named Bobby and former The Low Anthem band mate Daniel Lefkowitz as a solo act. I came to first listen to The Low Anthem , based on a recommendation from my near & dear friend.   I had started listening to their major debut What the Crow Bring s while exploring the now defunct lala.com site.  At the time it was nothing more than background music for me.   That's no slam against their music as,at the time, it was mostly lighter breathy tracks, such as 'Yellowed By The Sun' with electric guitar and harmonica being featured.  'The Ballad of Broken Bones' is a quintessential Low Anthem track, with lyrics that stick, melodic pump organ, and one of the coolest uses of technology with cell phones echoing Ben Knox Miller's whistling.   ...