It was only a month or so ago that I first heard the music of Los Angeles-based indie folk band Lord Huron when I stumbled upon one of its songs ("The Night We Met") on a Spotify playlist. Admittedly, I'm late to the game in discovering this incredibly talented band, with Lord Huron having already attracted a large, dedicated and steadily growing fanbase that's been enamored of its immersive album releases and captivating music videos. Since that chance listen, I've been a bit obsessed with catching up with the band's back catalog. The more I listen, the more I'm drawn into Lord Huron's ultra-smooth, big sky, Western/cowboy soundscape.
Lord Huron recently released its single, "Not Dead Yet," the first new music from the band in approximately three years. This upbeat, 50's-sounding, toe-tapping number feels like a road trip rolling through the wide open American Southwest, with beaming sun and warm desert winds blowing dust on your face. Just one listen to the engaging chorus in "Not Dead Yet" will have you singing along.
"You got holes in your clothes
And booze on your breath
You look like hell
And you smell like death
Oh, oh, oh"
Founded back in 2010 in Lansing, Michigan by singer-songwriter Ben Schneider, Lord Huron expanded to include members Mark Barry, Miguel Briseño, and Tom Renaud with the release of Lonesome Dreams (2012), the band's debut album. Strange Trails (2015) and Vide Noir (2017) followed, with a large number of the band's songs having been featured on various televisions shows, series and commercials. In fact, "The Night We Met" was featured in the Netflix TV series, 13 Reasons Why.
The official music video for "Not Dead Yet" presents a black & white, old-time TV performance of the song. The blurred-out/smoky faces of the band members eventually give way to full-color, undistorted glimpses of the band. We are also introduced to Mr. Tubbs Tarbell at the end of the video, and are sent off with his eerie, parting mantra: "May you live until you die!"
In late 2020, Lord Huron announced a series of live-streamed performances entitled Alive From Whispering Pines, with the first two installments having already aired January 7 and February 18. Two additional, upcoming performances are listed (March 18, April 15). Having watched the first two, I'd highly recommend Alive From Whispering Pines as a great way to take in the band's music, with new material and alternate versions of Lord Huron songs featured throughout. You'll also get to know Tubbs Tarbell a little better and have the opportunity to submit questions (for Tubbs) and song requests for future performances. Information about tickets and season passes for the Alive From Whispering Pines series can be found on Lord Huron's official website.
For more information about Lord Huron, visit the band's official website, follow on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube), and find their music on SoundCloud, Spotify, and Apple Music.