Since their early days playing “itty bitty shows” at New York’s intimate Rockwood Music Hall, The Lone Bellow have developed a reputation as one of the most consistently exhilarating live acts in the Americana scene. Pouring every ounce of themselves into performances that often verge on spiritual, it’s no surprise the band has developed a special place in the hearts of many fans, and at their sold out show at the historic New York folk theatre Town Hall, The Lone Bellow treated the assembled to one of their most exceptional shows to date.
The performance marked the group’s first headlining outing in New York since the release of their third album, last year’s Walk Into a Storm, and while they may have left the city for Nashville back in 2016, there was the unmistakable sense that for both the band and the audience this was a long overdue homecoming. The show’s first hour served to exemplify just how strong the Lone Bellow’s catalog has grown as they burned through a smattering of songs from all three of their albums, including excellent takes on “May You Be Well” and “Marietta,” along with a dusting-off of “Bleeding Out,” a staple of earlier live shows. With the crowd growing more energized with every song, the set developed a natural ebb and flow, navigating the emotional peaks and valleys of the band’s songs with grace. Hopeful mid-tempo sing-alongs “Is It Every Gonna Be Easy” and “Diners” flowed seamlessly together and the group brought things to a crescendo with the joyous stomp of “Feather,” featuring Kanene Pipkin on lead vocals, followed by their regular rave-up “Heaven Don’t Call Me Home.” Then, just 11 songs in, the band left the stage.
As it turned out, they had decided to shake things up with what might be the first 2-set show in their history, and, returning to the Town Hall stage after a short break, The Lone Bellow were greeted by a whole new energy. With the band’s core trio – Pipkin, Zach Williams, and Brian Elmquist – circled around a single microphone at the center of the stage, the room vibrated with eager anticipation; as though each and every person was simply waiting to be leveled as these three musicians did what they do best. That anticipation was soon justified as the hush that fell over the crowd gave way to a string of positively spellbinding renditions of songs like “Two Sides of Lonely” and especially “Call to War,” another Pipkin feature, along with a delightfully melodramatic cover of Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road,” before they stepped to the front of the stage for an off-mic performance of “Come Break My Heart,” a highlight off the last record that shone even brighter stripped down with the three singers’ voices melting around each in stunning harmony.
With the weight of the moment only just beginning to settle the other band members, bassist Jason Pipkin and drummer Julian Dorio, made their way back to the stage and powered the trio through an impassioned closing run that included a electrified “Time’s Always Leaving” (with a guest appearance from actor Marc Menchaca reprising his dancing feature from the song’s video) and spine-tingling sing-alongs on “Tree to Grow” and “You Never Need Nobody.” When the band finally left the stage it was to roaring applause, and you’d be hard-pressed to argue it wasn’t deserved.
It was almost an embarrassment of riches when they returned once more for an encore. Following another unplugged performance – this time of Then Came the Morning tearjerker “Watch Over Us” – Williams took on the role of revivalist preacher; wide-eyed, drenched in sweat, teaching the crowd harmonies, and lifting his arms skyward in a spirited fervor as the band closed things down with a triumphant take on that album’s title track. The Lone Bellow are a New York band, and no matter how far they move from the city they will be welcomed back with open arms, especially if they’re going to keep delivering shows of this caliber every time they return.
