Low

The band that best exemplifies the subgenre "slowcore" in most people's books, Low has had a long and rather storied career since their inception in 1993. The decidedly mellow, ambient nature of their sound has always made their live shows fascinating experiences — they have been known to turn their volume down onstage, to slow songs to a sputtering crawl, to invite audiences to sit (on the floor! of a rock club!), and to generally test the patience of a hyped-up rock'n'roll scene. It's both a testament to the power of their songwriting and performance and a statement on how hungrily we crave such refusals to play by established conventions that Low have remained a hot ticket for 20 years. During their powerfully dreamy set, Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker's signature harmonies floated around the crowded tavern while audience members swayed lazily, seeming to be stoned on the fuzzy guitars, the languid pacing. It was a real treat to see them in a venue like the Horseshoe.