There’s no fear of the sophomore slump as this band takes the stage at 9:30 Club
Fans of the Low Anthem need not fear the band will suffer a sophomore slump when its next album is released later this year.
Low Anthem with Vanderveer
Where: 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW
When: 9 p.m. Thursday
Info: $15; 800-955-5566; 930.com
Sure, the band’s 2009 release “On My God, Charlie Darwin,” has received the warm critical and popular responses that lead some bands into a plateau, yet band co-founder Jeff Prystowsky is anything but worried.
“This will be our third album,” Prystowsky said, noting the band self-released its 2007 “What the Crow Brings.” “Nobody remembers that, so lucky for us.”
Perhaps that’s because the blues/folk band popped out of nowhere to gain critical kudos after “Oh My God, Charlie Darwin” — the band’s Nonesuch Records debut — was released. Critics were rightfully awed by the elegant, intricate stylings of the songs — which were created by the band members, who took turns playing some 27 different instruments including a World War I pump organ.
For a band whose members concede to overthinking their music, it has been particularly prolific especially considering the demanding touring schedule they undertake.
If anything, though, Prystowsky has said the touring has helped the band develop a more cohesive sound than it had in past recordings.
“We have been on the road and touring together so much that our band’s sound is more closely knit than it has ever been,” Prystowsky said. “We have better microphones, better equipment, everything is better than when we recorded ‘Darwin.'”
The new CD was recorded in a large, open factory space that Prystowsky said had a beautiful natural reverberation to it. The band members took advantage of the space to record sounds from 10 feet, 20 feet, 50 feet and even 100 feet before they selected those that were right for each tune.
In addition, the band has brought multi-instrumentalist Matt Davidson in as full member of the band. Davidson began as a guest instrumentalist but his contributions quickly filled a missing link in the band’s sound.
“His approach is not that of a studio musician; he is rooted in bands,” Prystowsky said. “When we were working together it felt great, natural, and the music we were playing sounded good and so we asked if he would play with us. It was really we weren’t hearing something in the sound that we needed him to provide, but what he added immediately contributed to our music. … It really helped us take old songs and make them fresh again.”
