Lord Huron leads Nashville into new album with Lee Fields

Friday night in Nashville marked another first for me this year: it was my first time shooting at the latest and greatest venue in town — The Pinnacle. The Pinnacle is a 2,500-person venue that was recently constructed in the heart of downtown Nashville. While the concert house has already hosted many big shows this year, I hadn’t been able to attend any until this night. And what a night to start with! I finally was seeing a band I’ve waited years to see live — indie folk-rock masters, Lord Huron.

My first impression of The Pinnacle was that it reminded me of ACL Live in Austin, Texas. It features a balcony with seating, as well as a spacious general admission floor. My only complaint about the venue? A single beer cost $18 dollars, which, in my opinion, is outrageous price gouging. Still, with my ‘almost’ $20 beer in hand, the evening of music began with me waiting in the photo pit for the first act.

Opening for Lord Huron was soul legend Lee Fields.

At 74 years old, Fields moved around the stage with the energy and grace of someone half his age. I imagine seeing him live must be close to what it was like seeing Otis Redding in his prime; Lee seamlessly alternated between smooth, soulful vocals and raw, James Brown-style yells. He was incredible and I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to witness his performance. He wore a white jacket that sparkled and he seemed to be having so much fun playing in front of such a large crowd. 

Lord Huron is a band I’ve been deeply obsessed with for the past decade… I’ve unfortunately missed every chance to catch one of their shows to date. Fortunately, the stars had finally aligned just as the band released their latest album, The Cosmic Selector Vol 1., as of last week. While I haven’t had a chance to fully dive into the record, Lord Huron performed several singles from it and, based on what I heard, it’s excellent. A standout track from the album would have to be “Bag of Bones”, which they played second.

Lord Huron walks the line between indie folk and something far more expansive.

Their sound has a haunting beauty and emotional depth that sets them apart from typical folk acts. Their performance Friday night was, without exaggeration, one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen. I felt a rush of emotions throughout their set, especially during their hit single “I Lied”. That song always hits home for me, stirring up memories of past relationships. I’ve always felt Lord Huron has a rare gift for conveying complex emotions through their lyrics… I dare you to listen to that song without feeling something.

What I loved most about this particular concert was the theatrical elements blended in. During a few breaks in between songs, a couple was shown slowly dancing together in various parts of the venue. Also there was an old pay phone onstage, which also used a microphone during a few of their songs. I am not sure if I fully understood the exact story the band was trying to tell, but the visuals they added made the performance so much more than just music. I would rate this show a massive 10/10 and highly recommend catching Lord Huron if they come to your city!

Photography by Derek Jones

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