Now, Now w/ The Lonely Forest review – Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis 04/17/13

THE LONELY FOREST

The Lonely Forest lead, John Van Deusen, only lived in Edina for the first year of his life before moving west, eventually forming the band in Anacortes, WA in 2005, while Now, Now stayed local to Minnesota, starting in nearby Blaine in 2003. Both bands are now signed to Death Cab for Cutie guitarist Chris Walla’s Trans Records, with the label recently re-releasing Lonely Forest’s older efforts as well, so it made sense that these label-mates embark on a Spring co-headlining tour.



Both acts played under the sparest of lighting color; a dim red- which heightened the ethereal low-fi mood of the music (for better or worse). The Lonely Forest’s guitar pop with prog undertones were generally well-received and familiar with many (as they’ve played in town often) and the four-piece treated the fans to a variety of songs from their 8-year history as well as a more-than-generous helping of brand new songs from their upcoming Trans release, not due out until late August. Highlights included ‘Coyote’, ‘Two Pink Pills’ and ‘We Sing in Time’, the set concentrating mostly on songs from their last effort, Arrows (Trans, ILG), and the new, yet-to-be-released tunes.

Now, Now (formerly Now, Now Every Children) took the stage next to an elated hometown crowd of family, friends, and fans. Drummer Brad Hale almost lost the crowd early in the set though, commenting, “it’s great to not play here for a while…” but then finished with “…but then come back home and get this kind of crowd…!” which brought applause, Hale realizing the elation he and the band were feeling was a bit difficult to put into words. Once settled, their 60 min. set came off as mostly casual and familial – the running joke being about tech/roadie Kevin getting called out every time he rushed on-stage for an instrument change, with all band members – Cacie Dalager (vocals, guitar, keybd/bells), Hale (drums, backing voc.), and Jess Abbott (guitar, vocals, bells) – quipping about re-naming the band ‘Kevin’, calling the new album ‘Kevin’, etc.



Songs included the opening ‘Prehistoric’, ‘Oh.Hi’, ‘Lucie, Too’, ‘Neighbors’, and ‘Roommates’, the latter two appearing on their Record Store Day limited vinyl release of Neighbors, out this Saturday. While some older songs were played, I’d read that the band limits them somewhat, due to being down to a three-piece and the playlist did center more on the recent, including several from its latest full-length, Threads (Trans), released last year.



The biggest response of the evening was the set-closing ‘Thread’, about something being painfully out of reach, which remains in rotation on local radio, was performed on Jimmy Fallon last fall, and is the beat-driven centerpiece of the new record. Lower end/bass were too high in the mix for most of the set, but many in the crowd didn’t care, knowing all the words anyway. With this homecoming show, things that were once out of reach for Now, Now, seem much closer and attainable …and Edina can claim two more notable as their own.