Live from the Kimmel Center Plaza and
Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts

This Month, XPN Free At Noon is On The Road
Live from the Kimmel Center Plaza and PIFA

From hipsters to housewives, there is something universally appealing about The Low Anthem's traditional ly rooted yet innovative style. The Rhode Island-based group's organic, sincere and markedly pleasant tunes have landed them as the quintessential Americana group of the year. Their sound is highly distinguishable, with husky vocals and poetically crafted lyrics supported by a foundation of rich harmonies, heavy blues guitar, upright bass, drums and clarinet. Citing Tom Waits, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan as their main influences, The Low Anthem produce their folksy, layered sound with a tenacity for the natural--they have been known to forego PA systems and amplification in order to blend with their surroundings. "If there's a new definition of Americana, The Low Anthem have created it" (Bruce Warren- XPN).

Since the release of The Low Anthem's first self-titled album, they have undergone many positive changes, incorporating a growing dose of raw minimalist rock sound. The new edge was a great feature on their third and critically acclaimed record, "Oh My god, Charlie Darwin," an album that captured the deapth and beauty of folk Americana. Now, the follow up to Oh My God, Charlie Darwin shakes off some of thir their past wimsy and taps into something that is much more visceral and melancholic. Aptly called "Smart Flesh," the recent release sounds humanly organic, though as it treads on misty layers of sound that in turn sound moodily haunting, it is evident that they use their words and their music to dig deeper than anything superficially skin deep.

This is a band that must be experienced, here's your opportunity to catch them live!

The Low Anthem is on tour in support of their new album Smart Flesh. They play the Electric Factory in Philly with Iron & Wine On Thursday, April 21, and will play Live Friday Free At Noon from the Commonwealth Plaza at the Kimmel Center, as part of Philadelphia International Festival Of The Arts on April 22.