By: Matthew Burke
With more than 40 shows across the map reaching as far as France, Lord Huron, the LA-based quintet payed a visit to San Diego in support of their recent album, Strange Trails, with Family of the Year prepping the night with an earthy and mellow vibe.
With generous rain fall and flash-flood warnings, the stormy night casted a certain electricity into the air. As everyone took shelter into the old North Park Theatre, Lord Huron delivered the same feeling of electric shock by starting off the set with a beam of light illuminating an old fashioned radio that introduced the show. The bands southern indie-folk flare consisted of an arrangement of keys, harmonicas, dueling acoustic/electric guitars, spine gripping percussion and bass that kept the crowd engaged. The band was dressed to the 9’s and performed with enthusiasm. Lead singer, Ben Schneider, carried himself as if a relative to the late Elvis Presley, bobbing and weaving with charisma, while playing mostly tunes from the their new album Strange Trails. With transitions of sounds of pouring rain, guitar feedback, and romantic moon-like lighting, it gave the feeling of being lost in a mysterious forest. Continuing the darker sound, mid-way through their set, Miguel Briseño (bass and keys) gave some love to the Etherwave-theremin (a nifty hand frequency instrument developed in 1920) which sent goose bumps through the crowd.
As the rainy night drew to an end, Lord Huron gave their last hurrah with an encore, performing “Time to Run” from their 2012 album, Lonesome Dreams. Concluding just a few minutes before midnight, the show didn’t feel lengthy or dragged out, leaving the crowd lusting for more, but also with a feeling of satisfaction.