Low’s performance at the Carling Academy in Birmingham on Saturday was absolutely stunning. I’ve been a fan for about five years but their tours have always corresponded with times of hardship so seeing them live for the first time was such a treat.
Unfortunately we just missed the original line-up, their bassist Zak, left last summer, but it didn’t matter too much, the new bassist seemed to know his stuff and I was just grateful to have the opportunity to see them at all. Especially after a tour was cancelled last year, Alan had made an extremely moving announcement on the Low forum explaining that his poor mental health at the time would make touring too big a strain on everyone involved. At this point I really thought I’d missed my chance so I was delighted when they announced this tour, this time there was no messing around and a ticket was purchased immediately, and happily for only £8.00!
Anyway, finally Saturday arrived and Mick and I took our selves off to Birmingham booked into a cheap hotel, did a spot of shopping at The Custard Factory, ate some manky sandwiches, then sat impatiently waiting for 7o’clock to arrive.
The academy is a nice sized venue, the gig took place in the upstairs bar so it was quite intimate and the sound was great.
I spent the entire gig completely entranced, absolutely spellbound. Alan’s gentle manipulation of his guitar produces the most extraordinary sounds, moving from minimalist heart rendering drones and riffs to full on power chords in one quick step of a pedal. And he sings with such honesty in his voice. Meanwhile Mimi’s seemingly effortless harmonies are astoundingly beautiful and are accompanied by her sombre pounding on the drums. You can feel there music resonating deep, deep within and more than once my eyes filled with the astonishing beauty of it all.
After the gig, being a little fired-up as one gets after a truly inspired gig, I very nearly got into a fight with a bouncer . The moment the gig ended the staff practically pounced on the crowd with an eye to throwing everyone out quickly so they could start their club night. Usually in venues the crowd watching the band are allowed to stay on, but not here. When I wasn’t even allowed to wait inside the Venue while Mick was in the toilet and was turfed out onto the street, Mickless, by a very unreasonable and smug bouncer I very almost challenged him to fisty cuffs. Obviously, being 5ft and female, it wouldn’t have been a great idea but I was absolutely fuming. Luckily outside we met a very friendly couple who were looking for a club that I’d seen earlier in the day, so we decided to go along with them and this somewhat took my mind off things. We ended up in a bar called Bacchus that was themed in the vein of the Greek/Roman God, quite a pleasant establishment ( I was just impressed by the paganess and the lack of thugs.) We discovered our new found friends are also going to the Green Man Festival so we made some vague arrangements to meet up there for Gin and Bitter Lemon, then went back to the hotel.
Sunday was Beltane, and after arriving home, feeling a little depressed because it was all over we decided we had to cheer up somehow. I’ve made a pact with myself to celebrate or at least acknowledge all the pagan sabbats and Beltane is a very important one. So we decided to have a private quiet disco, quiet because we live in a flat with paper walls and private because it was just me and Mick. We had a great night dancing our socks off and neither of us could work out why we’d never done it before! I advise you all to try it.
Anyway, enough of this rambling. Happy Beltane to you and yours! (apologies for being a little late with it, yesterday we thought our internet was down all day only to find out last night that the lead had fallen out the back of the computer. Doh!)

Photos by Mick
top; Alan Sparhawk from Low at the Academy on Saturday
below; Me, having a psychedelic moment at the quiet disco on our living room.