Low vs. Diamond: Story Songs

June 5, 2009 // The Paramount Theater // Denver, CO

Okay, fine. Low vs. Diamond is a little more “on” the beaten path than we typically traverse here at American Indie- but it is good fun to meander from time to time. Also, I love this band. Seriously, I have listened to their album an embarrassing number of times, and I feel like I find new depths with each listen. Low vs. Diamond is an album that is incredibly easy to listen to but there’s something else there. The songs are more than just catchy; they have substance. 

Last year, Low vs. Diamond was named by Rolling Stone as one of 2008′s “Artists To Watch”. The band has been touring extensively with a variety of acts. I caught them opening for Third Eye Blind (who are apparently big fans of the band) at The Paramount Theater in Denver. 

Low vs. Diamond began their set with Heart Attack, one of my favorite songs on the album. This track really jumps out and sticks with you. The track begins with a driving beat and bold electric guitar then proceeds into a more melodic chorus with an intense, layered bridge. The lyrics are thought provoking and relatable (Pretty people standing by / we blame we pretend / and we try and act surprised / as we watch the world end). Also, I never watch music videos anymore, but I was absolutely mesmerized by the one for this track. Another of my most loved tracks, Wasted, was also a highlight. This song carries a simple, grungy guitar line with Field’s clear voice then adds in stacked harmonies and instrumentals through the song. It came out rawer in the live show, which added to the experience.

Overall, the audience started out a little apprehensive, but then, in small groups, they began to get into the show. A few songs in, I noticed more and more people standing. Three of the five members of the band attended The University of Colorado at Boulder and there was plenty of support from the crowd there. Audience members cheered at the mention of the school and some came in CU gear. A few songs further in, I noticed more and more people standing. Toward the end of their set, front man Lucas Field asked everyone to stand and they did. The gig ended with the dynamic Don’t Forget Sister. This tune is a gritty rock anthem and is a live show staple for the band. I can’t imagine someone not being moved to stand for this song.

The show was well played and a lot of fun. I’ll definitely be attending the next time they come through the area. Make sure you give this band a listen.

I met up with Lucas Field after their set. He recognized me as the “one with the cool Travis shirt taking pictures” from the audience. [FYI if you're ever looking for me at a show, I'm always the one wearing a cool band shirt and taking pictures.] It was a pleasant night so we walked over to Sixteenth Street, discussing Travis, and found a vacant bench. I felt instantly at ease with Field. He is charismatic, kind, and sincere. His devotion to his wife, Annie, is adorable.

How would you describe your music?
People always describe our music differently than what I think, so I don’t know if my description is right anymore.

I’m curious about what it is to you.
When I write the music, I think our music is like- and I mean this in all positive ways- melancholy, pop-y, movie soundtrack music. The more I listen to it, the more I think I must have been inspired by movie scenes. It is all like, that dramatic scene here, or that dramatic moment. I feel like when we got signed and they asked, “What song do you want to put on the radio?” I don’t really know which songs are on the radio for us because I see it more like, “Oh that would be a good scene in a Nike commercial, someone running…” I think the lyrics have more potency than other pop bands. Story songs.

What was the motivation behind self-titling your album?
I think I just didn’t have a good title. I thought, “Our band name is confusing enough for people.” I was considering naming it People (but that’s a Barbara Streisand album), because I did write all the songs about people. I thought, “Why don’t we just call it People? Why don’t we just name our band People?” Then I was like, no, that’s weird, so just forget it, call it Low vs. Diamond.

What is your favorite track off the album and why?
It’s hard for me. I like them each differently. I have a favorite song that I want to play for someone, then I have a favorite song that I want to listen to. My favorite song to play people is Don’t Forget Sister. I just think it turned out the best. I think it just resonates with people. It is fun to show people something like that. But I think my favorite song…that’s a hard question, because it’s like, do you think the song that people like the most or the song that you like the most? I like the song Actions Are Actions. I think that’s my favorite. Or maybe Annie.

You guys have gotten a lot of attention from Rolling Stone, iTunes, and the like. How does that feel?
It feels like it doesn’t do as much as you would think it would do. I mean, I’m flattered. Hopefully that gave us some confidence to say, “Look, just because we’re not all over the place and everybody doesn’t know who we are, it’s ok because somebody did hear us. Somebody did like it. And someone who has some sort of credibility.” So I think it gave me the confidence to say, “Let’s just tour this record, see how it does, and then make another record.” Because obviously we did something right.

How do you feel about being compared to other bands?
I don’t care. I’ve been alive too long to know that’s obvious. I didn’t think I wrote some new form of music. I just thought that what we do is write a lot of good songs. I couldn’t care less who they compare us to. I just think what they should see about us is that it’s not just a one song album. I really put a lot of thought into every song. The comparisons…I just don’t see some of them. Maybe I do because it’s dramatic. We haven’t even talked about who [Coldplay and The Killers, for the record], but my voice doesn’t sound like who they say we sound like. It’s not British and it doesn’t sound like Brandon Flowers, so I don’t see how we sound like them. It’s funny, I just sort of sound like a stoner from the west coast, singing over this stuff, growling sometimes.

What is the best part of playing a live show for you?
Tonight it was when the whole crowd stood up. That was pretty amazing. We’re a new band for them. They don’t know who we are. It seemed like fifty people knew us. The most exciting is part is if I feel like I can connect. If I already know the crowd, like if we play Los Angeles, then I want everybody’s energy to be one and to be freaking out because it was such a good night.

Tell me about some of your favorite music.
I really like lots of different music. If you were to go through my records, you’d probably see a huge amount of songwriters from the seventies; French, American, and English. They inspire me, but I think my middle school years got me to want to play heavier. I would say I would be a good DJ because my music is all over the place. I don’t think I have many contemporary things. Like, you won’t find me listening to Travis or Coldplay. If my Annie puts on Travis, I’ll be like, “Oh I like it”. But I find myself thinking, “I want to hear this Bowie album”.

What do you do with your time when it isn’t music?
That’s when I realized I was doing the right thing, because Annie was talking to me one weekend and I was working on music. She said, “It’s your weekend” and I said, “This is what I want to be doing”. You know how a lot of people golf or whatever? I feel like I would write. I just really like doing it. I like coming up with little connector parts and little melodies that give you little tingles. I really love to make music. I don’t always love to finish songs, but I really love the idea of a blank canvas and trying to do something that’s original or makes me feel good.

How do you feel about illegal downloading?
I don’t care about it. In my perfect world, everyone would just buy vinyl and they would only have one picture to look at. It would be the best angle of me ever. They would never know anything. They would just come see the show. But that time has passed and at this point, you’ve got to put on a live show…I think your music is promotional and your live show is pay to get in. I don’t think selling records has anything to do with playing anymore. If you’re a truly good artist, you’re going to tour and put time in. With all these commercials and movies and stuff, there’s other ways to earn your living. Sure, I wish I could sell records, I wish people just bought records, but it’s just not realistic these days. It’s just impossible. If you’re a good band, people are going to buy your songs, overall, eventually. Just not that many. No one needs that many. Nobody needed to be as rich as they got. People just need to be chill and have a good life.

What is next for you guys?
Well, Low vs. Diamond is going to make another record, probably in September. I’ve been writing a lot. I feel like the band wants the next record to be a little less polished. I can feel that from their energy. With the first record, you get in there, and I had my songs written, but I didn’t know exactly how to record. I knew what I wanted. So we recorded and I think the label wanted it to be a polished sound. We’re not as polished, I don’t think, live. We’re not as light as the record, we’re heavier. So, probably put a little of that into the next record. I may end up doing some producing. I don’t know, I think it will be grittier, but not in the way you think. Not in the way where you don’t want to listen to it because it’s too much. I love melody too much to abandon that. Just look for more vibey-ness. It’ll be interesting. Don’t Forget Sister was the last song that we recorded and it’s one the grimy-est songs, but that’s what we want to sound like anyway. I think that’s what it will be like.

Find Low vs. Diamond at:
lowvsdiamond.com
MySpace

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