Low looking forward to first Maine gig

Lucky Clark, Sun Journal. September 13, 1996

This very evening — Friday, Sept. 18 — the club known as Bad Habits Live/Zootz (on Forest Avenue right off Congress Street — call [REDACTED] for more information and ticket prices) will host the Maine debut of two Vernon Yard Recording artists; The Godrays and Low.

The latter band — made up of Alan Sparhawk (guitar, vocals, keyboards), Mimi Parker (percussion, vocals) and Zak Sally (bass, keyboards) — hails from Duluth, Minnesota. Founded by Sparhawk and Parker (who first met in the 4th grade and were married six years ago, matter of fact), Low began partly as an experiment in playing low and slow, and partly as a way to annoy alterna-rock audiences in Duluth. Their third and newest album is called “The Curtain Hits The Cast” (the previous two are “I Could Live In Hope” and “Long Division”) is a celebration of what they do best — but how would one label what they do? I mean, it’s atmospheric but I don't want to call it ‘ambient,’ beeause it really isn't.

“Oh no, I mean the word ‘ambient’ has been pretty over- used recently,” Sparhawk agrees, “but I don't know — I think the word ‘minimalism’ would kinda fall in there, and it’s still pop music, as far as I'm concerned.”

I think “minimal pop” is good!

“Yeah, it is,” the guitarist concurs, then tangents self-effacingly, “also slow — boring!”

Oh, no no no — slow, maybe, but not boring! The pace, when I first listened to “The Curtain Falls On The Cast,” I must admit threw me one helluva curve, but the great harmonies — supplied by Sparhawk and his wife Mimi — the subtle intricacies and the sonic tension that swirls just below the surface is very compelling; so, boring? No way, man!

“Oh, that's good. Yeah, it's nice when people are patient enough to be able to roll with that and really listen,” Sparhawk states softly. “I mean, society today moves pretty fast and it's hard to get someone to sit down and listen that closely to anything really nowadays; but when it happens, it's nice; and, ya know, I guess I like to think that the few people that do sit down and do listen, I guess, are the kinda people we're shooting for as far as the people we'd like to hear our music.

“So,” he chuckles dryly, “if you're looking for big thrills, we're pretty much the last band on the list as far as a quick satisfaction — but, I don’t know, everybody’s different.”

The conversation travels around quite a bit, touching on a myriad of different topics, until I come to my traditional last question: Is there anything he wishes to pass on to the readers of this column?

“Oh, I don't know,” Sparhawk declares, pauses, then continues, “I guess; Come with an open mind and come ready to sit down. I mean, the Godrays are kind of a rock band, so it'll be odd: you'll be listening to a rocking, three-piece and then we'll get up and play. It's gonerally a lot quieter and a lot more hushed.

“We're usually pretty easy-going, but a lot of times, the shows really depend on the crowd, ya know,” he continues, “if every- body is there to hang out and yap with their friends, then it's hard for certain subtleties to come across. If people would just sit down and pay attention, it's gonna be a lot better show for the folks who are listening. But, hey!, ya pay five bucks to get into a place, you can do whatever you want, I guess,” Sparhawk chuckles, “but usually it's a lot more fun when everybody’s paying attention.”

Well, I thank the guitarist for this last minute conversation and look forward to seeing him when Low comes to Bad Habits Live/Zootz or Sept. 13th.

“Well, thank you, Lucky," Sparhawk states softly, “we're looking forward to coming to Portland — everybody says it's really beautiful — Maine, in general, is really great from what we hear.”