Easygoing Low picks up the tempo

Kimberly Jahnke, Pioneer Press. November 22, 2002

Judging by the tortoise-like pace of their music, you would think Low has all the time in the world.

But the band is quite busy, with a weekly itinerary crisscrossing the country, playing multiple concerts a week and prepping for an international tour -- all with a toddler in tow (more on that later).

The alt-rock Duluth trio -- Alan Sparhawk, Mimi Parker and Zak Sally -- has been on the road to promote their sixth studio album, "Trust." They will wrap up their 35-show tour Saturday in Minneapolis.

Sunday, the band heads overseas for a three-week European stint. They will return home just before Christmas and take a month off before heading back to Europe, this time for a short romp through the United Kingdom.

It has been awhile since the members of Low stopped to rest. They have toured most of this year, and a two-month break over the summer was filled with independent ventures.

Guitarist and vocalist Sparhawk was busy operating his record label, Chairkickers, and leading another band, the Black-Eyed Snakes, who toured last summer. Bassist Sally joined the rotating lineup of Minneapolis band Kid Dakota. And percussionist Parker spent quality time "hanging out" with Hollis, the aforementioned toddler, her daughter with husband Sparhawk.

The band has been on the road since early September, and so has Hollis. At 2 1/2, she already is a touring veteran. For the most part, she enjoys life on the road. And now that she has learned to talk, she lets her parents know when the enjoyment stops.

"Sometimes, she says she wants to go home," says Parker. "And I don't blame her, really. But I know she would rather be with us than anywhere else, and I am really glad we can bring her."

Parker wrote songs about Hollis for the group's 2001 album, "Things We Lost in the Fire," resulting in a brighter, more positive tone. It was that album that elevated Low from the realm of underground rock into the mainstream.

"Trust" brings Low back to its roots. The music is slow, simple and depressing -- think Radiohead minus the depth and British accents. They embrace a "less is more" mantra, using every sound and exploiting its absence. It's a style that creates a dissonant mix of captivation and unease. "Trust" has earned the acclaim of many a music critic.

Despite its successes, Low does not project the typical rock group image. They remain remarkably genuine and unassuming and still think and act like three humble folks from northern Minnesota.

At a recent party in Los Angeles, Parker said she and her bandmates rubbed elbows with celebrities. "But we didn't know who they were. We recognized their faces, but we didn't know their names."