Photos and Review by Stephen Bloch
Lord Huron’s current Cosmic Selector Tour rolled into Milwaukee’s historic Miller High Life Theatre on July 23, and it was nothing short of magical. It’s been close to ten years since I saw them last and a LOT has changed. The sound of their music has become a blend of storytelling with acoustic elements of folk music and the energy and instrumentation of rock. Their music has vivid imagery and a sense of adventure. There are acts out there that evoke what I often describe as the sound you want to hear when driving through the Arizona or California desert in a rusty old Caddy convertible in the middle of summer. An urban cowboy who just needs time to think without distraction would be right at home in this scenario. They skillfully incorporate elements from various genres, including western, surf rock, and even psychedelic sounds. creating a distinctive and appealing sound. Soul crooner Lee Fields and the Expressions opened the show with a powerhouse set.
For this tour, the video, stage and lighting production are something I have not seen from them or frankly from any other band. Think rock opera meets ballet, meets jamband show. There was a subtle Western‑folk aesthetic—think illuminated cacti, warm amber lighting and shimmering heat waves mixed with dancers acting out scenes from old-timey movies and black and white movie clips. A lot of thought has gone into this show. Because of the high level of production, their setlists are not varying, which is completely ok, given the product.
Their setlist leaned heavily on their exceptional new release The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1 but material from their whole catalog was represented. This is a band that appeals to a very broad group. There were 50 year olds on date night (ok, I’m closer to 60 than 50 and my wife nudges a bit higher), early 20’s women who knew every word to every song, young families with their children, and everything in between.
Lord Huron has something for everyone and I doubt anyone would walk away from one of their shows on this tour thinking they didn’t get their money’s worth. Lord Huron has become a very special band doing very special things. They are a thinking man’s indie rock/folk act that shouldn’t be missed.
