TETON VALLEY, Ida. — This Thursday, Teton Valley is in for yet another musical treat. On July 22, Brooklyn- based, The Lone Bellow head to the Music on Main stage. Armed with an artistic triumph of a new album and their impressive harmonic sounds, they are sure to delight. One Ton Pig opens the evening at 6 p.m., be sure to arrive early!
Half Moon Light, released this past May, just recently claimed the number one spot on the Americana Music Association Album Charts, and single “Dried Up River” took the number one single spot.
“I want it to bring comfort,” said The Lone Bellow guitarist Brian Elmquist. “But it’s not all hard conversations. There’s a lot of light and some dancing that needs to happen.”
The trio, made up of Brian, lead vocalist Zach Williams and multi-instrumentalist Kanene Donehey Pipkin are known for their earthy three-part harmonies and songwriting as provocative as it is honest, creating sparks that bring a sense of childlike wonder roaring back in their Americana style sounds.
NPR celebrated the group for their “beautiful tapestry of harmonies,” a sound that is woven throughout the entirety of the new album. On Half Moon Light, The Lone Bellow mix light and dark to muster a complex ode to memory, a call for hope, and an exercise in empathy. Anchored in the acoustic storytelling that first so endeared the band to fans and critics, Half Moon Light also takes more chances, experimenting with textures and instrumental fillips to create a full-bodied music experience. The result is The Lone Bellow’s most sophisticated work to date.
“We try to invite as many people into the process to see what we can make together,” Brian said. “I like that spirit and that freedom. Then, the songs speak for themselves.”
That wholehearted embrace of collaboration defines Half Moon Light. The record marks a return to recording in New York with Aaron Dessner, whom the band counts as both a hero and a friend. Wonder—feeling it, losing it, finding it again—underpins the entire record. Pulsing with the trio’s signature harmonies, the track “Wonder” is a loving call to reclaim the childlike awe and appreciation age takes away. Jubilant “I Can Feel You Dancing” rolls into a cathartic celebration. The song pays tribute to “lionhearted” free spirits with horns and soaring vocals.
Get ready for a magical evening of incredible songwriter prowess and striking vocals from a group that’s sure to ignite.
For more information about Teton Valley Foundation‘s Music on Main’s 2021 lineup click here.
