Photos by Steve Carlson // Written by Molly Kish //
Lord Huron with Family of the Year //
Fox Theater Oakland – Oakland
May 15th, 2015 //
Lord Huron took the stage at the Fox Theater Oakland last Friday night, capping off the final Northern California date of their 2015 U.S. tour. The Los Angeles-based foursome rounded out its tour on the West Coast with support from fellow Southern California folk outfit Family of the Year. Leading in to their debut on “Conan” a few days later, the boys offered their sun-kissed folk to a sold-out crowd, playing what drummer Mark Barry referred to post-show “as one of their largest theater performances to date.”
Evolving both in group dynamics and songwriting styles over the past five years, Lord Huron touched upon their history as a band at the Fox. Playing tracks off both their first full length Lonesome Dreams and newly released sophomore effort Strange Trails, lead vocalist Ben Schneider had the packed venue enamored with his onstage presence and stage banter between songs. The band had more of a polished look and sound than its previous trips to the Bay Area for Outside Lands 2011 and Noise Pop 2014, and it finally feels as if Lord Huron have come into their own both individually and collectively. All four members bring their own personal flare to the performance without overshadowing or understating each other, allowing them to cohesively display a confidence in the material that’s being performed.
The audience reacted with just as much enthusiasm during classic Lord Huron tunes as they did in hearing brand-new material, especially during fan favorites like “She Lit a Fire” and back-to-back rockabilly-tinged jams “The World Ender” and “Fool for Love”. At this point, the crowd had not only warmed up to Lord Huron’s infectious stage presence, but also gave into their buoyant vibes as mini dance parties broke out throughout the venue.
With stops in France and the UK up next, Lord Huron has a busy summer full of touring to keep them occupied in the near future. The band, though, appears to be more than ready to embrace its current pace and newfound fame they have deservedly acquired. Those who were at the Fox were treated to an impressive performance from the LA foursome, and with festival season upon us, we hope to see their name listed on a local bill before 2015 comes to a close.
