I needed some extra time to think about this one. Two bands — Swans and Low — that don’t seem like they would pair well together, but somehow fit in the context of the night. The former pummels you with post-rock noise; the latter creates an atmosphere that’s almost emotional in the way the songs build and break.
What connects the two bands is their cinematic sweep. Low offer a soundtrack to windswept plains, hopeful desolation, and equal parts spirituality and sadness. Swans provide the score to your most vivid nightmare, the kind you try to escape from but somehow hang on to, heightening your awareness and making your subsequent day nerve-wracking.
Low began the night with a 45-minute set of that cathartic slow build. Some bands toss off chords and lyrics knowing the next one is coming rapid-fire. Low makes sure each note is deliberate. The short set wasn’t enough time to provide the full experience of their multi-decade output but it was long enough to get enraptured. Half the performance was dedicated to their newest, Jeff Tweedy produced album, The Invisible Way. I’m not sure anything less than 2 hours would be enough to experience Low’s full scope, but this performance certainly provided a healthy impact.
Impact doesn’t begin to describe the way Swans bludgeoned — in a good way — the crowd of several hundred. Touring behind their most recent, The Seer, the band started with the dial at 11 and never let up. Swans post-rock thrashing isn’t about songs, but about delivering an unmatched experience. Opening with To Be Kind, they never relented, even during the 30+ minute title track centerpiece.
A Swans show has no comparison. The performance doesn’t ebb and flow like most, but engulfs you. Your job is just to hold on.