The Lone Bellow eager to atone for canceled Boulder show

By Lukas Leben

For Second Story Garage

Zach Williams, lead guitarist and singer-songwriter of Brooklyn-based The Lone Bellow, said the folk group is looking forward to its Boulder show on Tuesday, Oct. 14, after canceling a performance last summer.

“People in Boulder are really kind,” said Williams. “…I hurt myself last time we were here, I completely lost my voice, and we were supposed to play a big show that night and we had to cancel it, and the messages we received on social media were so memorable.

“I was worried people would be very upset, but they weren’t.”

The band — often compared to The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons or the Civil Wars — has embarked on its fall tour, giving Boulder another chance to catch the band live tonight at the Fox Theatre, its only Colorado stop.

Last year was a big year for the group as they performed on “Conan,” have been highly touted nationally by media outlets and was named “a band to watch” by Entertainment Weekly in 2013. Members Williams, Brian Elmquist and Kanene Pipkin formed the group in Brooklyn four years ago, and after making a splash at Austin’s SXSW in 2013, the band has been touring steadily since.

Although the hardest part of touring is being distant from family — including Williams’ wife of 11 years, Stacy, and his three little girls — there is a plus to spending hours in a van for weeks at a time:

“America is a beautiful country and we’re lucky to be able to see it,” Williams said.

The Lone Bellow is known for invoking personal experiences in its songs, and “Green Eyes and a Heart of Gold” is no exception, highlighting the struggles of moving to a big city, as all three members hail from the south.

“It’s about how you can live somewhere and be broke and tired and cold,” said Williams, “and still see your woman as a beautiful and amazing person.”

Williams said it’s difficult to tie The Lone Bellow’s music into a specific genre.

“Per song, we just try to capture the emotion of the moment,” Williams said. “The melody gives way to the lyrics and the instrumentation gives way to the melody.”

The Lone Bellow is currently working on a new record with indie-rock group The National’s Aaron Dessner, and released a new single just last week, “Then Came the Morning.” A new record is slatedfor a January release, Williams said.

Milwaukee honky-tonk Americana band Hugh Bob & the Hustle will open for the band tonight.

Check out The Lone Bellow, who performed last summer in the Daily Camera’s live newsroom studio at secondstorygarage.com.