The Lone Bellow
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Folk-rock, Americana
Status:
Most recent release, The Restless (2018)
See also:
The Lone Bellow's site
Comparisons:
The Lumineers, The Civil Wars, Mumford & Sons
Covers/own material:
Own and cowritten
General comments:
Folk-rock trio centered around Zach Williams (lead vocalist and songwriter), Brian Elmquist, and Kanene Pipkins. Kanene's husband Jason is sometimes considered a fourth member. The members are all originally from the South, but met while living in Brooklyn; they've since relocated to Nashville. Their music ranges from upbeat and catchy to heartbreaking, always with exquisite harmonies. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Comments about live performance:
I saw The Lone Bellow perform in August 2014 at Lincoln Center's Americana fest and remember them as really enthusiastic performers. You can watch the full 40 minute set, starting 28 minutes in. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Recommended first album:
The Lone Bellow or Walk Into a Storm
Recordings:
- The Lone Bellow (2013)
- Then Came the Morning (2015)
- Walk Into a Storm (2017)
- The Restless (2018)
The Lone Bellow
Release info:
2013—Descendant Records—83061-0970-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Zach Williams—acoustic guitar, vocals
Kanene Pipkin—vocals
Brian Elmquist—electric guitar, vocals
Guest artists:
Matt Knapp—guitars (1-11)
Ben Mars—bass (1-11)
Brian Griffin—drums (1, 3-11)
Brian Murphy—piano, keys (1-11)
Jason Pipkin—banjo, mandolin (1-11)
Jerry McPherson—guitars (1, 4, 8, 9)
Ken Lewis—percussion (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10)
Andy Leftwich—mandolin (1-3, 7, 8); fiddle (2, 3, 5, 7, 8)
Mark Hill—bass (2, 8, 11)
James Sweeting—trumpet samples (8)
Charlie Peacock—Wurlitzer (10)
Produced by:
Charlie Peacock
Comments:
I loved this album instantly, and four years later, still listen to it regularly. The album is full of catchy, foot-stomping folk-rock; big ballads; and heartbreaking lyrics and harmonies. I can't recommend it enough! (JoAnn Whetsell)
Then Came the Morning
Release info:
2015—Descendant Records—02341-0195-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Zach Williams—vocals; acoustic guitar (7, 10, 13); stomps and claps (8)
Brian Elmquist—vocals; electric guitar (1-4, 6, 7-10, 12, 13); acoustic guitar (5-7, 9, 10); stomps and claps (8)
Kanene Donehey Pipkin—vocals; mandolin (3, 5); stomps and claps (8)
Guest artists:
Jason Pipkin—piano (1, 3, 6, 10, 13); electric bass (4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13); electric guitar (4); bass (10)
Brian Griffin—drums (1-5, 7-10, 12, 13)
Logan Coale—double bass (1, 3); upright bass (5, 10)
Alex Sopp—flute (1)
Benjamin Lanz—trombone (1, 7, 12)
Michael Atkinson—French horn (1-3)
Caroline Shaw—violin (1-4, 10)
Clarice Jensen—cello (1-4)
Aaron Dessner—bass, 12-string guitar (2); high-strung guitar (2, 11); keyboards (2, 4, 10); percussion (2, 4, 5, 9, 12); acoustic guitar (4, 11); electric guitar (4, 5, 9, 10); drums, Rhodes (5); MS20 (5, 6); stomps and claps (8)
Thomas Bartlett—OP1, organ (2); keyboards (4); piano (5, 7); Rhodes (9, 12)
Matt Knapp—pedal steel (2-5); lap steel (7, 9, 12, 13)
Rob Moose—violin, viola (5, 11)
Chris Pereira—stomps and claps (8)
Spencer—stomps and claps (8)
Nick Lloyd—piano, Hammond organ (12)
Produced by:
Aaron Brooking Dessner
Comments:
An excellent follow-up to their debut album. The album explores their country and rock sides a bit more, but also includes some really lovely and quiet songs. I don't listen to this album as often as the others, but when I do I'm always impressed with how good it really is. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Walk Into a Storm
Release info:
2017—Descendant Records—88985-45249-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Zachary Williams—vocal
Kanene Pipkin—vocal
Brian Elmquist—vocal; electric and acoustic guitars (1-10); piano (10)
Guest artists:
Dave Cobb—acoustic guitar (1-10)
Brian Allen—bass (1-10)
Justin Glasco—drums, percussion (1-10); Hammond organ (5, 6, 9)
Jason Pipkin—mandolin (1); Mellotron (1, 8); Wurlitzer (2, 8, 9); lap steel (2, 10); piano (3-5); B3 organ (7)
Kristin Wilkinson—string arrangement, viola (3, 4)
David Davidson—violin (3, 4)
David Angell—violin (3, 4)
Carole Rabinowitz—cello (3, 4)
Produced by:
Dave Cobb
Comments:
From heartbreaking to rollicking, this is pretty much a perfect collection of songs. At different times, each of the 10 tracks has jumped into my head, which is about as good a measure of excellence as any. LOVE this album. (JoAnn Whetsell)
The Restless
Release info:
2018—Descendant Records
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Produced by:
The Lone Bellow
Comments:
This release is a great addition to The Lone Bellow's catalogue. Three of the songs are acoustic renditions of tracks from their three albums, and these versions are both enthusiastic and different enough from the album versions that they're alone worth the price of the EP. But the four new tracks are also strong (my favorite is "Water Under the Bridge" followed by "Pink Rabbits") and coexist nicely alongside them. So overall it's a win-win for fans. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Further info:
Compilation work includes:
Collaborations include:
- "I See That Hand" on Mercyland, Vol. No. 2: Hymns for the Rest of Us (2016)
- "Me and My Uncle" and "Dire Wolf" on the Grateful Dead tribute album Day of the Dead (2016)
- "Angel from Montgomery" with Buddy Miller and Brandi Carlile on Buddy Miller's album Cayamo Sessions at Sea (2016)
Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.
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