MP3: Retribution Gospel Choir – “Workin’ Hard”
MP3: Retribution Gospel Choir – “Hide It Away”
MP3: Peter Wolf Crier – Crutch & Cane
MP3: Peter Wolf Crier – Hard As Nails
Low devotees looking for a place to worship in San Diego have reason to sing hallelujah: front man Alan Sparhawk’s other band, Retribution Gospel Choir, will play the Loft on January 23.
For the past few years, Sparhawk’s comparatively fast-rocking side project has provided an uptempo, noisier outlet for his haunted musings. Retribution Gospel Choir’s self-titled debut came out in 2008, and their latest, 2, was just released on Sub Pop this month. A little poppier than their debut, 2 is a leap forward for the band. It is also a satisfying stopgap for fans anxiously awaiting April 12, the day the next Low album — titled C’mon — will be released. Retribution Gospel Choir played the Casbah a couple years ago and it was awesome, so don’t expect January 23 at the Loft to be any different.
Fellow Minnesotans Peter Wolf Crier are supporting Sparhawk & Co. on their tour. The duo released its first album, Inter-Be, to critical acclaim last summer.