The Lone Bellow Explained

The Lone Bellow
Landscape:yes
Origin:New York City, U.S.
Genre:Americana, alt-country, indie folk
Years Active:2011–present
Label:Descendant, Sony Masterworks[1]
Current Members:
  • Zach Williams
  • Kanene Donehey Pipkin
  • Brian Elmquist

The Lone Bellow is an American musical group from Brooklyn, New York City.

History

The Lone Bellow began as a songwriting project for Zach Williams, whose wife had suffered temporary paralysis following a horseback riding accident.[2] During his wife's recovery, Williams coped with the experience by writing in a journal. At the urging of his friends, Williams learned how to play the guitar and turned his journal entries into songs. Following his wife's recovery, the couple moved to New York City.

Previously, Williams had been performing as a solo act around Brooklyn and New York City, occasionally being backed by a hired band. Williams recalls when The Lone Bellow's guitarist and old friend, Brian Elmquist met at Dizzy's Diner in Park Slope. Williams invited fellow singer Kanene Pipkin to join them at the diner, and it was then that the trio was initially conceived. Initially known as Zach Williams and the Bellow, the band shortened its name to The Lone Bellow before putting out any official releases.[3] In 2012, the group signed with Descendant Records, a newly formed imprint of Sony Music,[4] and released its self-titled debut, produced by Charlie Peacock, in January 2013.[5] [6] It was recorded at local NYC venue Rockwood Music Hall over the course of three days.

The album appeared at No. 64 on the Billboard 200.[7] People named it No. 8 of the Top 10 Albums of 2013 and Entertainment Weekly said it was "One of the top reasons to love country music in 2013". The album was featured on 10 different Best of 2013 year-end lists.

The band announced in early 2014 that they would be recording a new album with producer Aaron Dessner of The National. The band released the first single from the album, "Then Came the Morning", which premiered on NPR's website on October 6, 2014.[8] The band released a second single, titled "Fake Roses", which premiered on Stereogum on November 3, 2014.[9] The album was released on January 27, 2015. Later in 2015, they toured the UK with Kacey Musgraves and were nominated for an Americana Music Award for Duo/Group of the Year on the strength of their album. In early 2016 the band members relocated to Nashville.

In 2017, Descendant Records partnered with Sony Masterworks to release the band's third album, Walk Into a Storm, recorded at the RCA Studio A in Nashville, produced by Dave Cobb and released on September 15, 2017.[10] In 2020, the group released their second album with Dessner, Half Moon Light.[11] Their fifth studio album, Love Songs for Losers, was released on November 4, 2022.[12]

Members

The trio are regularly accompanied on bass and keyboards by Pipkin's husband Jason, who has also contributed to the band's songwriting.[13] [14]

Discography

Albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
US
[15]
US
Alt
[16]
US
Folk

[17]
US
Rock
[18]
UK
[19]
The Lone Bellow
  • Released: January 22, 2013
  • Label: Descendant
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
6413519
Then Came the Morning
  • Released: January 27, 2015
  • Label: Descendant
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
446511176
Walk Into a Storm
  • Released: September 15, 2017
  • Label: Descendant, Sony Masterworks
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
173841
Half Moon Light
  • Released: February 7, 2020[20]
  • Label: Dualtone
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
173426
Love Songs for Losers
  • Released: November 4, 2022
  • Label: Dualtone
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
AAA

[21]
"Bleeding Out"201317The Lone Bellow
"Then Came the Morning"201417Then Came the Morning
"Fake Roses"
"Take My Love"201521
"Time's Always Leaving"201725Walk Into a Storm
"Count on Me"201915Half Moon Light
"Good Times"202027
"Dried Up River"202131non-album single
"Honey"20227Love Songs for Losers
"Gold"38
"Homesick"
"—" denotes singles that did not chart or were not released

Notes and References

  1. Web site: May 11, 2017 . Sony Music Masterworks and Descendant Records Partner on New Album by The Lone Bellow: New Album Coming Fall 2017 . September 18, 2017 . Sony Masterworks.
  2. http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/cd-review-the-lone-bellow-s-t Review
  3. Web site: The Lone Bellow – Biography, Albums, Streaming Links . September 16, 2017 . AllMusic.
  4. http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-615/1481306/615-spotlight-the-lone-bellow Spotlight: The Lone Bellow
  5. http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/01/the-lone-bellow-the-lone-bellow.html Review
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20130125061028/http://www.tampabay.com/features/music/review-the-lone-bellows-self-titled-album-is-a-grooving-roots-rock-debut/1271623 Review
  7. The Lone Bellow-Chart History . October 14, 2014 . Billboard.
  8. Web site: All Songs Considered: The Lone Bellow 'Then Came the Morning' . NPR . October 6, 2014 . September 16, 2017 . Thompson . Stephen .
  9. Web site: November 3, 2014 . The Lone Bellow-"Fake Roses" (Stereogum Premiere) . Stereogum.
  10. Web site: Thompson, Stephen . June 13, 2017 . The Lone Bellow Announces 'Walk Into A Storm,' Releases New Single . September 18, 2017 . NPR Music.
  11. Web site: Reed . Ryan . April 24, 2020 . The Lone Bellow: Cutting The Eagle's Wing . August 24, 2020 . Relix Media.
  12. Web site: 2022-09-23 . The Lone Bellow Announces 'Love Songs For Losers' Project . 2022-11-26 . MusicRow.com . en-US.
  13. Web site: Walk Into a Storm – The Lone Bellow Songs, Reviews, Credits AllMusic . August 20, 2018 . AllMusic.
  14. News: August 14, 2016 . It Was A Perfect Night At Boarding House Park . suze reviews the blues . August 20, 2018.
  15. Billboard 200 . January 22, 2020 . Billboard.
  16. Alternative Albums . January 22, 2020 . Billboard.
  17. Americana/Folk Albums . January 22, 2020 . Billboard.
  18. Top Rock Albums . January 22, 2020 . Billboard.
  19. Peaks in the UK:
    • Then Came the Morning: Web site: Chart Update . October 8, 2020 . The Zobbel Website.
  20. Hudak . Joseph . October 23, 2019 . The Lone Bellow Preview New Album 'Half Moon Light' With Reassuring 'Count on Me' . January 22, 2020 . Rolling Stone.
  21. The Lone Bellow – Chart History . November 15, 2017 . Billboard.