shadow work | 2022-04-28 | Lost Lake, Denver, CO [SBD/AUD Matrix]

My thoughts are nailed to the post; I’m hitting you with some Shadow Work live at Lost Lake where you need it most!

As Colorado weather begins to warm up again, and as we’re thrust into this new stage of life from COVID Pandemic to Endemic, few things feel normal yet. However, going to Lost Lake to see one of Denver’s most interesting up-and-coming art-rock bands feels as natural as it ever has.

Last Thursday, Shadow Work performed a set of (mostly) originals to a vibrant Lost Lake crowd, anxious to get back into the live music mix. The band burst out of the gate with their newest single, “Abelia”, a journey of melodic drama, dynamic shifts, and contrasting vocal intensity. From ethereal whispery falsetto’s to growling roars, they hit the crowd with a waterfall of musical emotion to establish the tone of their journey through the set. This was followed by “Fox In The Coop”, another tune with themes of fluctuating dynamics, centering around intense vocal shifts and driven by the rhythm section’s rolling bass and steadfast drumming. This was followed by the stretched-out intro into “Fair” and its subsequent outro, leveraging those textured guitar tones as they coalesce with the spacey rhythmic foundation driving each number.

The band also found room for a couple of well-placed covers. The first was a unique take on the Bill Withers classic, “’Aint No Sunshine”, featuring an exemplary vocal performance that rattled the room to its core. After their final tune, “Old Cartoons”, which is also the closing track off the band’s last release “Robben Island”, the crowd chanted for one more song, and the band obliged by performing the Anderson.Paak track opener ,“The Bird”, off his seminal album, “Malibu”. An unexpected treat for those in attendance.

The art of rock is sometimes all about texture. Sonic textures layered over each other to compound a soundscape that transcends chord progressions or music theory, and becomes more intuitive and visceral. Shadow Work excels in their ability to envelop their songs in an atmospheric bloom and synthesize them into flourishing and accessible musical landscapes that cater to their indie-art-rock sensibilities. It’s an experience that feels aggressive but soft, intense, and beautifully reassuring. It’s a parallel of musical dichotomy that lures listeners into their world and rewards them with something fresh. Their work truly is in the shadows, captivating listeners before they even finished “Abelia”. While life may not feel completely back to normal yet, Shadow Work’s music will make you feel alive again.

shadow work | 2022-04-28 | Lost Lake Lounge, Denver, CO

1. Abelia
2. Fox In The Coop
3. Intro
4. Fair
5. Aint No Sunshine (Bill Withers cover)
6. (Happy Birthday Amanda)
7. Warm Tones
8. Trash Can Parade
9. Old Cartoons
10. The Bird (Anderson.Paak cover)

Show Notes: This set was performed in support of Sponsored Content. Immigrant’s Child opened the show, followed-by Shadow Work, then Sponsored Content. “The Bird” (Anderson.Paak) was not originally on the setlist and was performed after the crowd asked for another song. 

Taper Notes: Setup stage-left of the soundboard. Mics raised around 7′ (PAS). Board patch and mix thanks to FOH Arias. 

Links:
Band: shadow work (https://www.facebook.com/shadowworkOfficial/)

Venue: Lost Lake Lounge (https://www.lost-lake.com/)