I have an exceptionally soft spot in my heart for the poetry and craftsmanship of Matt Pond PA. I stumble and fall into his music during unexpected milestones of my life and surface stronger than I was before.
A few weeks ago, on a dreadful rainy and chilly evening, I raced through slick streets of Austin to see him play a small show on the east side. The concert was lovely. I thanked him for the night, and slipped away.
I should have stood my ground for 10 more seconds, because there’s a good chance I would have said something to spark conversation around The Lowlifes, a completely shocking side project featuring Pond and his partner in crime, Chris Hansen.
The two musicians have recorded 10 tracks and bundled them as Still Summer, Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Fury. (They also did a Beach House cover that you can swoon over here.) The EP’s title alone is enough to save an entire generation of hearts.
I could gush over each and every song, and I may, but I’ve settled on the featuring the title track for now.
How do The Lowlifes differ from Matt Pond PA? That’s a great question, and one I’ve pondered (pun intended?) for the past few weeks. Pond’s voice is so distinct, and he and Hansen are not trying to stray from their gorgeous folk roots. At first listen, you may not detect the important separation between the two sounds. But I think I’ve figured it out.
Pond’s extensive catalog, especially every note on The Lives Inside The Lines In Your Hands, grounds us. His introspective lens on life weighs down my soul so I feel firmly rooted, steady.
The Lowlifes, however, add a sliver of air between my feet and the earth. Everything is lighter, more romantic, and earnestly hopeful. He’s singing about summer, literally, and all the possibility it brings. It is a surprising departure from Pond’s focus on fall and surviving the loss of color.
If you’re still with me, I have one more example to give. Let’s say Matt Pond PA’s music is water: essential to life, consistent, reliable, necessary. Listening to The Lowlifes is like picking up what you thought was a normal glass and realizing that this time it’s sparkling water: refreshing, delightful, and bubbly.
If you love Pond's work, you will fall fast for The Lowlifes. Stop worrying, yes, and drink up.
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