LORD HURON LIVE!! | WALNUT CREEK
Coverage by Larissa Blankenship
On the evening of August 5th, the cool night breeze and the promise of rain created a moody, cinematic backdrop for Lord Huron’s stop at Coastal Credit Union Music Park in Raleigh, NC. The indie folk-rock band, led by frontman Ben Schneider, is currently touring in support of their fifth studio album, The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1—a project that continues their tradition of blending haunting melodies with storytelling mystique.
As the stage lights rose and the crowd erupted, the band launched into “Who Laughs Last,” the lead single from the new album. The track, released earlier this year, captivated the audience with its atmospheric sound and unique spoken word verses performed by actress Kristen Stewart, adding a surreal layer to the live experience.
The stage design for Lord Huron’s Raleigh performance was nothing short of theatrical—a visual homage to the western desert frontier. Multi-tiered rocky terrain, scattered desert flora, and vintage props created a dreamlike landscape that felt plucked from a forgotten film reel. At the highest point stood a glowing jukebox, flanked by old televisions and a solitary payphone below, evoking a sense of nostalgia and mystery.
As the show began, Ben Schneider made his way across the rocky platform, stepping deliberately through the surreal set. Reaching the payphone, he lifted the receiver and sang the first chorus of the evening directly into it. With his back turned to the crowd, he gazed into a small camera embedded in the phone stand, his voice echoing through the venue as the image was projected onto the screens. It was a haunting and intimate moment—one that blurred the line between performance and storytelling, setting the tone for a night of immersive musical exploration.
The night went on to be an incredible production of music and storytelling. A pair of dancers made multiple appearances throughout the night, including dancing in the crowd during “I Lied”. Towards the end of the evening vines descended from the ceiling down to the stage which lit up in time with the music. The band members moved around the stage like a well oiled machine and each interaction with each other and the desert terrain added to the ambiance of the show.
Throughout the night the band performed many songs off their new album as well as some older fan favorites. The evening closed out with the band’s hit song “The Night We Met” followed by a four song encore. A Lord Huron concert is a unique musical experience that you will not find with just any artist and is definitely something you will want to experience for yourself.
