Live music review: The Antlers Delivered Whisper Rock at Antone’s 

Amazing shows are frequently measured by how loud a crowd can get. The  Antlers created a special evening at Antone’s May 9, not by eliciting roars from the floor, but captivating the room into a quiet trance. The faithful crowd wasn’t rowdy,  but respectful to the point where you could hear a pin drop, if not the bustling traffic outside of busy 6th Street. 

The Antlers have created a reputation for playing in dark rooms with minimal lighting or pageantry. This has coincidentally mirrored the intensity of their previously gloomy records. But Antone’s lighting beautifully illuminated the band, reflecting how their newest album serves as sunshine compared to the rest of their discography. Like so many artists, The Antlers wanted to give these songs their live due after not touring the past few years.

It’s been seven years between 2015’s Familiars and 2021’s Green to Gold. I saw the band perform their most popular record, Hospice, in D.C. during an acoustic tour. Something must have clicked during these unplugged shows as the band embraced the slower tempo, settling into a new serene sweet spot.

All songs are still written by lead singer and guitarist Peter Silberman and drummer Michael Lerner. With lighter strokes, the pair achieved the goal of making “Sunday morning music.”

From the beginning falsetto on “Wheels Roll Home” the entire room stood in almost complete silence to let Silberman’s whispers float through the air. 

Sonically, many of the newer songs present as more pleasant and pretty, than arresting. But for a band that previously tackled heavy, devastating themes head-on, it’s refreshing to hear sincerity through serenity, not just seriousness. Long-time fans know this peacefulness is something the band has been working toward.

The only thing missing in the live performance was the ambient crickets and campfire in “Strawflower.” The easy-listening label floated around in some recent reviews does the music a great disservice. I don’t think The XX’s earlier work succeeded because of its dynamic ranges, but because the minimal instrumentation drew you into its beauty without begging for your attention with maximalist arrangements. That means breaking out a baritone sax for “It Is What It Is” holds a lot more weight.

One of the set’s highlights was the band pivoting completely away from the rockier recorded version of “Bear” in favor of a stripped-down, tranquil take. Silberman and Lerner morphed what was once a build up into a fiery refrain into a meditative groove.

“Green to Gold” was as loud as the band delivered that night with crashing cymbals and two guitars featuring an appearance by the opening act, Wild Pink on another guitar.

The songs of Hospice delivered intense themes about terminating pregnancies and ending relationships. In their latest release of songs, the band makes you close your eyes and meditate on the sparse chord strums and abstract lyrics. That’s equally impressive to me.

See The Antlers remaining tour dates here.

If you like The Antlers, check out: Whitney, Cat Power, Mount Eerie, Daniel Rossen, Sufjan Stevens

All photos: Drew Doggett