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

The Lone Bellow
Background information
OriginNew York City, U.S.
GenresAmericana, alt-country, indie folk
Years active2011–present
LabelsDescendant, Sony Masterworks[1]
Members
  • Zach Williams
  • Kanene Donehey Pipkin
  • Brian Elmquist
Websitethelonebellow.com

History

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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.

 
Brian Elmquist

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.[citation needed] Later in 2015, they toured the UK with Kacey Musgraves[citation needed] 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.[1][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

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  • Zach Williams – guitar, lead vocals
  • Kanene Donehey Pipkin – mandolin, bass, keyboard, vocals
  • Brian Elmquist – guitar, vocals

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

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Albums

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Title Album details Peak 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
64 13 5 19
Then Came the Morning
  • Released: January 27, 2015
  • Label: Descendant
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
44 6 5 11 176
Walk Into a Storm
  • Released: September 15, 2017
  • Label: Descendant, Sony Masterworks
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
173 8 41
Half Moon Light
  • Released: February 7, 2020[20]
  • Label: Dualtone
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
173 4 26
Love Songs for Losers
  • Released: November 4, 2022
  • Label: Dualtone
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download

Singles

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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
AAA

[21]
"Bleeding Out" 2013 17 The Lone Bellow
"Then Came the Morning" 2014 17 Then Came the Morning
"Fake Roses"
"Take My Love" 2015 21
"Time's Always Leaving" 2017 25 Walk Into a Storm
"Count on Me" 2019 15 Half Moon Light
"Good Times" 2020 27
"Dried Up River" 2021 31 non-album single
"Honey" 2022 7 Love Songs for Losers
"Gold" 38
"Homesick" TBA
"—" denotes singles that did not chart or were not released

References

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  1. ^ a b "Sony Music Masterworks and Descendant Records Partner on New Album by The Lone Bellow: New Album Coming Fall 2017". Sony Masterworks. May 11, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  2. ^ Review, No Depression
  3. ^ "The Lone Bellow – Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  4. ^ Spotlight: The Lone Bellow. Billboard
  5. ^ Review, Paste
  6. ^ Review, Tampa Bay Times
  7. ^ "The Lone Bellow-Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  8. ^ Thompson, Stephen (October 6, 2014). "All Songs Considered: The Lone Bellow 'Then Came the Morning'". NPR. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  9. ^ "The Lone Bellow-"Fake Roses" (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. November 3, 2014.
  10. ^ Thompson, Stephen (June 13, 2017). "The Lone Bellow Announces 'Walk Into A Storm,' Releases New Single". NPR Music. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  11. ^ Reed, Ryan (April 24, 2020). "The Lone Bellow: Cutting The Eagle's Wing". Relix Media. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  12. ^ "The Lone Bellow Announces 'Love Songs For Losers' Project". MusicRow.com. September 23, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  13. ^ "Walk Into a Storm – The Lone Bellow | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  14. ^ "It Was A Perfect Night At Boarding House Park". suze reviews the blues. August 14, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  15. ^ "Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  16. ^ "Alternative Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  17. ^ "Americana/Folk Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  18. ^ "Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  19. ^ Peaks in the UK:
    • Then Came the Morning: "Chart Update". The Zobbel Website. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  20. ^ Hudak, Joseph (October 23, 2019). "The Lone Bellow Preview New Album 'Half Moon Light' With Reassuring 'Count on Me'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  21. ^ "The Lone Bellow – Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2017.