Concert review: Archers of Loaf at The Grey Eagle
Drawing from the sonic framework laid out by groups like Mission of Burma, The Replacements, and Sonic Youth in the ’80s, Archers of Loaf made a significant impact on the indie rock world when the Chapel Hill band released its debut album, Icky Mettle, in 1993. Opening with one of the definite tracks of the decade, “Web in Front,” the quartet’s introductory statement was an impressive concoction of raw intensity, dissonant guitar textures, and wry, disaffected lyrics. The songs were angsty anthems that inevitably implanted themselves into the DNA of a sizable chunk of Gen Xers.
The three albums that followed prior to its 1998 breakup further cemented Archers of Loaf as one of the great guitar bands of the ’90s. Though the members remained on good terms, it wasn’t until 2011 that they’d find themselves all performing together again. Following that reunion, there were infrequent tours, but it wasn’t until this year that the group finally released its first album of the 21st century — the impressive Reason in Decline. Although the band has mellowed a bit since they were a bunch of raucous 20-somethings, the new songs still pack a punch like the Archers of Loaf of old.
Performing in Asheville for the first time in a decade, the band packed The Grey Eagle full of friends, family, and nostalgic fans on Dec. 4, for a show that had the distinct atmosphere of a hometown show. Bassist Matt Gentling even joked that there were only five people in the crowd that he didn’t know, and that exaggeration probably wasn’t really that far off. For as much as the band will forever be linked to the influential Chapel Hill scene, Asheville is the city where all four members grew up.
Rather than primarily focusing on new material — as many bands would in the same situation — the group’s set was a crowd-pleasing career retrospective, as though Archers of Loaf was passionately stating its case for deserving greater recognition. From the introductory chords of deliberately-paced opener “Step into the Light,” the four-piece had the room entranced. A few songs later, when Archers busted out the explosive 1995 single, “Harnessed in Slums,” the place damn near erupted.
It’s an incredible thing to see a band play a new favorite tune, but it’s nothing like the ecstasy of experiencing them perform a song that’s been a part of your life for decades. It didn’t matter that I was in the back corner of the venue, standing on my tippy toes, twisting my neck to catch a glimpse. Seeing Archers of Loaf rip through personal favorites like “Lowest Part is Free,” “Greatest of All Time,” and “Might” was invigorating.
But nothing was more satisfying than when the band returned to the stage to tear through a rousing rendition of “Wrong.” Frontman Eric Bachmann appeared to be losing his voice, but that just further added to the intensity of the performance.
The ’90s was an era of noisy distorted guitars, and few acts did it better than Archers of Loaf. It was so good to see that, after all of these years, the group hasn’t lost its fire.
(Photo by Kate Fix)
