The Lone Bellow What A Time To Be Alive (CD)

(Burly Bellow Music) 12 tracks, digisleeve

With their upcoming sixth studio album, “What A Time To Be Alive,” The Lone Bellow opens a new chapter while paying tribute to the deep bonds that have shaped their journey. Written for the first time with all the founding members of the touring band—Zach Williams, Brian Elmquist, and Kanene Pipkin—as well as drummer Julian Dorio and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Geertsma, the album channels the raw, ecstatic energy of the band's live shows into a dynamic collection of songs that pulsate with warmth, honesty, and human connection. The album was recorded live in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, after the band retreated to a converted fire station in Kentucky to write songs. It is both a celebration and a reckoning: with friendship, loss, love, and resilience. From the powerful, Stones-inspired opener “After The Rain” to the moving closing track “What A Time To Be Alive,” the album captures the joy and vulnerability that have long defined The Lone Bellow's sound—rich harmonies, heartfelt lyrics, and genre-spanning arrangements infused with folk, rock, and gospel. The album's creation was marked by setbacks, including the theft of early recordings, but the overwhelming support of their fan base reaffirmed what the band had always known: their music is a shared experience. That spirit echoes throughout the album, whether in anthems like “Common Folk” and “I'm Here For You” or in intimate reflections like “You Were Leaving” and “Night Goes Black.” Since their acclaimed debut in 2013, The Lone Bellow has performed on The Tonight Show, Austin City Limits, and The Late Show, topped the Americana charts, and headlined legendary venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Ryman Auditorium. With their next album, however, they reaffirm their commitment to not only making music, but also building community—on stage, in their songs, and around the table.