Where: Harmony Hall
Gormley
L0H 1G0
Canada
Toronto
What: Lowest of the Low @ Harmony Hall
When:
LOWEST OF THE LOW at Harmony Hall FRI SEPT 12 7 PM DOORS $40 adv $50 door LOWEST OF THE LOW – OVER YEARS AND OVERNIGHT Canadian indie music guerillas Lowest of the Low return with their seventh album, Over Years and Overnight, a record that may be their most personal and collaborative effort yet. While the band has never been one to dwell on the past, their legacy is undeniable. Their 1991 debut, Shakespeare My Butt, remains a landmark in Canadian indie music, earning Gold certification, a Top 10 spot in Chart Magazine’s 100 Greatest Canadian Albums of All Time, a 102.1 The Edge Lifetime Achievement Award, and induction into the Canadian Indie Rock Hall of Fame. At the helm is Ron Hawkins, voted Songwriter of the Year by NOW Magazine readers in both 2000 and 2015, leading the band into 2025 with Over Years and Overnight (Sonic Envy / Warner Music). The album’s title, borrowed from Charles Yu’s novel Interior Chinatown, captures the paradox of time—how success can feel both like a slow burn and an overnight explosion. “How did the band go from a decade of searching for a scene to suddenly breaking out in the early ‘90s?” Hawkins reflects. “Well… over years and overnight.” Lowest Of the Low which comprises — David Alexander, Ron Hawkins, Lawrence Nichols, Michael McKenzie, and Greg Smith — has been selling out shows across Canada and the U.S. Their enduring impact was further cemented in 2024 with the release of the Apple TV+ documentary Subversives – The History of the Lowest of the Low. Over Years and Overnight covers a vast emotional and thematic landscape. “Rage On” grapples with lost innocence — “They took your dream of wild woods… they stripped that Buddhist childhood from your bones.” Hawkins recalls, “I remember endless childhood afternoons in the country, canoeing, exploring, getting lost in adventure. As adults, it’s essential to reconnect with that spirit—to rage against the dying of the light.” The eternal optimist battles with the burgeoning cynic in “DOTGOTW” (Dancing On The Grave Of The World), with Hawkins singing: “I’ll bet our old pal Charlie Darwin would probably concur that we’re dancing on the grave of the world.” But despite the stark message, Hawkins insists, “Lowest of the Low’s politics are rooted in a belief in the innate goodness of humanity. Our job as artists is to hold a mirror up to that humanity and put it in high focus.” Then there’s “Wake Up and Smell the Roses,” a bittersweet anthem and rallying call that urges listeners to appreciate the beauty of the everyday. Hawkins reminds us that when the night gets lonely, you “take your nightmares and turn them into art." A milestone for the band, Over Years and Overnight marks the first time three of its eleven songs were co-written by all members—a testament to their deepening creative synergy. With all cylinders firing, Lowest of the Low are hitting the road this spring, bringing Over Years and Overnight to longtime supporters and a new generation of fans.
How Much:
www.bandsintown.com InStockGormley
L0H 1G0
Canada
Who: Lowest of the Low
The Lowest of the Low were a Canadian alternative rock group in the early 1990s. Although they never broke through to the mainstream, they were one of the most influential bands on the Canadian alternative music scene.
Formed by Ron Hawkins, Steve Stanley, Dave Alexander and John Arnott in 1991, the Low’s punk-inspired folk pop quickly became a popular draw on the Queen Street West club circuit in Toronto.
Also in 1991, they released their debut album, Shakespeare My Butt, which was actively supported by Toronto radio station CFNY, and quickly made the band a popular name across southern Ontario and western New York. The album became one of the best-selling independent releases in Canadian history (although it was eclipsed in the same year by Barenaked Ladies’ Yellow Tape), and was later named one of the ten greatest albums in Canadian music history by the music magazine Chart.
In 1993, the band signed a distribution deal with A&M Records, and released Hallucigenia in 1994. Unfortunately, the band was riven with tensions, and broke up later the same year.
The Lowest of the Low reunited in 2000 to play some reunion shows. From their official page bio (http://www.lowestofthelow.com/bio.php):
“When the band decided to get together and play a few reunion shows, there was an absolutely enormous audience waiting for them. The success of these few shows led to two cross-Canada tours, and a live album called Nothing Short of a Bullet, released in 2002. Further accolades included the 102.1 The Edge/Now Magazine Hall of Fame award, Ron Hawkins being voted Toronto’s Favourite Songwriter in the Now Magazine readers’ poll, and their being rated as the best band at the 2002 NXNE festival by ChartAttack.
In the wake of their successful comeback, original members Ron Hawkins (vocals/guitar/piano), Stephen Stanley (vocals/guitar) and David Alexander (drums) added to their ranks longtime collaborator Lawrence Nichols (harmonica, keyboards, vocals, guitar) and bassist Dylan Parker to begin the process of moving forward with new music.”
Their latest album ‘Sordid Fiction’ was released in 2004. Ron Hawkins will also be releasing his latest solo album ‘Chemical Sounds’ in 2007.