The band… Read Full Bio ↴Loch Lomond is an American band based in Portland, Oregon.
The band started as a solo recording project of Ritchie Young in 2003. With help of engineer/producer Rob Oberdorfer, Young crafted the first Loch Lomond album, When We Were Mountains. Over the next few years, Loch Lomond performed around Portland and the Pacific Northwest in various incarnations. Live performances would range from Young by himself to a full band. During this time, many different recording sessions took place in various studios and homes. These recordings were compiled on the early 2006 EP Lament For Children.
In the later half of 2006, Loch Lomond solidified into a nine-person band. In this format, they produced their 2007 album "Paper the Walls", which was more reminiscent of traditional chamber folk music while featuring many non-traditional instruments. They toured with The Decemberists in late 2008. In 2010, Loch Lomond's song, Wax and Wire, was featured in the short film Danny MacAskill's Way Back Home produced by Red Bull Media House.
2011 saw the release of Little Me Will Start A Storm, Tender Loving Empire. 2012 Chemikal Underground released the EP White Dresses.
Pens From Spain, their most recent album will be released on September 2, 2016, on Hush Records.
Loch Lomond effortlessly combines their symphonic nature with chamber-pop melodies. The six to nine performers orchestrate instruments to provoke a visceral experience that is both raw and emotional, weaving the distinct use of mandolin, theremin and saw along with the traditional indie instrumentation.
Luring the listener with the unique range and power of his voice, Ritchie Young's vocal ability enables him to switch from fragility to thunder in the turn of a phrase. Yet, Young exercises the power of restraint, saving vocal tornadoes for emotional apexes, buoyed by the four-part harmonies, string section swells and rhythmic dynamics of the ensemble.
Drawing inspiration from the iconic Funky Church, a Portland venue that serves as a home to local artists and musicians , Loch Lomond utilized this space to nurture their music in a way only a high-domed ceiling and absent sound system can convey. In conjunction with the cathedral's influence, Ritchie Young calls on inspiration from within to infuse his creativity. "My internal inspiration comes out of me in strange ways," says Young. "I lock myself in a room until I scream, knock stuff over, whatever I'm compelled to do to make a song emerge. Once a song does come out of me, I leave it alone. Changing the structure or the lyrics would feel like I was second-guessing my art."
There are no half measures with Loch Lomond. This group remains a long respected, gathering force that brings their tidal waves of sound to a much wider audience by immersing itself in a myriad of trained musicians. Ritchie explains, "It was a very slow process of finding the right people that fit. I say this in the most humblest of ways. Amanda Lawrence for example was at a show we were playing and her husband leaned over to her and said 'This is the band you need to be in; this is what you have been looking for!' She gave Peter Broderick a call and the next week she was playing with us and she fits so well."
The third official recording from Loch Lomond, Paper The Walls, evokes an emotional response to deeply imprint itself on the listener with songs comprised of gently narrated stories unraveling with rustic charm; simple in form, but saturated with tone and texture. Recorded at Portland's Type Foundry (M Ward, The Decemberists) and their second release from Hush Records, the album is rich with detail while retaining an uncommon sense of space.
bird and a bear
Loch Lomond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But i have a coat that makes me look just like a bird
Just like a bird
Whenever I go running in it people they smile
Especially when I throw bird feet into the air
Into the air
But on the surface I look warm
But on the surface I look warm
And underneath the water and wool I am cold
Cold
Cold
I have a friend who looks like a bear
Whenever he throws his big hands into the air
People tend to leave
And people tend to cry
He lives in a cave right down the street
And this time of year you'd think he'd be asleep
But he's not
He's admiring his porcelein spoon collection
His porcelein spoon collection
But on the surface he looks cold
But on the surface he looks cold
But underneath that is cotton and candy
And underneath the candy and cotton he is cold
Cold
Cold
I never learned how to spin plates on sticks
And I never learned how to spin plates on sticks
And I never learned
But oh we are friends
Together we have partners
I'll make him laugh and he keeps me safe
Well I'll make him laugh and he keeps me clean
Clean
Clean
The lyrics of "Bird and a Bear" by Loch Lomond appear to be on the surface about two friends, one who wears a coat that makes them look like a bird and another who looks like a bear. The first character seems to be perceived as warm and friendly, making people smile when they throw bird feet into the air. However, the singer makes it clear that underneath the coat, they are cold. Similarly, the bear-like character is perceived as cold and intimidating, as people tend to cry and leave when he throws his big hands into the air. But, like the bird-like character, underneath the surface, he is also cold.
Despite these differences, the two characters are friends who have each other's back. They have a partnership where one makes the other laugh and keeps them safe, while the other keeps them clean. This may suggest a sense of mutual understanding and support between the two unlikely friends, perhaps reflecting the theme of finding comfort and companionship in unexpected places.
The lyrics also hint at the idea of appearances versus reality. Both characters are perceived one way, but the truth beneath the surface is quite different. This could be interpreted as a commentary on the way people judge each other based on first impressions or external factors, rather than taking the time to get to know someone on a deeper level.
Line by Line Meaning
I never learned how to spin plates on sticks
I lacked a basic skill for entertainment
But i have a coat that makes me look just like a bird
Though I cannot spin plates, I wear a coat that resembles a bird
Whenever I go running in it people they smile
People react positively when I run in my bird-like coat
Especially when I throw bird feet into the air
People particularly enjoy when I throw bird feet into the air while wearing the coat
But on the surface I look warm
My appearance suggests warmth and comfort
But underneath that is wool and water
However, beneath the surface lies only wool and dampness
And underneath the water and wool I am cold
In reality, I am cold beneath my exterior
I have a friend who looks like a bear
I have a friend who resembles a bear
Whenever he throws his big hands into the air
My friend's movements often intimidate others
People tend to leave
Others tend to avoid my friend
And people tend to cry
Some even react emotionally to his presence
He lives in a cave right down the street
My friend resides in a nearby cave
And this time of year you'd think he'd be asleep
One might expect him to be hibernating at this time of year
But he's not
But he is not sleeping
He's admiring his porcelain spoon collection
Instead, he is occupied with his collection of delicate spoons
But on the surface he looks cold
My friend's appearance tends to suggest coldness
But underneath that is cotton and candy
However, beneath the surface lies only softness and sweetness
And underneath the candy and cotton he is cold
In reality, my friend is cold beneath his soft exterior
But oh we are friends
Despite our differences, we are friends
Together we have partners
We support and complement each other
I'll make him laugh and he keeps me safe
I bring my friend joy and he provides protection
Well I'll make him laugh and he keeps me clean
In turn, I keep him clean and tidy
Clean
Ultimately, we take care of each other
Contributed by London P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.