The Lone Bellow

In 2012, Ambrosia was assistant to Jonathan Levine at Paradigm and the band was called Zach Williams & The Bellow, with no official releases. Now, Ambrosia is a full agent working alongside Levine booking a band that has grown to be one of the more critically acclaimed acts in the country.

“There’s no skipping steps as they move along,” Ambrosia told Pollstar. “They’re making the right moves upward, at the right pace, at the right time. There is a sustainable progress. It’s exciting to see it continue to build.”

People have told Pollstar that they didn’t fully comprehend The Lone Bellow until they saw the band live. Despite having two albums that are on several critics’ Top 10 lists, it is the sweaty, communal performances that define the trio. That’s surprising, considering The Lone Bellow was created for songwriting.

Williams’ wife had a temporary paralysis because of a horse-riding accident and Williams coped with it by writing in a journal.  His friends urged him to learn guitar to put the words to song. After his wife recovered, Williams performed in New York, sometimes with a hired band.  Soon he was joined by friend Brian Elmquist on guitar and singer Kanene Pipkin.

If this sounds like The Lone Bellow is a cerebral, serious affair, it’s not. Williams’ voice, and the harmonies, make it sound like an American version of U2.  It’s not even a stretch.

“I’ve always described seeing The Lone Bellow as a spiritual experience and have said that their show feels like going to a revival,” one blog, What Bree Sees, posted. “I was over the moon when Zach, Brian, and Kanene unplugged and walked to the center of the room [to play] acoustically. … Their passion is palpable. You could have heard a pin drop in the room.”

The Lone Bellow has dates through July, including two shows with The National at the Greek theatres in Los Angeles and Berkeley, Calif.