On a stormy Saturday night, beneath Cowgate’s archways, mellow sounds floated through the damp air outside Cabaret Voltaire. Inside, the Canadian band, Loving (made up of core members Jesse Henderson, Lucas Henderson, and David Parry), were about to perform.
The basement of the medieval-looking venue was filled with young, enchanted fans. After a brilliant opening set by Evan Cheadle, who later joined the band on guitar, anticipation grew. The lights dimmed, smoke began to drift through the rosy haze, and the five musicians quietly took their places. Then came the first notes of ‘Sweet Fruit’ from their self-titled debut EP (2016)—a song radiating the charming nostalgia of a long-lost indie era. Its looping guitar riff and Jesse’s soft, intimate vocals immediately set the tone for the night.
Soon after came ‘If I Am Only My Thoughts,’ from their 2020 album of the same name—one of my recent obsessions. The song felt like warmth in motion, the sound of comfort and distance all at once, as if wandering through a sunlit field of daisies. It carried that familiar Loving quality: music that feels like an echo of your own thoughts, quietly returning to you.
More exciting still, the crowd was treated to their newest album, Any Light (2024). My favourites, ‘Blue’ and ‘No Mast,’ exemplify how the band has evolved within their own mellow, lo-fi world. Between the bassist’s subtle dance moves, the glances shared by the guitarists, and the drummer’s steady pulse, the whole set felt deeply personal and cohesive. (I was sold—literally. My flatmate and I both bought merch, which the band members themselves were selling after the show.)
Their closing song, ‘Visions,’ my personal favourite, brought the evening full circle. As the crowd swayed side to side, the melody softened into ‘Any Light,’ the encore—low-key and effortless (no staged exit or dramatic return, thank god), a perfect, natural ending.
On a rain-swept Edinburgh night, it was the best kind of Saturday: intimate, tender, and quietly unforgettable. Loving made the storm outside sound like part of the music itself.
Image Credit to Angelina Castrucci.
