Live Review- Foreign Fields at Mercy Lounge

Nashville – A Foreign Fields show seemed appropriate to go see as an Arctic front moved across the country, leaving Nashville unusually cold. Their atmospheric music is fit for staring at the stars on a frozen night. Like staring at the sky, Foreign Fields’ music makes the human seem small against the washes of sound. Reverberating electric guitar filled every corner of Mercy Lounge where they played. Delicate electric guitar riffs and strumming patterns hold their music up, providing shape and melody and bringing it back to the earth.

The music of Foreign Fields comes from only two men: Eric Hillman and Brian Holl. They’re both from Wisconsin, and their music reflects the cold and solitariness that must pervade that vast state. Their move to Nashville has been a success, judging by the full room present to hear their set at Mercy Lounge. But the Saturday night crowd wasn’t ready to give the undivided attention that Foreign Fields’ music requires. It was one of those rare occasions when the crowd’s chattering competed with the delicate music. A more intimate venue would fit their sound perfectly.

No matter, though, to Hall and Hillman whose amiable, humble personalities shown brightly through their set. Playing with only two guitars, keys, and a laptop, Foreign Fields stirred up the quiet command of their songs “Pillars” and “Fake Arms.” Sufjan Stevens circa Seven Swans came to mind as Foreign Fields explored the dichotomy of gentle and powerful on stage before us.

Along with most of their 2013 EP, Tuscaloosa, Foreign Fields played two new songs that can readily be described as lovely. “The Sea” was one of those new ones. This topic of the ocean might come across as a tired out subject if it were not for the fact that a seven year old girl wrote the lyrics to this new one. Atmospheric guitars and echoing harmonies are juxtaposed with playful lyrics like, “The sea is the way it’s always been. I am the sea. I’m big and I’m free. I go where I want to.” The weight of the music gave the simple, lighthearted lyrics unexpected depth.

Following up “The Sea” was a song that Hillman wrote for his soon-to-be-born daughter. He warned that crowd that she was due now any day, any minute. He promised to finish the set no matter what though. Luckily, the babe didn’t come mid-show.

Foreign Fields is taking a break from touring after spending the fall season on the road, assumedly because Hillman will soon be a dad (if he isn’t already). A new album or EP probably isn’t far off though, given the practiced new material they played at Mercy Lounge. Be sure to check Tuscaloosa out on the next quiet, cold night and keep an ear out for what’s to come.

Photo By Julie Dill

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Caroline McDonald

My first memory is of singing Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” quietly to myself during preschool naptime. Perhaps it’s because I’m from Nashville where an instrument lives in every home, but music has gripped me for as long as I can remember.

After dabbling in many parts of the music industry—recording studios, PR, management, labels, publishing—I’m expanding into music journalism because I’m yet to find anything more rewarding that finding and sharing new music.

A longtime sucker for girls with guitars, my musical taste unabashedly follows the songwriting lineage of Dolly Parton and includes Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch, and Neko Case. But not to pigeonhole myself, my music love is big love that stretches from R.L. Burnside to Animal Collective to Lord Huron.

I’ve recently moved home to Nashville after living in Boston and Big Sur for several years. I’d forgotten how music pours onto the streets ten hours a day, seven days a week. I’m honored to share the creative explosion happening here. If your band is in the area or of the area, please reach out!