Credits
Produced by Della Marsh and Ned Okafor Recorded at Cellar Nine, Pilsen, Chicago Mixed by Ruth Abernathy Strings arranged by Wes Ocampo
Album
2026
Low Ceiling
Ten songs recorded in a basement in Pilsen with a ceiling just high enough to stand under. The band set up in a circle and played them live.
The songs, and how often we still play them
The basement at Cellar Nine is six feet four inches high. Theo can stand up straight behind the kit; Lou has to stoop. We recorded there because it was cheap and because a low room makes everything sound close, which is how these songs were written.
Nine of the ten songs are first or second takes with everyone playing at once. The strings on Halsted and The Long Way were added later in a room with a much higher ceiling, and you can probably hear the difference.
What changed live
Second Coat and Damp Course were written for the record and have barely survived the stage. Lake Effect, Low Ceiling and Lights Up have been played every single night. The numbers next to each song below are how many of the last thirty-two nights it made the set.