Remembering Mimi Parker of Low
November 6, 2022 9:24 AM Subscribe
Mimi Parker of Low has died. The vocalist and drummer died from ovarian cancer last night; her husband and bandmate Alan Sparhawk released a statement today: "Friends, it’s hard to put the universe into language and into a short message, but{...}
She passed away last night, surrounded by family and love, including yours. Keep her name close and sacred. Share this moment with someone who needs you. Love is indeed the most important thing."
Low's YouTube channel
Sharon Van Etten interviews Mimi.
Podcast interview with Mimi from last year.
Songs to Remember Mimi By
Holy Ghost
Especially Me
Dance Song '97 (Sleater-Kinney cover)
The Dream--Trentemoller (featuring Low)
Stay (Rihanna cover)
Low's YouTube channel
Sharon Van Etten interviews Mimi.
Podcast interview with Mimi from last year.
Songs to Remember Mimi By
Holy Ghost
Especially Me
Dance Song '97 (Sleater-Kinney cover)
The Dream--Trentemoller (featuring Low)
Stay (Rihanna cover)
Oh no!
I saw Low live a whole bunch of times, four or five, and they were brilliant every time. Mimi Parker was an arresting stage presence and Low have consistently brilliant albums through the years. Even their Christmas music was full of wonder and grace. If you don’t know their music you could start anywhere, but personally I will put on Secret Name tonight.
.
posted by Kattullus at 9:37 AM on November 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
I saw Low live a whole bunch of times, four or five, and they were brilliant every time. Mimi Parker was an arresting stage presence and Low have consistently brilliant albums through the years. Even their Christmas music was full of wonder and grace. If you don’t know their music you could start anywhere, but personally I will put on Secret Name tonight.
.
posted by Kattullus at 9:37 AM on November 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
Three of us from my high school class got ovarian cancer. I alone am left to tell the tale. Cancer sucks.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:41 AM on November 6, 2022 [14 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:41 AM on November 6, 2022 [14 favorites]
.
posted by j_curiouser at 9:41 AM on November 6, 2022
posted by j_curiouser at 9:41 AM on November 6, 2022
Low were definitely in my top 5 of bands to see live anytime they were in town. For a band that excels in songs of ethereal quietude, when they wanted to go intense could really go intense! And her drumming was a big part of that. And of course, an amazing voice. I think their reputation will only grow in the years to come.
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:53 AM on November 6, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:53 AM on November 6, 2022 [3 favorites]
I knew she was ill, but fuck, I was not prepared.
I first heard Low when they opened for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds some time in the early 2000s. At the time I had no interest in sitting through some unknown-to-me opening band but when Mimi began to sing I was absolutely transfixed. They became one of my favorite bands.
I once ordered a T-shirt from their online store. It took a while to arrive and I was touched to find a handwritten note from Mimi in the package apologizing for the delay.
posted by jesourie at 9:58 AM on November 6, 2022 [7 favorites]
I first heard Low when they opened for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds some time in the early 2000s. At the time I had no interest in sitting through some unknown-to-me opening band but when Mimi began to sing I was absolutely transfixed. They became one of my favorite bands.
I once ordered a T-shirt from their online store. It took a while to arrive and I was touched to find a handwritten note from Mimi in the package apologizing for the delay.
posted by jesourie at 9:58 AM on November 6, 2022 [7 favorites]
Fuck ovarian cancer. It's so stealthy because many if not most of the ways symptoms manifest are so vague.
.
posted by rmd1023 at 10:27 AM on November 6, 2022
.
posted by rmd1023 at 10:27 AM on November 6, 2022
.
posted by lalochezia at 10:28 AM on November 6, 2022
posted by lalochezia at 10:28 AM on November 6, 2022
Damn, this one hurts. Low has been a life-long favorite for me, and Mimi Parker was so essential to them, and they all seemed like such decent, kind human beings. I had tickets to see them in Big Sur this October, but the show was canceled. I feel lucky to have seen them as many times as I did.
.
posted by whir at 10:58 AM on November 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
.
posted by whir at 10:58 AM on November 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
.
Drums and Guns was the album I played on repeat when mourning the death of our cat 12+ years ago. I still listen to it through that lens.
posted by SoundInhabitant at 11:10 AM on November 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
Drums and Guns was the album I played on repeat when mourning the death of our cat 12+ years ago. I still listen to it through that lens.
posted by SoundInhabitant at 11:10 AM on November 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
One of the great under appreciated bands, and her contribution was vital. Very sad . . . .
posted by birdhaus at 11:16 AM on November 6, 2022
posted by birdhaus at 11:16 AM on November 6, 2022
I liked every phase of the band but Double Negative is probably still the first album that comes to mind when I try to think of something “recent” that blew me away like music would when I was a kid. Devastating news.
posted by atoxyl at 11:28 AM on November 6, 2022
posted by atoxyl at 11:28 AM on November 6, 2022
.
posted by CarrotAdventure at 11:30 AM on November 6, 2022
posted by CarrotAdventure at 11:30 AM on November 6, 2022
Duluth is in mourning today, and the weather suits. I don't remember my first Low concert, since I've seen them so many times, and sometimes unexpectedly. I do remember that I was convinced their sound was most evocative of this place I love so much. So many moments of beauty, and they are the soundtrack.
posted by RedEmma at 11:38 AM on November 6, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by RedEmma at 11:38 AM on November 6, 2022 [5 favorites]
.
posted by kensington314 at 11:52 AM on November 6, 2022
posted by kensington314 at 11:52 AM on November 6, 2022
.
posted by misteraitch at 12:02 PM on November 6, 2022
posted by misteraitch at 12:02 PM on November 6, 2022
I will miss her voice and the harmonies she made
.
posted by fregoli at 12:07 PM on November 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
.
posted by fregoli at 12:07 PM on November 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
.
posted by hoboscratch at 1:15 PM on November 6, 2022
posted by hoboscratch at 1:15 PM on November 6, 2022
.
posted by crepesofwrath at 2:56 PM on November 6, 2022
posted by crepesofwrath at 2:56 PM on November 6, 2022
Jeff Tweedy (who produced one of Low's albums) posted a cover of a Low/Dirty Three song on his Substack in tribute.
posted by carrienation at 3:23 PM on November 6, 2022
posted by carrienation at 3:23 PM on November 6, 2022
One of, if not my all time favourite bands. I only got to see them on their last two tours, and they were incredible. Such a sweet voice! It's hard to state how critical she was to the band.
Terribly sorry for Alan's loss.
posted by doozer_ex_machina at 4:06 PM on November 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
Terribly sorry for Alan's loss.
posted by doozer_ex_machina at 4:06 PM on November 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 4:44 PM on November 6, 2022
posted by gentlyepigrams at 4:44 PM on November 6, 2022
I read this and audibly gasped.
I have no other words than “fuck cancer.”
.
posted by snortasprocket at 5:17 PM on November 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
I have no other words than “fuck cancer.”
.
posted by snortasprocket at 5:17 PM on November 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
The first tour I ever went on was in a band opening for Low back in 2001.
My jaw was on the floor every night: they were incredible, she was incredible.
I still get goosebumps thinking about those shows.
A few years after that tour I lost my mom to ovarian cancer.
My heart goes out to Alan and their kids.
.
posted by caseyblu at 6:22 PM on November 6, 2022 [7 favorites]
My jaw was on the floor every night: they were incredible, she was incredible.
I still get goosebumps thinking about those shows.
A few years after that tour I lost my mom to ovarian cancer.
My heart goes out to Alan and their kids.
.
posted by caseyblu at 6:22 PM on November 6, 2022 [7 favorites]
I was a huge fan and also fighting ovarian cancer right now myself - this news cuts deep. Ovarian cancer is very hard to diagnose early and is almost always fatal in later stages.
If you want to help other women fighting this deadly disease in memory of Mimi Parker, please donate to these very worthy organizations (which I am not affiliated with in any way):
The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
The Clearity Foundation
posted by birdsongster at 6:29 PM on November 6, 2022 [15 favorites]
If you want to help other women fighting this deadly disease in memory of Mimi Parker, please donate to these very worthy organizations (which I am not affiliated with in any way):
The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
The Clearity Foundation
posted by birdsongster at 6:29 PM on November 6, 2022 [15 favorites]
.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 6:52 PM on November 6, 2022
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 6:52 PM on November 6, 2022
I am devastated. I knew she was sick, but I wasn't expecting the announcement to be the first thing I saw this morning. I was lucky to see them at least 3 times, their songs had moments that were so beautiful they brought me to tears. I will play "Stars Gone Out" in her honor tonight and will keep her name close and sacred.
.
posted by black8 at 6:54 PM on November 6, 2022
.
posted by black8 at 6:54 PM on November 6, 2022
.
posted by coolxcool=rad at 9:06 PM on November 6, 2022
posted by coolxcool=rad at 9:06 PM on November 6, 2022
.
posted by SageLeVoid at 11:57 PM on November 6, 2022
posted by SageLeVoid at 11:57 PM on November 6, 2022
.
posted by viramamunivar at 11:59 PM on November 6, 2022
posted by viramamunivar at 11:59 PM on November 6, 2022
Heartbroken. I loved Low. They sounded like no one else and Mimi's voice carried so much emotion and depth... they did so much with just their voices, with a guitar and drums. It's a huge loss for their audience, and I am so very sad for Alan and their children. RIP Mimi. I've had Silver Rider in my head all day: sometimes your voice is not enough.
.
posted by jokeefe at 1:33 AM on November 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
.
posted by jokeefe at 1:33 AM on November 7, 2022 [2 favorites]
.
posted by fourpotatoes at 2:20 AM on November 7, 2022
posted by fourpotatoes at 2:20 AM on November 7, 2022
.
I have a particular soft spot for In the Drugs.
And in case this information is of any use to anyone, a lot of ovarian cancer begins in the fallopian tubes. If you have a body with fallopian tubes and you know you're done reproducing or you don't want to have biological kids, and you're in a position where you can get a bilateral salpingectomy without a ton of stress or expense, it's one way to give yourself some extra protection from a cancer that (as other commenters have noted) can be profoundly vague in its presentation. I got my bisalp primarily for gender affirmation/contraceptive purposes, but it was this additional side benefit that tipped me over towards definitely getting the surgery at the time when I was considering it.
posted by terretu at 2:36 AM on November 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
I have a particular soft spot for In the Drugs.
And in case this information is of any use to anyone, a lot of ovarian cancer begins in the fallopian tubes. If you have a body with fallopian tubes and you know you're done reproducing or you don't want to have biological kids, and you're in a position where you can get a bilateral salpingectomy without a ton of stress or expense, it's one way to give yourself some extra protection from a cancer that (as other commenters have noted) can be profoundly vague in its presentation. I got my bisalp primarily for gender affirmation/contraceptive purposes, but it was this additional side benefit that tipped me over towards definitely getting the surgery at the time when I was considering it.
posted by terretu at 2:36 AM on November 7, 2022 [3 favorites]
The first time I heard Low was when Shame randomly turned up on an internet radio station. Time stopped. Mimi's voice and the music resonated with things in my brain that I didn't know were there. Not only had I never heard anything like them before, but they were from Duluth! As a Minnesotan, that was especially cool.
Literally family unto themselves, I always think of them as emblematic of Minnesota music: DIY, endlessly creative, always personal and original.
I can't imagine how this is affecting Alan and their children.
.
posted by koucha at 7:32 AM on November 7, 2022
Literally family unto themselves, I always think of them as emblematic of Minnesota music: DIY, endlessly creative, always personal and original.
I can't imagine how this is affecting Alan and their children.
.
posted by koucha at 7:32 AM on November 7, 2022
.
posted by hydropsyche at 7:59 AM on November 7, 2022
posted by hydropsyche at 7:59 AM on November 7, 2022
I’ve seen Low live more than any other band, and they have been a long bridge for me between several stages of my adult life. Their output was as consistent (& consistently good) as Mimi’s drumbeat, and as deeply healing and human as her voice. Their music helped me feel less alone, helped me to be OK in solitude, helped me bond with my now-partner over our shared love for their music. Mimi was a beloved, rare treasure of a musician and this is such a loss. I am so sad for the Low albums we won’t hear. Wishes for so much grace to Alan and their children.
.
posted by inkytea at 8:45 AM on November 7, 2022 [4 favorites]
.
posted by inkytea at 8:45 AM on November 7, 2022 [4 favorites]
.
posted by montbrarian at 9:25 AM on November 7, 2022
posted by montbrarian at 9:25 AM on November 7, 2022
They were the quietest loud band I've ever seen. I saw them first at the Somerville Theater touring for The Great Destroyer and I don't know exactly how many times subsequently but it wasn't enough. I really wish I'd been able to see them touring on HEY WHAT.
posted by feloniousmonk at 10:19 AM on November 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by feloniousmonk at 10:19 AM on November 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
And time is just a hunger
It leads itself to nothing
When it finally takes us over
I hope we float away together
(Low, "Walk Into The Sea")
.
posted by Desertshore at 12:20 PM on November 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
It leads itself to nothing
When it finally takes us over
I hope we float away together
(Low, "Walk Into The Sea")
.
posted by Desertshore at 12:20 PM on November 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
Well shit. I only discovered Low about 6 months ago and haven't gotten to fully know them yet.
.
posted by hydra77 at 3:14 PM on November 7, 2022
.
posted by hydra77 at 3:14 PM on November 7, 2022
.
posted by vibrotronica at 3:39 PM on November 7, 2022
posted by vibrotronica at 3:39 PM on November 7, 2022
Really beautiful piece here from Nina Corcoran.
posted by carrienation at 8:39 AM on November 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by carrienation at 8:39 AM on November 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
A detailed account of her funeral service; love that the assembled crowd was addressed with, “Friends, family, and bass players: Welcome.” Still gutted.
posted by carrienation at 7:52 AM on November 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by carrienation at 7:52 AM on November 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
I have a brain that can't call up voices very easily, especially singing voices. Mimi Parker had the most memorable singing voice I know. When I heard she died, even though I hadn't listened to Low in a while, I was immediately able to conjure the purity and power and quiet of her voice.
posted by codhavereturned at 9:43 AM on November 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by codhavereturned at 9:43 AM on November 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
Twitter thread with a picture of all the Low bassists together, as well as a picture from the funeral program of Mimi's profiterole recipe.
posted by carrienation at 11:35 AM on November 11, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by carrienation at 11:35 AM on November 11, 2022 [2 favorites]
Two-hour tribute from Sheroes, the podcast where Mimi first spoke about her diagnosis; should be up in all podcast venues soon too.
posted by carrienation at 7:44 AM on November 12, 2022
posted by carrienation at 7:44 AM on November 12, 2022
« Older Up n under, up n away. | Solar co-ops, microgrids, and coal country climate... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
Oh god, those haunting harmonies, the way they would play so softly you could hear a pin drop.
.
posted by gwint at 9:35 AM on November 6, 2022 [8 favorites]