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| The Antlers | |
|---|---|
| Name | The Antlers |
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Genres | Indie rock, Dream pop, Post-rock, Ambient music, Baroque pop |
| Labels | Frenchkiss Records, ANTI-, Self-released |
| Associated acts | Sylvan Esso, The National, Grizzly Bear, Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver |
The Antlers
The Antlers are an American indie rock band formed in Brooklyn, New York City, known for emotionally intense albums and a chamber-inflected sound drawing from post-rock, ambient music, and singer-songwriter traditions. Led by principal songwriter Peter Silberman, the group achieved wider recognition with a critically acclaimed concept album that influenced peers across the indie rock and alternative rock scenes. Their catalogue includes sparse solo recordings, collaborative expansions and label-backed releases that trace a trajectory from intimate lo-fi to widescreen orchestration.
Formed in 2006 in Brooklyn, the ensemble emerged from Peter Silberman's earlier solo work and home-recording experiments influenced by acts such as Radiohead, Explosions in the Sky, Sigur Rós, Modest Mouse, and The Flaming Lips. Early releases were self-released and circulated within networks connected to Myspace and DIY labels before gaining attention from Frenchkiss Records and press outlets including Pitchfork, NME, Spin, and Rolling Stone. A pivotal breakthrough came with a concept album that intersected narratives of illness and interpersonal decay, prompting features in The New York Times, The Guardian, BBC Music, and Stereogum. Line-up expansions and collaborations with musicians linked to The National, Grizzly Bear, and Arcade Fire facilitated live adaptations that furthered the group's profile on bills with Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, Interpol, and tours across North America, Europe, and Australia. Periods of hiatus and Silberman's health-related retreat prompted solo releases and partnerships with labels such as ANTI-, after which the band returned with renewed sonic palettes and thematic concerns reflecting recovery and memory.
Their music blends textures associated with post-rock bands like Explosions in the Sky and Sigur Rós with intimacy reminiscent of Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, and Sufjan Stevens. Arrangements often incorporate string sections, piano, brass, and electronic ambience akin to Brian Eno and production approaches used by Daniel Lanois and Steve Albini. Lyrically, Silberman draws on narrative strategies comparable to Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, and Nick Cave, while structural choices echo concept albums by Pink Floyd, The Who, and The Beach Boys. The band has cited influences ranging from Yo-Yo Ma-style chamber music to Kraftwerk electronics, alongside contemporary peers such as The National, Fleet Foxes, Beach House, and Grizzly Bear.
Studio albums include early self-released records and later label-supported works spanning concept-driven and experimental approaches. Notable releases appeared on Frenchkiss Records and ANTI- and were covered by outlets like Pitchfork and The Guardian. Key entries: - Early self-released LPs and EPs circulated via Myspace and independent distribution networks. - Breakthrough concept album that received year-end honors from Pitchfork, NME, The Guardian, and Stereogum. - Subsequent albums exploring themes of recovery, memory, and modernization, released after Silberman's brief solo period and covered by The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and Consequence of Sound. - Latest studio efforts that incorporate orchestral arrangements, electronic textures, and collaborations with musicians associated with The National, Grizzly Bear, and Fleet Foxes.
Core personnel centers on Peter Silberman (vocals, guitar, songwriter), joined by collaborators and touring musicians with connections to established acts: - Peter Silberman — vocals, guitar, principal songwriter; solo recordings and collaborations with artists featured on KEXP sessions and Tiny Desk Concerts. - Michael Lerner — drums and percussion; performed alongside bands in the Brooklyn circuit and toured with the ensemble. - Darby Cicci — multi-instrumentalist (keyboards, trumpet, bass) and arranger; worked with orchestral players and session musicians from scenes linked to New York City and Philadelphia. Past and touring contributors have included musicians with ties to The National, Grizzly Bear, Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, and solo artists such as Sufjan Stevens.
Live presentations range from intimate house shows and club dates in Brooklyn to headlining slots at festivals like Pitchfork Music Festival, Coachella, All Points East, and international appearances at Primavera Sound, End of the Road Festival, and SXSW. Performances have featured expanded line-ups with string quartets and brass sections, echoing arrangements presented on recordings and drawing comparisons to orchestral pop acts such as Arcade Fire and R.E.M.. Collaborations on stage have paired them with contemporaries including Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, The National, and Grizzly Bear, while radio sessions and television appearances on programs affiliated with BBC Radio 1 and NPR increased exposure.
Critics from publications like Pitchfork, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, and NME praised the band's emotional depth, ambitious arrangements, and narrative focus, often placing their albums on year-end lists alongside works by Bon Iver, Radiohead, Sufjan Stevens, and Arcade Fire. The group's influence is evident in a generation of indie and chamber-pop artists, with bands and soloists citing their work in interviews for Pitchfork, NME, and The Guardian. Academic discussions in music journals and coverage on platforms such as JSTOR and Oxford Academic have examined their use of concept album tropes and sonic minimalism, comparing them to historical acts like Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen. The Antlers' blend of intimate songwriting and expansive production continues to inform contemporary indie aesthetics and live orchestration trends.
Category:Indie rock groups from New York (state)