Ask someone who’s listened to Hospice, the beautiful and heartbreaking record from The Antlers, and they’ll probably rank it among their favorite albums while also saying they can’t listen to it in full. It is a journey in the morose. Written by Peter Silberman, the record charts an abusive relationship told through the metaphor of a patient and doctor in the cancer ward of a hospital. It is a masterpiece among an era of great records like Funeral from Arcade Fire, Teen Dream by Beach House and Veckatimest from Grizzly Bear. 

At the Sinclair on Tuesday night, a sold-out crowd revisited the record with a stripped-down, acoustic set from the Brooklyn-based band. The normally standing-room-only Sinclair was converted into a seated venue. The band’s first set ran through the record in order. The songs in their new format are not just quieter, they are also pristine. Hospice on record has bouts of noise, and it both peaks in loudness and has desperately quiet parts. In this reconfigured version, the quiet parts get quieter, and the louder parts – while not ear splittingly loud – are more pronounced. This was present on songs like “Two” and “Bear.” One song that deviated from that loud/quiet dichotomy was “Sylvia,” which Silberman delivered in a more even-keeled manner – as even-keeled as one could be while yelling at Sylvia Plath to get her head out of the oven.  

In interviews leading up to this tour, Silberman said he was altering how he sings the songs, because he effectively blew out his voice. If that caused any worries that a changed voice, those worries were for naught. Silberman’s falsetto sounds just as it did those 10 years ago.  

The crowd was respectful – so respectful as to not start clapping until Silberman said “thank you” after finishing the song. There was not a dry eye in the house; some show-goers clutched their partner’s or show buddy’s hand.  

After the final notes of “Epilogue” rang out, the band left the stage for a set break and reemerged to play some “oldies,” as Silberman put it.  

The second set spanned songs from the band’s subsequent LPs and EP, including “I Don’t Want Love” from Burst Apart, Undersea’s “Drift Dive,” and the triumphant “Parade” from 2014’s Familiars. The trio closed with perennial favorite and utterly depressing “Putting the Dog To Sleep.” It marked the one time throughout the night people really sang along; the opening line caused everyone to join in: “Prove to me I’m not gonna die alone.” After an evening listening to a record that offers very light, that release was the catharsis people were searching for.  

Tim Mislock, who accompanied the Antlers, performed the opening set of instrumental guitar loops. His record Now Is the Last Best Time is dedicated to his mother, who is the primary caregiver to his stepfather who has Alzheimer’s disease. The set was achingly beautiful and meditative; I closed my eyes for 10-15 minutes and focused on the sounds. It was a great way to precede the Antlers’ set.  

The Antlers are on tour now.  

See below for photos from the show (in order: The Antlers and Tim Mislock):