Band of Horses
When: 28th October 2022
Location: Barrowland
Band of Horses are an anthemic indie folk outfit who are return with a new album and 2022 UK dates. Coming to Glasgow’s Barrowland on 28th October 2022.
Band Of Horses seemed to emerge from the woods of the Pacific Northwest like a perfect amalgamation of My Morning Jacket’s ethereal folksiness and Arcade Fire’s triumphant crescendos. Nowhere is that meeting point more evident than on their 2006 breakthrough single The Funeral. A haunting lament that suddenly explodes into a cathartic anthem. Ben Bridwell’s keening, reverb-drenched voice drifting above the clamour, part mourner, part ghost.
Bridwell’s voice earned plenty of comparisons, not just MMJ’s Jim James but also Wayne Coyne and Neil Young. As well as Jonathan Donahue of Mercury Rev and Sparklehorse’s late Mark Linkous. All are as accurate as they are complimentary, sharing that same other-worldly, nigh-unbearable surfeit of emotion.
Following the success of their debut Everything All The Time, Band Of Horses returned to the studio with Everything producer Phil Ek. Albeit minus founding member Mat Brooke, who left to focus on his own project, Grand Archives. The resulting album was 2007’s Cease To Begin. A clear notice that Band Of Horses were far more than just an equation formed of 00s indie touchpoints. The almost too beautiful No One’s Gonna Love You was as big a success as The Funeral. Even getting cover treatment from Cee-Lo Green.
The band’s third album
When the band returned in 2010 with their third album, Infinite Arms, Bridwell and long-standing drummer Creighton Barrett were now accompanied by a new cohort of bandmates. As well as a more luscious, classic pop sound that pushed the indie folk to the fringes. Bridwell’s love for the Beach Boys sprang to the fore, particularly on the almost-orchestral title track.
The spoils of Infinite Arms’ success included a Grammy nomination and a swelling fanbase. So Band Of Horses took steps to ensure they capitalised on their situation without over commercialising their sound. For this, they turned to famed producer Glyn Johns (Eagles, The Rolling Stones). He insisted on the band rehearsing religiously and recording the album live in the studio. The resulting Mirage Rock had an immediacy and warmth that set it apart from Infinite Arms but still with mass appeal deep in its DNA.
Teaming up with Rick Rubin and Jason Lytle (Grandaddy) for 2016’s Why Are You OK set a marker that Band Of Horses were ready to experiment again. A plan clearly laid out on the spacey 7-minute opus that opened the record. Following the album’s release, guitarist Tyler Ramsey and bassist Bill Reynolds left the band.
While Band Of Horses continued touring, they took an extended gap from recording. Before beginning to tease new music in October 2021.
