I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: February 8, 2024] An Evening With Band of Horses

My wife and I saw Band of Horses three times in three years.  But we hadn’t seen them in eight years!  I couldn’t believe it had been so long because the previous show (the first headlining show we’d seen) was so good, so impactful, that we think of it as one of the best shows we’ve seen.

This show promised to be even better because it was going to be an evening with the band–no opening act!

The first set was acoustic.

Ben Bridwell came out and sang St. Augustine solo.  It was lovely.  He had lost his voice about a week ago and I wasn’t sure how good he would sound, but he sounded perfect.

He then invited out Brett Nash to play guitar with him and sing “Part One.”  The harmonies were wonderful.

Then the rest of the band came out.  Creighton Barrett played a small drum kit, Ryan Monroe sat at a grand piano and Matt Gentling played upright bass.

Here the harmonies became outstanding.

Visually the set was charming with each guy in his own little area.  Each one had a lamp and there were candle all over the stage.

Despite the set being acoustic, it wasn’t specifically quiet or mellow.  Indeed, some of the songs were jaunty and rocking but in a fun folk rock way. 

It has been a while since I actively listened to Band of Horses and I didn’t listen to anything going in, so I was delighted every time they played a killer song.  Indeed, the acoustic setlist, full of so many great songs, was such a good setlist that there weren’t many other songs I could imagine hearing.

After a break, the set was changed completely–the coziness was gone and in its place was a rock stage.  And they wasted no time, but rocking out a killer version of “Cigarettes, Wedding Bands.”  Ben’s voice has sounded great in the acoustic songs, but wow, he really brought it for the electric songs.  And the backing vocals were fantastic.

Ben joked that he hoped the opening band didn’t suck.  (They didn’t).

The rest of the set was just one classic song after another.  And in the electric section, there were fun, weird or moody backdrops behind the band.

Everyone danced for “Casual Party,” and everyone swooned for “Is There a Ghost.”  The soaring “Great Salt Lake” sounded great and the build up was phenomenal.

The ending trio of songs was like a mini greatest hits.  “Ode to LRC” was intense and great.  “The Funeral” sounded amazing and they ended the whole show on a great rocking note with the fantastic “The General Specific.”

It was such a great show.  The sound was fantastic, the band were affable and fun and the audience was great.  No tall people in the way.  No drunk people talking.  No one being an ass.  There was chatter but the band seemed okay with it.  Our view was perfect and we were close without having the sound distorted.

And even more fun, our friend Jonathan was there too, and we got to catch up with him after the show.

It was a wonderful night and was even over at a reasonable hour.

⇔ Everything All the Time (2006)
⊗ Cease to Begin (2007)
∞ Infinite Arms (2010)
‰ Why Are You OK (2016)
♦ Things Are Great (2022)