Band Of Horses
The Roundhouse, London
09/06/2010

The thing about Band Of Horses is their mass appeal. Your Dad will like singer Ben Bridwell’s soothing Neil Young-esque croon. Your girlfriend will love their beards. And your younger siblings will think they’re cool thanks to their appearance on a soundtrack from a certain vampire film. Whatever the secret of their success is, their profile definitely kicked up a gear with the release of their third album ‘Infinite Arms’ earlier this year. So tonight, it’s no surprise that they arrive to a packed out crowd of all ages.
 
Phil Collins’ ‘In The Air Tonight’ - tonight’s odd choice of entrance music – is followed by the equally bewildering yet thoroughly beguiling opening number, an impressive cover of obscure soul tune ‘Am I A Good Man’ by Them Two. Launching next into their more recognisable alt-country stylings of ‘Blue Beard’ and ‘Compliments’, Band Of Horses effortlessly epic songs cut deep as the grand canyon. Feel-good new songs like ‘Laredo’, compliment the likes of ‘Islands On The Coast’ to great effect, while psychedelic tinged moment ‘Factory’ sees the band successfully muscling in on Flaming Lips territory. Robbed of his guitar by technical gremlins during clear crowd favourite ‘Is There A Ghost’, Bridwell’s intense wail is clearly the only instrument he needs to impress the sea of plaid amassed before him.
 
Galloping through the majority of all three of their albums, Band Of Horses can do no wrong by their fans. Ending their set with the stomping sing-along ‘The General Specific’, they still have enough ‘horse power’ (sorry) for a 25-minute encore, which is clearly more than enough for some, but there’s plenty left to enjoy getting their money’s worth. It may be long but it’s a set of heartfelt and flawless loveliness that would bring any soul in from the wilderness.
 
Michael Consagra