I saw Ben Bridwell’s Band of Horses play Liverpool’s Academy following the release of their last album ‘Cease To Begin.’ They now return to the North West to Manchester’s historic venue The Ritz to tour their new album, ‘Infinite Arms.’ Formed in Seattle they are originally from Carolina but have now gained a hardcore following here. Tonight people have travelled from all over to see the alt-country rockers.
We arrive just in time to see them take to the stage and become ensconced in orange and red light. The audience are clearly entranced but more intent on listening and less on dancing. This fact does not go un noted in our beery dance ready crowd. They begin with old favourites such as ‘Cigarettes and Wedding Bands.’ During ‘The Great Salt Lake,’ rollicking drums luckily override problematic technical issues. While their popular single ‘Is There A Ghost?’ showcases Bridwell’s voice as cymbals are feathered and riffs build. After ‘Islands on the Coast,’ the singer announces that they’ve been on tour for 66 days straight now, and asks if it’s now ok to play some new stuff. ‘If that’s alright with you guys!’
And play it they do. Melodic alt- country tunes abound. ‘Compliments’ is a radio friendly new favourite. While on the pretty ‘Laredo,’ Tyler Ramsey gets to display some tender strumming. The title track is as lovely as it gets. ‘When my thoughts drift to you,’ sighs Bridwell over gentle acoustics. ‘Dilly’ is more conventionally poppy. Then Harmonicas dominate ‘For Annabelle,’ which is backdropped by interesting videos of a stag. The crowd are warming up and everyone is singing in unison for ‘No One's Gonna Love You.’ Descendant chords greet the opening lyrics ‘I’m coming up only to hold you under,’ of ‘The Funeral’ well known due to it’s TV airings. At a crucial point Bridwell messes up as the crowd roars the words ‘Fuck it man, it was my picks fault.’
Their two encores include the country barnstormer ‘The General Specific.’ The band bang tambourines into submission and the crowd are now in frenzy. At this point the gig has all the atmosphere of The Band in their heyday. While ‘Monsters,’ from the first album ‘Everything All the Time,’ calms it down.
Although there are sound problems throughout the gig, they bat on regardless. Their hard edged blues is accompanied by flashy lighting effects. The harmonica, melodica and layered harmonies are a lot harder and rockier live than on record. Bridwell has enormous stage presence, a versatile vocalist with both shimmery falsetto and nasal tenor up his sleeve. This shows off the gentler new songs to full effect. With a polophony of sound which is both atmospheric rock and pop bliss. The only thing that could have made it better for me would have been ‘Detlef Schrempf,’ or the tenderness of ‘Window Blues.’ I remember at the previous gig they totally surprised me with the level of full on turbulence on display. Tonight they have picked wisely from their three album catalogue. Band of Horses have only enhanced their reputation and tonight Manchester has nothing to answer for.
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