Review: Band of Horses in fine form for Asheville show

Here it is:

A Review of Band of Horses at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, 10/28/2010

By Chall Gray

After a new album, Infinite Arms, many months on the road, and an ascendancy to the upper echelon of American bands (which included a recent headlining slot at Austin City Limits), Band of Horses returned to Asheville with at show at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium this Thursday.

Asheville, home of lead guitarist Tyler Ramsey and bassist Bill Reynolds, and the band’s perennial choice for recording (at Echo Mountain) probably represents the closest thing to a hometown show that there is for the band, and they certainly seemed excited to be back. After an opening set from local band Uncle Mountain, and an ebullient turn by Jenny & Johnny, Ramsey and lead singer Ben Bridwell came onstage, beginning a sparse and captivating version of “Ode to LRC.” Partway through the song the rest of the band emerged, and joined in at just the moment that the tempo changes markedly upward. This theatrical beginning was executed perfectly, and was indicative of how the rest of the evening would be.

The members of Band of Horses seem well suited to the role of rock stars. During the show Bill Reynolds wore a jacket that, with it’s suede stars, stripes, and eight inch tassels, would elicit laughter, derision, and perhaps comparisons to a lost rodeo cowboy in any other situation but onstage playing music in front of a crowd of 1200 enthusiastic people. Ramsey has an effortless nonchalance while playing even the most intricate solo that is awe-inspiring, and Bridwell has the swagger and attitude of the mega rock star he is fast becoming (he even went so far as to light and smoke a cigarette during “Laredo,” late in the set).  

And it’s good that they are so well suited to being rock stars, because they make rock music incredibly well. Many of the adjectives and descriptions that come to mind when considering their music are interchangeable with the way one might describe a picturesque landscape (textured, shimmering, etc), and the comparison is appropriate because many of their songs, purposely, evoke feelings of different landscapes. The songs are also often swelling and anthemic, which is in this case rarely cloying, and in those cases when the instrumentation may overwhelm, the songs are often redeemed by Ben Bridwell’s vocals.

Bridwell has one of the most unique singing voices of any lead singer in music today, by turns insouciant, delicate, and most of all malleable, he can rescue pretty much any lyric, and he, along with the rest of the band, was in fine form Thursday night. If pressed to detail one disappointment from this show, it’s that the hometown crowd didn’t come out to support them more, with the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium not much more than half full. They will be back though, and chances are they will put on another stellar show next time, so do yourself a favor, and don’t miss them when they return again.

Chall Gray is a freelance writer and producer based in Asheville. He is currently working on opening a cafe/bar/theatre, The Magnetic Field,  in the River Arts District.