Band Of Horses have been around longer than you might think. Starting out in 2004, the line-up may have changed around a little bit over the years, with a somewhat revolving-door policy, but they produced a corker of an album last year.’Infinite Arms’ was Grammy Award-nominated, no less, with a big, clean stadium sound, much like the opening to this show.
New single ‘Dilly’ was underwhelming and marked a distinct first section to this gig, where redundant guitars seemed like an entourage to singer Ben Bridwell’s honest, outdoorsy voice, which is clear and wooded and perfectly imperfect. Things got way better though, when they pared down the sound and got out the lap steel for a western style that seems to be at their core, if the backdrop to tonight’s show is anything to go by. They gave ‘Horses’ their own feathery sound, and carried this competent nonchalance through to ‘The Funeral’ and ‘No Ones Gonna Love you’. On reflection though, one of these wouldn’t have gone amiss in an otherwise lacking encore.
Bridwell even announced the thing by saying they were going to have a little break in a minute. Where’s the spontaneity?They didn’t play hard, but their friendly music doesn’t really call for it. I have heard mixed claims as to the influence of this new album, ranging from the Mojave Desert to paranoid knife-wielding nightmares, and this show paid tribute to the desultory. It was the handy video montage of an American landscape that kept the thread of the show; and ensured the sense of place so cherished by bands such as Midlake; that BOH just couldn’t quite communicate fully.
I think the subdued crowd was down to the venue as opposed to the band: the 50s pavilion-come-arts forum in the seaside town of Bexhill is ace architecturally, but isn’t pre-disposed to the kind of atmosphere needed for a live show. I had my secondary school prize-givings there. But I think the rapturous applause was telling of the reception; they did go down a storm. Oh, and if last night’s crowd was anything to go by, 2011 is going to be another ‘year of the plaid’ as far as shirt-wearers are concerned.
Band of Horses, Goldheart Assembly
De La Warr Pavillion, Bexhill
Friday 4th February 2011
Words by Cate Gunther
