Live Review

Band Of Horses – Liverpool Carling Academy

• 15th Jul 2008

Fresh from their Glastonbury success Band Of Horses roll into town as part of their mini tour in between festivals bringing with them a horde of alt-southern rock wannabes dressed in checked trucker shirts. Considering the last tour in February was a sell-out, this extra date is a real treat for the loyal fans.

There’s kind of an inevitability that BOH begin their shows with the power mantra of Is There a Ghost, and that’s exactly what happens, Ben Bridwell’s resonant vocals sounding the call to arms for the rest of the band to kick in with the crunchy, punchy backing music.

Ode To LRC is one of those songs that just make you nod your head along right from the first punch of the guitar, and builds up to Bridwell’s pronouncing that the “world is such a wonderful place” – after hearing this, even the most manic depressive can’t really deny it. The positive tone of the ballad No Ones Gonna Love You has people gently swaying along with grins on their faces, while the southern rock sensibilities of BOH emerge through The General Specific, it really does make you want to start a big mass line dance with thumbs in pockets. The frantic guitar intro to Islands On The Coast swirls around the room until Bridwell steadies everything with his reassuring impassioned shake of the head when hitting his high notes. Performed live, the sonic impact of the guitars accompanied by the Neil Young sounding vocals does a good job of getting right in your head, mashing it up a bit and then laughing at the result.

The melancholic first notes of The Funeral bring whoops of joy from the crowd and sees BOH do what they do best, induce power and passion as it builds up to the final chorus where a mass of flashing lights descend on the crowd, singing along aplenty – one of those great surreal moments where its like someone spiked your drink, but then you remember you haven’t been drinking.

The boys head back on to the stage for the encore, but sadly the epicness of The Funeral only serves to make the encore feel like a bit of a formality, and makes you think that perhaps the big hitter should be left for the encore. Two songs follow anyway including the more laid back Detlef Schrempf, but everyone loves it anyway and walk out thankful that BOH decided to throw in this extra date before they head back across the Atlantic.