Live Review

Band Of Horses – De La Warr Pavilion, East Sussex

• 8th Feb 2011

After seeing the likes of Vampire Weekend and Kate Nash in 2010, the De la Warr’s repertoire for bringing in acts normally lighting up festival tents, to the south coast grows yet again. After touring around the country for the last few weeks, Seattle five piece Band of Horses UK tour culminated with an incredibly powerful yet beautifully intimate performance at the De la Warr.

So many bands rise out from the roots of America, but the bewitching, rich accent and the remains of the sound that once was the blues disappears through modern over-production. Not with Band of Horses though. Formed in 2004 by lead singer Ben Bridwell and now touring their third album – the Grammy nominated – Infinite Arms, the unmistakeable alternative side and sound of ‘Country’ lives throughout their discography.

Opening proceedings is Blue Beard an excellent showcase for Bridwell’s vocals, as well as the rest of the group, as they harmonise with him throughout, before being lead into lead singleCompliments. An excellent, fast paced jolt from the usual toned down sway of textbook Country style. As the show continues, more and more focus is placed on the projections that play behind the band; normally the home for a static emblem for the artist, but here, they make it so much more. For Horses Du Jour a short introduction is made by a virtual Bridwell on screen, later a stop-motion film of the bands festival appearances plays through an entire song; but, between these well crafted clips the true visual highlight stands out. An ongoing collection of stunning photographs of central America. Whilst the band continue to play, empty sepia landscapes of the dry and desolate America that Bridwell recounts in his lyrics drift by, whilst his haunting voice fills the entire room. 


As well as providing songs that could quite easily fill up arenas, it is the bands delicate, more personal tracks that stand out. Evening Kitchen a duet of guitar and vocals manages to envelope the auditorium into complete silence as the evocative sound of nostalgia and reminiscence steals the voice and gaze of the crowd, through the power of beautiful musical simplicity.

Although it is the minimal songs in Band of Horses collection that stand out, there is however one song that everyone has come here for, The Funeral, a swelling beast of modern Country craftsmanship, and although it must have been played at every single leg of their tour, the joy has not left the band. It is not only Bridwell, but every single member of the band pours their heart and soul into the song – as does the crowd – it is an uplifting and staggeringly exquisite song, played through the a set of the most basic of instruments. Overall, An excellent performance by a band that have managed to bring one of the most important genres of the 20th century into the modern age, but not through a corporate, over-produced way, but through their own way. Band of Horses talent lies in there ability to create simply brilliant music, simply.