So I miss a 6:49 train home from Grand Central by mere seconds, which normally leads to a profanity laced train of thoughts as I look for the track for the 7:30 track. Today wasn't much different except that when I got to track 25, what should be directly in my peripheral vision but a sign reading "ARE YOU HERE FOR THE ROCK SHOW?" My reaction? "What rock show, where?” because, no I was not intending to be but, so long as I am waiting, don’t mind if I do.
The band, whom I actually could not see due to the fact that Vanderbilt Hall had sheets up blocking the stage, I quickly found out is called Band of Horses (got to love twitter) and they are actually pretty good. Full disclosure, there were announcements being said so I can't say exactly how good but it was an enjoyable way to kill a half hour and I will definitely be checking them out more thorough and you should too.
Official Band of Horses website www.bandofhorses.com
MySpace www.myspacecom/bandofhorses
A little background on the band (as told by Wikipedia)
Ben Bridwell (vocals, guitar) formed Band of Horses in 2004 after the break-up of his previous band, Carissa's Wierd, along with bassist Chris Early and drummer Tim Meinig. They were soon joined by former Carissa's Wierd bandleader Mat Brooke (guitar, vocals).[3] The band initially received attention from Sub Pop after opening for Iron & Wine during Seattle area shows. In 2005, the band released Tour EP, which was sold at shows and on Sub Pop's website.
Their first full-length album, Everything All the Time, was recorded in 2005 with producer Phil Ek and released by Sub Pop on March 21, 2006. The album features the band's original four-piece lineup, although both Tim Meinig and Sera Cahoone receive drumming credits.[4] Bridwell, Meinig and Early did not see eye to eye creatively and the two left soon after the recording of the album.[5] For the subsequent tour, Joe Arnone (guitar and keyboards), Rob Hampton (bass and guitar), and Creighton Barrett (drums) were brought in to play with Bridwell and Brooke.
The album's first single, "The Funeral", has been used in numerous television series, films, video games, and advertisements. On July 13, 2006, the band performed "The Funeral" on the Late Show with David Letterman without Brooke, who had left the band.[6] He subsequently formed Grand Archives, who have since signed to Sub Pop[7] and released two albums.
Brooke explained how he joined Band of Horses, "So they ended up getting a show opening up for Iron and Wine in Seattle and Ben asked if I would just come up and do a couple songs, just 'cause we're friends. So...I did that. It was fun and then a couple of Iron and Wine tours came up...and then next thing I knew, we were in the studio making a record for Sub Pop." And why he left, "I'd never really given the commitment to be a formal member It was just a spur of the moment...and Everything All the Time took off really fast...I still didn't feel quite committed. It was still 100 percent Ben's project and I kinda wanted to see what else I could do."[8]
[edit] Cease To Begin
Ramsey and Bridwell in vocal and sartorial harmony at Amoeba Records, October 10, 2007
Before recording their second album, Bridwell decided to relocate the band from Seattle to his native South Carolina.[9] He said, "We were touring so much that nowhere was really home, so I figured...if I’m gonna come home after these long stretches of traveling, it would nice to be around my family...I’m close enough so I get to see them at least twice a year."[10]
Band of Horses' second album, Cease to Begin, was recorded in North Carolina and produced by Phil Ek. It was released on Sub Pop Records on October 9, 2007. The album features the core trio of Ben Bridwell, Creighton Barrett, and Rob Hampton, with keyboards played by Ryan Monroe. Cease to Begin gave Band of Horses their first hit in the U.S. by reaching number 35 on the Billboard 200 and was voted ninth best album of 2007 by Paste magazine[11] and 47th best by Rolling Stone.[12]
Following the release of Cease to Begin, Monroe became a permanent member of the band, along with new recruits Tyler Ramsey (guitar and vocals) and Bill Reynolds (bass). This made Band of Horses a six-piece band, with Rob Hampton now only playing guitar. In addition to his role in the band, Ramsey has performed solo as the opening act before live performances by the band.
In 2008, Band of Horses played at the Glastonbury Festival, T in the Park, the Bridge School Benefit concert, and the Roskilde Festival.
[edit] Infinite Arms
Ben Bridwell playing with Band of Horses at the Outside Lands Festival 2009
In May 2009, producer Phil Ek stated that he was recording the third Band of Horses album in North Carolina[13] Ben Bridwell mentioned that the new album was titled Night Rainbows several times while introducing new songs during the band's summer 2009 tour,[14] but in a March 2, 2010 interview, the band revealed that the album was to be called Infinite Arms.[15] Prior to the recording of the album, Rob Hampton left the band. He was later replaced by Swedish guitarist Ludwig Böss, although Böss does not appear on the album and on March 19, 2010 it was revealed that he too had left.[16] The album was recorded by the current five-piece lineup of Bridwell, Ramsey, Reynolds, Barrett, and Monroe.
Infinite Arms was released worldwide between May 14 and 19, 2010 on the Columbia, Brown, and Fat Possum labels. Aside from the North Carolina sessions at Echo Mountain Studios, parts of the album were recorded in California The album was self-produced by the band, with additional production from Phil Ek.
On April 20, the band appeared on the BBC television series Later... with Jools Holland, promoting Infinite Arms by playing new songs "Compliments," "Factory", and "NW Apt". Following this appearance, the band's two earlier albums entered the UK Top 200 for the first time.[17] Infinite Arms entered the UK chart at number 21, giving Band of Horses their first top 100 UK chart hit and debuted at number 7 on the Billboard 200, far exceeding the performance of Cease to Begin.
The band have contributed a new track, "Life on Earth" to the soundtrack album of the Twilight Saga film Eclipse. The album was released on June 7, 2010.[18]
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