Band Of Horses Review - Glasgow Jan

An eager Glasgow audience were treated to the country filled sounds of American rockers Band of Horses last week in the 02 Academy, and were not left disappointed.  Having released their latest album Infinite Arms in 2010, the band have had their most successful year to date, shown by the near to capacity venue and a crowd that was chomping at the bit for them to take to the stage pre-show.

The Funeral, Factory and Compliments were no doubt the biggest hits with the crowd on the night along with Dilly, which is currently featured as a contender for Radio 2’s pick of the week.

Dilly  is also being released as a single along with their cover of Cee lo Green’s Georgia on Valentine’s Day this year. Also a winner with the crowd was their cover of Silver Jews’   Black and Brown Blues.  Band of Horses’ blend of soft acoustic tracks and rockier anthems, made almost a full 2 hours go past like a speeding train in the night.

The Academy was in a previous life a cinema, and the remarkable photography and films featured as a backdrop to Band of Horses’ soulful lyrics and sound, managed too draw on a history that is too often lost in the beer soaked atmosphere of the venue. The music and staging intertwined perfectly to create an awe-inspiring atmosphere.

The only fault of the night has to go to the bar, or lack thereof when it comes to a decent pint.

You’d rather swallow the amount you’d have to fork out for the sub-standard  Tuborg “pilsner” in 1pence coins than trek to the bar for another one, but since there’s very few alternatives, wincing with every sip will have to do. Although saying that it was most definitely the only weak point of the night. And the band can’t be held responsible for that but the venue most defiantly should be.

Band of Horses performed a gig that included everything that the modern day band should strive to attain. A cracking setlist, visuals that don’t take away from the music but add to it and an atmosphere that any “too cool for school” Glasgow trendsetter would be hard pushed not to dive head first into. It is due to this that I don’t doubt that everyone left on the night wishing the band all the best in this year’s Best Alternative Album category at the Grammy Awards, they most definitely deserve it.

Oh and wishing they hadn’t bought that awful pint from the bar.

Stefanie McCartney