April 2010, 40 Watt, Athens, Ga.
Six songs into the set, Band of Horses lead singer Ben Bridwell strapped on a UGA baseball cap, sporting a wild smile on his face. Bridwell told of his love for Georgia Bulldog football a couple of years ago in a Pitchfork interview, and here he was, knee-deep in Bulldog country. “We’ve been wanting to play this place for a long time and we’re finally here,” he told the enthusiastic crowd. “Go Dogs!”
In a thrilling set which lasted almost two hours, Bridwell and the boys lit up the Watt with their infectious songs and attitude. Playing a series of selections from their album Infinite Arms, the band also cherry-picked top songs from its first two albums and threw in a couple of covers for good measure.
Bridwell opened the set on the sit-down steel guitar, playing new song “Evening Kitchen” followed by “The First Song” from 2006’s excellent Everything All the Time. Soon to follow were “Is There a Ghost” and “The Great Salt Lake,” which quickly sent the crowd into mass movement. In a display of the looseness of the night which was shared by all, Bridwell and keyboardist Ryan Monroe were out of sync at the start of “Marry Song,” which they had to start twice and carefully traipsed through. It was a telling moment, showing a band having a good time and not worrying so much if everything didn’t sound just right. I’ve seen some bands afflicted by this at the Watt (I’m looking at you BRMC) and it ruined the show for everyone.
Band of Horses just rolled with it. The crowd loved them for it.
Other selection included “Ode to the LRC,” “Weed Party,” “Compliments,” “Northwest Apartment,” a cover of J.J. Cale’s “Thirteen Days” and of course “The Funeral,” the band’s most recognized song which put the crowd in orbit, if just for a moment. The band returned for an encore (helped along by a Tomahawk Chop chant from the crowd) of “Our Swords” and a cover of Yo La Tengo’s “Sugarcube”. Bridwell said being in the Watt reminded him of seeing Archers of Loaf there, but said he wasn’t even thinking of playing one of their songs.
It took a while for the Band of Horses to hit Athens, but they did with a lasting blow.
