There are two bands that are nearly
impossible to escape this year, Vampire
Weekend and Band of Horses; two very different
bands that have been getting a nearly even buzz from
critics and fans alike. While Vampire Weekend are
gaining acclaim for their inclusion of African Rhythms into
Western electronic and indie music, Band of Horses are gaining
notoriety from their return to Southern Rock roots while
maintaining indie cred.
“Achieving musical transcendence is a tricky feat, almost
definitively. If it happens at all, it happens naturally and perhaps
nobody knows that better than Seattle, Washington’s Band of
Horses,” from the band’s MySpace page. Formed in 2004, Band
of Horses started as a four-piece band from Seattle, Washington.
Seattle generally invokes images of flannel, rainy days, and
disheartened youth. Band of Horses, however, has a
substantially more upbeat view on life than these grunge giants of
Seattle’s past. Now a three piece consisting of Creighton
Barrett, Ben Bridwell, and Rob Hampton, the group has moved
to Bridwell’s home state of South Carolina. Along with their
increased visibility in the indie scene, Band of Horses have begun
to crossover into the mainstream by appearing in the Ford Motor
Company’s commercials for Sync.
Spending a majority of their time on the road, Band of Horses
continues to gain a majority of their fans from their talent-filled,
energetic live shows rather than the advertising blitz that they are
a part of. They have drawn many comparisons to My Morning
Jacket, mostly due to singer Bridwell’s vocal similarities to Jim
James of My Morning Jacket. However, their music styles are
somewhat different, with Band of Horses drawing much of their
influence from the Southern Rock genre. They are currently
signed to Sub Pop Records (the label that broke such artists as
Nirvana and Reverend Horton Heat), and they are on a seemingly
endless tour. With the buzz surrounding this band, it is likely
that this will not be the last time you hear the name. As a matter
of fact, I challenge you to try and avoid the name Band of Horses
in the upcoming months and years.
impossible to escape this year, Vampire
Weekend and Band of Horses; two very different
bands that have been getting a nearly even buzz from
critics and fans alike. While Vampire Weekend are
gaining acclaim for their inclusion of African Rhythms into
Western electronic and indie music, Band of Horses are gaining
notoriety from their return to Southern Rock roots while
maintaining indie cred.
“Achieving musical transcendence is a tricky feat, almost
definitively. If it happens at all, it happens naturally and perhaps
nobody knows that better than Seattle, Washington’s Band of
Horses,” from the band’s MySpace page. Formed in 2004, Band
of Horses started as a four-piece band from Seattle, Washington.
Seattle generally invokes images of flannel, rainy days, and
disheartened youth. Band of Horses, however, has a
substantially more upbeat view on life than these grunge giants of
Seattle’s past. Now a three piece consisting of Creighton
Barrett, Ben Bridwell, and Rob Hampton, the group has moved
to Bridwell’s home state of South Carolina. Along with their
increased visibility in the indie scene, Band of Horses have begun
to crossover into the mainstream by appearing in the Ford Motor
Company’s commercials for Sync.
Spending a majority of their time on the road, Band of Horses
continues to gain a majority of their fans from their talent-filled,
energetic live shows rather than the advertising blitz that they are
a part of. They have drawn many comparisons to My Morning
Jacket, mostly due to singer Bridwell’s vocal similarities to Jim
James of My Morning Jacket. However, their music styles are
somewhat different, with Band of Horses drawing much of their
influence from the Southern Rock genre. They are currently
signed to Sub Pop Records (the label that broke such artists as
Nirvana and Reverend Horton Heat), and they are on a seemingly
endless tour. With the buzz surrounding this band, it is likely
that this will not be the last time you hear the name. As a matter
of fact, I challenge you to try and avoid the name Band of Horses
in the upcoming months and years.
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