Band of Horses played a terrific show at the Satellite Ballroom Tuesday night. All the comparisons to fellow Northwest bands The Shins and Built to Spill are accurate, with shiny up-tempo guitars and plenty of time-signature changes. Just like the studio albums, the vocals were reverb-drenched but the instruments sounded rather different. I didn’t recognize a few tunes until the singing started. The set included most of the just-released album Cease to Exist, and a lot of songs from 2006’s excellent Everything, All the Time. The band seemed really relaxed and despite a few flubs they had a good time. I’m looking forward to their next visit to C’ville.
The revelation of the evening was opening act The Drones, from Melbourne, Australia. They came on and from the first song just slayed! I thought they sounded like a louder, heavier version of Pink Floyd, maybe because the singer’s voice was reminiscent of Roger Waters’ spluttering rage on The Wall and The Final Cut. Their sharply-dressed lead guitarist coaxed a variety of sounds from his vintage guitar (a Fender Telecaster?) with music that ranged from psychedelic-tinged to U2-like harmonies to driving proto-punk rhythms. The one constant was the crashing intensity that went into every song. I could feel my clothes vibrating during their set and in hindsight earplugs would have been a brilliant idea - my ears are still ringing as I type this. The Drones are definitely worth checking out, either live or via download.
As a sidenote, one of the songs on the PA between sets was AC/DC’s “Let Me Put My Love Into You Babe”. In their heyday in the early 80’s, did any band do a better job of following the rock n’ roll playbook to perfection, creating note-perfect, head-bobbing, foot-tapping, crotch-grabbing rawk anthems? They descended into parody in the 90’s but damn those guys could blow it up.
Videos after the break…
Band of Horses: Funeral
[kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/ibE7IqEjni4″ height=”350″ width=”425″ /]
Band of Horses: The Great Salt Lake
[kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/TshWB77-7M4″ height=”350″ width=”425″ /]
The Drones: Six Ways to Sunday
[kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/4eD-IOKWahw” height=”350″ width=”425″ /]
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Tagged as: Band of Horses, Charlottesville, Concerts, Events, Music, Reviews, The Drones
minty - please keep writing reviews… these are really good.
what about van halen…
hot for teacher..hmmmm, that video is pure sex.
here is the link if you can’t resist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5t5GukrWOU
Did anyone get any pictures? Or better, recordings?
Hmmm…that’s interesting. My reaction to the Drones was something akin to “this band will never be more than an opening club act as they are not very interesting at all.” All loud guitar sludge.
The lead singer did get extra points for intensity, though.
I thought Horses were quite good, although the sound quality at Satellite was a major bummer.
Dave - The Drones were most definitely loud, but my take was that they coaxed a lot more stylistic variety from their instruments than one sees in most opening acts. Some sludge, yes, but I liked the other flavors and thought their lead guitarist was pretty skilled.
As an FYI, whilst bobbing my head at Fellini’s last night I spotted the bassist, drummer and guitarist for Band of Horses making an entrance and they spent an hour or so in the back. Why were they still in Charlottesville? Do they (or will they) have a connection to Red Light/ATO that someone knows of (I’m talkin’ to you, Samantha…)?
Hee hee. Yes, they are managed by Red Light. Ron Lafitte, the same guy in the Spoon songs and in the new record label, manages them out of L.A.
BTW, nice review Mintyfresh. I couldn’t make it, but am glad a band like that sold out the Satellite.
One other FYI for all you show-goers: the second and third legs of the Northwest band troika go down tonight and Sunday at the Satellite. Seattle’s Nada Surf plays @ 9:00 tonight, and then Portland’s The Thermals on Sunday night, also at 9:00.
I hear what you’re sayin’, minty. To each his own, I reckon. I’d certainly give them another listen, they just didn’t turn me on Tuesday night.
I’m always amazed that Carissa’s Wierd matured into an amazing band that dissolved and reformed into the equally as good Band of Horses. Great show, by the by.
What is the cville factor where like 15 people show up to Oakley Hall and Band of Horses is fucking packed? At least Christy and Emily can make it at the Tea Bazaar.
So wait… how could Band of Horses submit to the agony of Lafitte?
Starks: word up about Oakley Hall, that shit was the shit; a couple of the band members stayed at my house that night and we had Bodo’s the next morning, they’re total fucking sweethearts.
The Thermals show is going to be badass. Order is the local opener and they’re fucking sick.
Truman Sparks opens for Man Man on Nov. 19th @ the Ballroom… rumor has it it’s going to be the best rock show of the year… *cough cough*
Man man! yes!
Shill, dijon, shill!
i think i just shilled my pants, stanley.