Thursday 3 February 2011

Band of Horses in Brixton

Band of Horses, Mojave 3, Goldheart Assembely  - Brixton Academy, 03/02/11


Tonight me and my girlfriend ventured to London on what seemed like the coldest day ever to see Band of Horses, and here's the lowdown on a quality evening.

As we arrive at the venue Goldheart Assembly are already onstage, they seem quite good, yet not really blowing my mind. The have some good ideas though and could probably go somewhere, mixing elements of americana, folk, and even a nod towards a touch of shoegaze... i doubt this will be the last time we hear of this band.

after a wait of what seems like ever Mojave 3 take to the stage. To clear it up from the start, their name is pronounced MO-HA-VAY, not MO-JAV as i thought it was. Mojave 3 don't try to re invent the wheel with their indie folk sounds, and i must admit i had never head of them before tonight, but i shall be investing the time to hear more. There is obviously a big influence from the headliners of tonight's show in their sound, and even had Band of Horses frontman Ben Bridwell join them onstage for a number.

By 9 o'clock the floor of the academy becomes wall to wall rammed and people are anxious for Band of Horses to arrive, and when they do it was worth the weight. At first its just Ben Bridewell and Tyler Ramsey onstage and they give a beautiful rendition of "Evening Kitchen", then launching straight into "The Great Salt Lake"
From then on there is not much banter between songs, just a working class band doing what they do best, all lush melodies, dual harmonies, and a back drop of photography and even some personal moments from the band.
Any song you could want to hear them play was aired from "Is There a Ghost", "Compliments", and "Laredo".
Without question the highlight of the night, and it was pretty much a given, was the gorgeous "No Ones Gonna Love You" which produced a mass sing a long, and was as every bit as good as the first time it blew my mind on "Cease to Begin"

All in all a fantastic night, and was definitely a great Christmas present from my girlfriend! if i had to pick out any flaws in the show, was that i was hoping to snag a copy of the Band of Horses/Cee Lo Green split 7-inch... but alas, there was none on sale.... eBay it is then!

Glen xo

No comments:

Post a Comment