Band of Horses

Band of Horses emerged in the mid-2000s with an engaging blend of melodic woodsy rock and strong reverb-laden vocals. Initially based in Seattle, they issued a pair of acclaimed albums for Sub Pop that helped turn them into one of the more prominent indie rock bands of the era. After frontman Ben Bridwell moved the outfit to his native South Carolina, Band of Horses enjoyed mainstream success first with 2007′s Cease to Begin, followed in 2010 by their Grammy-nominated major-label debut Infinite Arms. Throughout the 2010s, they continued to establish themselves as major players in the indie world, working with legendary producers like Glyn Johns and Rick Rubin while continuing to evolve their sound. A six-year gap followed 2016′s Why Are You OK?, after which the group returned with 2022′s Things Are Great.
Singer/songwriter Ben Bridwell, along with Mat Brooke, founded the group in 2004 after an eight-year run with the indie rock band Carissa's Wierd. An early concert alongside future labelmates Iron & Wine caught the attention of Sub Pop Records who signed Band of Horses in 2005 and reissued their self-released EP later that year. Produced by Seattle legend Phil Ek, the band’s full-length debut Everything All the Time appeared in March 2006 and was warmly received. However, Brooke did not tour in support of the album and by July had officially left the group, choosing instead to devote his time to another Sub Pop act, Grand Archives. Bridwell soldiered on with bandmates Rob Hampton (bass) and Creighton Barrett (drums), playing stateside shows and touring Europe in support of the band’s debut.
After a heavy bout of touring, Bridwell relocated from Seattle to South Carolina in order to be closer to his family. Soon after, Band of Horses entered the studio, again with Phil Ek, to record their second album. Cease to Begin was released in October 2007 to extremely warm reviews; it also peaked at number 35 on the Billboard charts, giving the band a taste of commercial success as well as critical approval. Although Band of Horses spent most of the following two years on the road, they also found time to return to the recording studio, where they began working on a third album in 2009.
This time, the band’s five members all contributed to the songwriting process, making Infinite Arms a collaborative effort between Bridwell, Barrett, and new members Ryan Monroe, Tyler Ramsey, and Bill Reynolds. The album hit shelves in mid-2010, marking the band’s first effort for Columbia Records and earning a Grammy for its rich country-rock sound. Preferring to take a more grounded approach on their fourth long-player, the group tapped legendary producer Glyn Johns (the Rolling Stones, the Who), who helped to rein in some of the group’s more experimental tendencies by insisting on a more intimate live approach. The resulting Mirage Rock, which was preceded by the single “Knock, Knock,” arrived in September 2012. Early 2014 saw the release of the live album Acoustic at the Ryman, a compilation of tracks recorded in a stripped-down fashion during a two-night stint in the spring of 2013 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
While working on material for their fifth studio album, Bridwell teamed with fellow Columbia, South Carolina native Sam Beam of Iron & Wine to release a covers album titled Sing Into My Mouth in 2015. The record featured common song influences from the likes of Talking Heads, John Cale, and Sade. In the June of 2016, Band of Horses issued their fifth studio LP, Why Are You OK?. Released via Interscope and Rick Rubin’s American Recordings, the album was co-produced by Grandaddy’s Jason Lytle with Rubin acting as executive producer. In mid-2017, Ramsey and Reynolds parted way with the group, eventually being replaced by Ian McDougall and former bassist Matt Gentling. Over the next few years, Band of Horses continued to tour the U.S., Europe, and the U.K. but it wouldn’t be until 2021 that they issued new material, with the single “Clutch” appearing in the October. The Bridwell- and Wolfgang Zimmerman-produced sixth album, Things Are Great, arrived in early 2022. ~ Andrew Leahey