Band of Horses visited Madison on April 27 for the first time in 10 years with a two-set show: a full run through of their album “Everything All the Time” followed by a variety of their popular hits.
With no opener, Band of Horses got into their concert right away. After frontman and lead singer Ben Bridwell introduced the band, they opened with “The First Song.”
The show started slow, with the crowd still not fully absorbed into the music. Bridwell seemed nervous while transitioning from song to song, as he needed to switch guitars or instruments frequently.
But when the fourth song hit, “The Funeral”, the vibes suddenly shifted. The crowd was immersed fully, throwing their hands up and singing along. Bassist Matt Gentling’s energy matched the crowd as he moved around and danced while playing the guitar. Gentling’s movements mirror the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist Flea, except Gentling thankfully kept his clothes on.
Throughout their first set, a variety of images were displayed on screens in the background on stage. Although each song had its own unique image, the accompanying light show felt overbearing aside from the first song, which featured a unique light pattern.
The first set ended with “St. Augustine,” a solo song by Bridwell — a slow, melodic song played on the pedal steel.
The second set consisted of a full trip around Band of Horses’ catalog. The band was even more energetic during the second set, with both lead guitarists dancing around and Bridwell delivering a more informal performance.
With such a large discography, Band of Horses was able to experiment with their setlist. They even performed an unreleased song, “Little Suspect,” from their supposed upcoming album.
The loudest moments of the show came when the band played two of their most well-known songs, “No One’s Gonna Love You” and “Detlef Schrempf.” Before their song, “Casual Party,” the band even played a short audio from the movie “Dazed and Confused.”
The concert ended with “The General Specific,” where the musicians left it all on the stage. Gentling took the spotlight with a solo during the track. As the song concluded, Bridwell ended the show by reiterating his overwhelming gratitude to the Madison crowd as he left the stage and hinted at a possible show in Madison for their new album, the release date of which has yet to be announced.
