Interview: Band of Horses

Alt-country heroes Band of Horses head for Wolverhampton as part of a UK tour on Monday (June 14).

Ben Russell caught up with the band, who released third album Infinite Arms last month, ahead of the Wulfrun Hall show.

Proving that country and beards are still cool, Band Of Horses, previously known as Horses, are slowly becoming more of a force to be reckoned with.

However, the Washington band, championed by Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton and Jools Holland among others, haven’t made it easy for themselves.

Apart from the name change, since forming in 2004 the band has gone through more line up changes than razors.

In their favour though, they have released three brilliant albums of alternative country tinged with tension, longing and hope – at times raggedly epic and at others delicately pensive.

The band’s new album and arguably their most commercial, Infinite Arms, featuring the current lineup of Ben Bridwell, Tyler Ramsey, Bill Reynolds, Creighton Barrett and Ryan Monroe, was released in May.

Keyboardist Ryan said: “Infinite arms is just how we wanted it. We produced most of the record ourselves and it was very liberating to try some super-weird shit at our own pace.

“It took a long time to complete it though and we’re at the stage now we were are ready to let it fly and move onto to whatever is next.

“We’ve got plans to gig all over the world. We really love England so I hope we get to keep coming back here to play.”

Guitarist/vocalist Ben Bridwell and Mat Brooke formed Band of Horses in 2004, after the dissolution of a nearly 10-year run in melancholic darlings Carissas Wierd.

Carissas Wierd specialised in beautiful orchestral pop, with songs telling unflinching stories of heartbreak and loss.

And only now, without Brooke who departed in 2006, are Band of Horses starting to be recognised in their own glorious right.

Speaking about future aims Ryan, who has not long been with the band, said that his main aim is “just to be able to play shows with these guys for decades to come”.

He added: “Band Of Horses put simply is about a group of friends that travel around the world performing music for people in places.

“And now that the latest album is done the plan for the future is to do just that.”

Tickets for Monday’s show at the Wulfrun Hall in Wolverhampton cost £13.50 and are available here.

Words by Ben Russell.