HOT BAND: Band of Horses
When Ben Bridwell landed in Seattle a decade ago, he was jobless and homeless. “I never thought I would be in a band at all,” says Bridwell, whose blend of spooky Southern rock and shoegazer indie pop has made Band of Horses the most promising young guitar group going. Their 2006 debut, , was the quintessential choice of hipsters and classic-rock fans alike, a spacey gloss on Neil Young’s stoner anthems. Their new one, , has the same echo-laden vocals and gently crashing guitars, but the melodies are even more gorgeous, as if Bridwell has let a little sun into his shadowy world.
In Washington, Bridwell took a job at the Crocodile Cafe (co-owned at the time by R.E.M.’s Peter Buck), shoving his tips into a hole in one of the venue’s speakers so he wouldn’t fritter them away on booze or drugs. In 2005 Bridwell started writing tunes with friend Mat Brooke under the Band of Horses moniker, joined by drummer Creighton Barrett and bassist Rob Hampton, who now plays guitar.
The Horses got their big break after Iron and Wine’s Sam Beam, an old family friend of Bridwell, asked them to open a few shows that were attended by Sub Pop executives. Within months, they had a deal and were studio-bound. “Sometimes I wonder, ‘Why us?’ But I always figured, ‘Start writing songs, make them really good, get on a good label, do some great tours, work your ass off and you’ll be successful.’ And it fuckin’ worked,” he says.” It’s the weirdest thing.” — JENNY ELISCU
LISTEN: “No One’s Gonna Love You”