Band of Horses "Secret" Show @ The Vera Project, 10/6/07

Everyone adores Band of Horses. It's a fact. When their debut album, Everything All the Time, came out in 2006, KEXP was all over it, and thus Band of Horses status as Seattle indie darlings and a total buzz band emerged. They burst onto the national indie rock radar when they signed to Sub Pop, and have enjoyed well-reviewed success through their career. Obviously, to start a review of a band by describing their successes isn't the best introduction to such a well regarded group, so I'll take a stab at describing their sound. Audio and visual imagination will be required.
Imagine you are in a forest in the Pacific Northwest, surrounded by color schemes of evergreen, bark, and river rocks. Depending on the song, it could be a mild sunny day, a rainstorm, a cool night, or one of those melancholy post-rain sun breaks. But then you notice there's a clearing in the woods where there is a welcoming bonfire, and surrounding it are the members of Band of Horses. Walking into them midway through one of their spooky yet intimate folk songs is like entering a warm room filled with a unique mesmerizing energy. The haunting now-classic "The Funeral," to the dynamite "Great Salt Lake," to the explosive echoes of "Is There a Ghost" highlights the band's distinctive sound. Folky road-trip worthy songs such as "The General Specific" and "Window Blues" are relaxing moments after the intense classic Band of Horses numbers. Then when they end it with a dirty blues song, you leave that little conclave in the forest, returning to your humble abodes better than you were when you left it - happier, maybe, more satisfied, perhaps, but most likely just glowing from observing such majestic sounds for an entire hour and fifteen minutes.
This is how I felt after the show at the Vera Project. Since it was a secret show (to an extent), there wasn't a ridiculous crowd. Nobody was rowdy or annoying, the audience was diverse and receptive, and everyone was as excited as the next person for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Having Band of Horses at the Vera Project is kind of like having them play at school. A big deal. So, in a wonderfully intimate setting, Band of Horses pulled of a long set of continually enchanting songs. However, this is to my low standards for them - I've never heard any stories of mind-blowing Band of Horses shows, to anyone I've discussed it with. After all, wouldn't it be hard to live up to that unique, explosive sound that they capture brilliantly on recordings? But Band of Horses proved them wrong at this show; with a promotional tour for their upcoming release soon, they were ready to present their new work and let their fans drink it right up. And, of course, they did. Band of Horses at the Vera was a beautiful show, and anyone that skipped it really missed out.

Oh my GOD I've been BUSY!

Good thing I remembered about how I have to post about the TOTALLY AMAZING all-ages weekend the Vera Project has planned for us all!
Since it is late, I'm tired, and these two events are the only two you should be going to this weekend anyway, if you only choose two events...well, here's at em.
FRIDAY: The Blakes & The Saturday Knights @ the Vera Project. $8, doors @ 7pm.
SATURDAY: HOLY BAND OF HORSES! @ the Vera Project as well. FREE! doors @ 6pm.
So tired...must sleep...save energy...for...WEEKEND!!!