Band of Horses at Uptown Theater, Kansas City MO (2024-02-18)

Things Are (still) Great!

And, a finish with flourish! After over a year on the road, Seattle indie folk rockers Band of Horses wrapped their tour in midtown Kansas City at the Uptown Theater in front of a sold-out crowd of their happiest fans.

Though it may have started as a usual tour to support their latest full-length album, 2022’s Things are Great (via BMG Records), this particular run of “An Evening With….” shows that featured both a full acoustic set followed by a full electric set, also celebrate twenty years of the band, and have become a thank you to the fans for staying loyal as long as they have.

The night began quietly with the acoustic set first, with singer Ben Bridwell coming out himself to sit on a stage framed with numerous candles, a patchwork of cozy floor rugs and a few vintage floor lamps near the set-up instruments. 2006’s “St. Augustine” would begin the evening, with Bridwell playfully inviting the audience, singing “Let's bury ourselves and go haunt someone tonight.”

Bridwell acknowledged it being the tour’s last night and apologized in advance if his vocals sounded more rough and rawer than usual, but the seated crowd seemed too rapt in attention and easily forgave him for something barely noticed. Longtime musical collaborator Ryan Monroe and the band's newest member, guitarist Brett Nash, stepped from the shadows to join Bridwell on the early song, “I Go to the Barn Because I Like The” with the remaining band members in tow.

The rest of the set seemed casual and informal, with the intimacy of a living room concert and the unpretentious Bridwell wondering aloud why he didn’t make a bigger deal playing “Factory” the night before in Chesterfield, MO … at a venue called The Factory.

Smiles could be seen on fans’ faces as Bridwell sang, “Stayin' friends is really fantastic, we'll be together from the cradle to the casket” from the newest album, noticeably laughing when Bridwell would over-enunciate the record’s title, saying the song was “from their latest, 'Things are GREAT!”

At the set break, the cozy campfire vibe of the candles, rugs, and lamps, was all removed to make room for a proper rock show, though the muted woodsy backdrop did remain. Bridwell’s 80’s influence (who knew?!) was clearly on display as the band walked out to The Psychedelic Furs’ “Love My Way” and they would authentically cover the 1988 INXS hit ballad, “Never Tear Us Apart”, just a few songs in.

Though it’s been a warm winter, “The Snow Fall Aka The First Song” dutifully set the mood for a winter holiday scene and lights strobed and guitars roared during 2006’s “The Great Salt Lake”.

“Warning Signs” from the new record gave Bridwell another chance to announce it was from “Things are GREAT!” without too much sarcasm.

2007’s upbeat “Ode to LRC” optimistically reminded us in song that “the world is such a wonderful place” and ending the night with 2006’s “The Funeral” might seem like a downbeat choice even though the song musically builds into a joyous crescendo, and it did seem more reflective and inclusive, with the crowd helping Bridwell sing the “oh, oh’s” of the song and was a chance to hear the distinctive edge in his voice when it gets louder, that one last time.

Band of Horses now takes a well-deserved break with the exception of a few cherry-picked festival shows, but finished this tour leg with a memorable performance, and a not-so-subtle reminder that even in a post-pandemic world, with two wars raging, climate change altering landscapes, and so much more, that… “Things are GREAT!”

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