Band of Horses
June 11th at Carnegie Hall, New York City

“The last place we played was just like this,” Ben Bridwell cheekily remarked during Band of Horses’ night out at Carnegie Hall. While the show at the renowned venue was billed as a one-of-a-kind acoustic show, in actuality it wasn’t completely acoustic—more like partially electric and undistorted.

But it was certainly an unusual set-up for a band that tends to imbue their woodsy rock with ample grit and reverb. For such a formal setting the band was surprisingly relaxed and laidback, which worked particularly well given the new stripped-down arrangements. The added accompaniment of banjo, violins, and harmonica lent their material a newfound twang and brought out the countrified edge that’s only been hinted at before. “Great Salt Lake” sounded majestic with its crescendoing orchestral grandeur. Meanwhile, “Weed Party” was sped up in jaunty double-time tempo, and “Wicked Gil” was dramatically slowed down to near un-recognition. Fitting in perfectly with the night’s music was a cover of Gram Parsons’ “A Song For You.” There were also a handful of new songs, including a starkly beautiful and still untitled song penned by Tyler Ramsey, and another harpsichord-laden song called “Compliments Down There.” After hearing them live, it’ll be interesting to see how they translate on record and if the acoustic direction is one that will carry over in the studio as the Horses prep their third full-length. After hearing the breezy beauty of the band last night, lord knows it certainly should. – Jessica Gentile

Listen: Band of Horses, Various Tracks [at myspace.com]

Bill Callahan
June 13th at Le Poisson Rouge, New York City

Bill Callahan looks younger in person than he does in his pictures, and certainly younger than anyone born in 1966 has a right to look. Sipping from a bottle of water at his show on Saturday night, the melancholy, Austin-based singer-songwriter looked a bit out of place amid the swirling lights and psychedelic patterns on the walls at trendy downtown spot Le Poisson Rogue. (It didn’t help that the club/lounge features an oversize goldfish tank suspended by chains near the front door.) But that didn’t stop him from mesmerizing a room of 400 or so devotees with an hour and a half of songs mainly culled from his two post-Smog releases.

Backed by five accompanists, including a violinist and a cellist who sometimes played his instrument like an upright bass, Callahan’s smooth baritone made one appreciate just how little is done to manipulate his voice in the recording process. In an era of auto-tune and backing tracks, it was almost shocking to hear vocals from songs like “Rococo Zephyr” sound nearly exactly as they do on record. Of course, it helps that said record, Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle, is among the finest released in 2009, and other performed highlights from the album included the stirring “The Wind and the Dove”, the devastating “Too Many Birds”, and the dream memoir “Eid Ma Clack Shaw.” “Love is the king of the beasts, and when it gets hungry it must kill to eat,” he sang. “A lion walking down city streets.”

It was hard not to envision Callahan stalking the streets of this town himself, where his former flame and fellow indie-royalty Joanna Newsom was (or is) reportedly canoodling with Saturday Night Live’s Andy Samberg. The way Callahan deals with his interior struggles through song makes one curious about his personal life, after all. Of course, getting him to talk about himself isn’t something interviewers usually have much success doing, and talking at all wasn’t something he did much of on Saturday. Still, when he did open his mouth, what he said was usually as revealing as it was hilarious. “Seems like you’re having a good time tonight,” he said to the crowd. “Which we’re totally not used to.” – Ben Westhoff

Watch: Bill Callahan, “Sycamore“ [at youtube.com]

Tags:Bill Callahan, Smog, Band of Horses