Band of Horses

Band of Horses is an indie rock group from Seattle, United States, formed in 2004. Its sound is associated with americana, folk pop, folk rock, indie folk, indie rock, alt-country and rock. The band is led by singer-songwriter Ben Bridwell, who is the only constant member through numerous line-up changes.

Line-up and membership

The group forms around Bridwell after the break-up of his previous band, Carissa’s Wierd. The early line-up includes bassist Chris Early, drummer Tim Meinig, and former Carissa’s Wierd bandleader Mat Brooke on guitar and vocals. Sean O., Joe Arnone and Rob Hampton also pass through the early years, with Creighton Barrett becoming the band’s drummer in 2006.

Ryan Monroe joins on keyboards in 2007 and later adds guitar and backing vocals. Tyler Ramsey and Bill Reynolds become long-term members after Cease to Begin and remain part of the band’s most stable period, with Ramsey on guitar and vocals and Reynolds on bass. Ian MacDougall later takes over guitar and backing vocals, and Matt Gentling returns on bass and backing vocals after earlier touring with the group. By the current period, the line-up also includes Brett Nash on guitar and backing vocals. Touring and recording history also includes Matt Gentling, Rob Hampton, Joe Arnone, Tyler Ramsey, Bill Reynolds, Ian MacDougall, Creighton Barrett, Ryan Monroe, Mat Brooke and others listed across the band’s changes.

Early releases and break-through

Band of Horses first attracts attention after opening for Iron & Wine in the Seattle area. In 2005, the band releases the Tour EP, sold at shows and through Sub Pop’s website. Its first full-length album, Everything All the Time, is recorded with producer Phil Ek and released by Sub Pop in 2006. The album uses the original four-piece line-up, though both Tim Meinig and Sera Cahoone receive drumming credits. It includes new versions of five songs from the Tour EP and five new songs, and becomes a minor hit in Scandinavia. The single “The Funeral” becomes one of the band’s best-known songs and is later used widely in television, film, video games and advertising.

Mat Brooke leaves after this period and later forms Grand Archives, which signs to Sub Pop and releases two albums. For live performances after the album, Joe Arnone, Rob Hampton and Creighton Barrett join Bridwell and Brooke.

Cease to Begin and wider recognition

Before the second album, Bridwell relocates the band from Seattle to South Carolina. Cease to Begin is recorded in Asheville, North Carolina with Phil Ek and released by Sub Pop in 2007. The album reaches number 35 on the Billboard 200 and also charts in Norway, Denmark, France and Sweden. Paste ranks it ninth among its albums of 2007, while Rolling Stone places it 47th. “No One’s Gonna Love You” becomes the band’s first European hit single, reaching number 22 in Denmark.

After this release, Monroe becomes a permanent member and Ramsey and Reynolds join, making the group a six-piece. In 2008, Band of Horses plays Glastonbury, T in the Park, the Bridge School Benefit concert and Roskilde.

Infinite Arms and major festival touring

Infinite Arms is recorded in North Carolina and Los Angeles by the five-piece of Bridwell, Ramsey, Reynolds, Barrett and Monroe. It is released in 2010 on Columbia, Brown and Fat Possum and is self-produced with additional production from Phil Ek. The album reaches number 7 on the Billboard 200 and number 21 in the UK, giving the band its first top 100 UK chart position. It also prompts the earlier albums to enter the UK Albums Chart for the first time.

The record receives a Grammy nomination in the Best Alternative Album category. It appears on several year-end lists, including Q, NPR Listeners, Filter and Paste, and the song “Laredo” is listed by Rolling Stone among the year’s top 50 songs. The album includes the track “Life on Earth”, later used on the soundtrack to Eclipse. During this period the band tours across Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, supports Pearl Jam and Snow Patrol, and appears at SXSW, Sasquatch, Splendour in the Grass, Summer Sonic, Pukkelpop, Highfields, Malmo, Rock en Seine, Reading, Leeds, ACL and Farm Aid.

Later albums

Mirage Rock follows in 2012, produced by Glyn Johns. Its single “Knock Knock” and later single “Slow Cruel Hands of Time” both become minor hits in Belgium. The band also issues a video for “Knock Knock”.

In 2014, Band of Horses releases the live album Acoustic at the Ryman, recorded over two nights in 2013 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The band also plays a 13-date acoustic run across the United States.

Why Are You OK arrives in 2016 and is produced by Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, with release through American Recordings and Interscope Records.

Line-up changes in the 2010s and 2020s

In 2017, Tyler Ramsey and Bill Reynolds announce their departures, and the band resumes touring with Richard Fitzpatrick on guitar and the return of Matt Gentling on bass. Fitzpatrick is later replaced by Ian MacDougall. In 2022, Bridwell says that Ramsey and Reynolds were fired rather than having quit.

Things Are Great, released in 2022, is the band’s sixth studio album and its first with Matt Gentling and Ian MacDougall. Before the release, MacDougall exits and Brett Nash replaces him on lead guitar. The band then releases Acoustic at the Ryman Vol. 2 in 2024 and tours with both acoustic and electric sets. Ryan Monroe is absent from shows from a short US tour in 2025 and is also absent from recent promotional photos. In 2026, the group releases Everything All The Time (20th Anniversary Edition).

Collaborations and related projects

Bridwell collaborates with Sam Beam of Iron & Wine on the covers album Sing into My Mouth in 2015 and later on the EP Making Good Time. Band of Horses also releases a cover of Cee Lo Green’s “Georgia”, paired as a split single with Cee Lo’s version of “No One’s Gonna Love You”.

Discography

The band’s studio albums are Everything All the Time, Cease to Begin, Infinite Arms, Mirage Rock, Why Are You OK and Things Are Great. Its live albums are Acoustic at the Ryman and Acoustic at the Ryman Vol. 2, and its EPs include Tour EP and Sonic Ranch Sessions.