To Infinity & Beyond - Band Of Horses

Having just “killed it” at SXSW, Band of Horses are ready to unleash their killer third album, 'Infinite Arms', next month. A record that's startling both in its scope and beauty, it should propel Band Of Horses to where they belong – the mainstream psyche. Gigwise’s Jordan Joice chats to bassist Bill Reynolds in the midst of their UK tour about the stunning new album, future plans and Justin Timberlake. Naturally.

Gigwise: Tonight you’re playing London’s prestigious KOKO venue in Camden, as an American band, is there a noticeable difference for you when playing across the pond?
“There is definitely a difference in different parts of Europe, like the crowds can be bigger in certain parts, but there's not a noticeable difference. But its definitely a big deal to get to play such a prestigious club.”

On the 3rd of May this year you’re opening for Pearl Jam at the Sprit Center in Kansas City - this would be a special gig for any band, how did it come about?
“We were just very lucky to get the gig, not really to sure how it came, it will be our first arena tour though. So were super excited about that. We all grew up on them, from where we came from Pearl Jam were the biggest thing around in our youth.”

So if I was to ask you this question whilst you were growing up, its one of those things that at the time you’d dream about but never believe?
“Yeah, exactly.”
 
Your new album is entitled ‘Infinite Arms’ - what was the reason behind the name?
“We’re excited about reaching to a bigger audience on this record, trying to get further and further along.”

Releasing your first album, Everything All The Time, in 2006 and then followed directly after by Cease to Begin in 2007, your latest album has taken a little longer to release compared - was there any reason behind this?
“Well this album was produced and funded by us, so we took our time more as we didn't have such a deadline as the previous albums, trying to get a record out really quick. We also toured a whole lot in-between recording on this so we would go into the studio for two weeks, do a tour, then come back and set everything up again - we just took our time really. We started with 30 songs and whittled them down to 18 and then the ones we have on the record - around 12. There's lots of stuff we recorded which we weren't ready to release just yet.”
 
Do you still have plans for those songs?
“You never know, some of them will end up being b-sides and maybe some iTunes exclusive downloads with the album.”
 
2008 saw you play both Glastonbury and T in the Park, currently for 2010 you have confirmed playing, the now sold out, Reading and Leeds festival - can any of your fans unlucky enough to get tickets for that weekend still hope to have the chance to see you at any other UK festivals?
“As of right now, that's all we have on the calendar that I've seen, but I’m not too sure. I know we’re coming back to play the Roundhouse later this year, and then maybe we’ll come back - I’m not really to sure just yet.”
 
Each previous album you have created has been produced Phil Ek, how did he take the news when you told him you were going to produce this one on your own?
“Well we started this record with Phil, but then the timing wasn't right because it took us a while to do it and get the schedule right, so we ended up taking over halfway through the record . Phil had recorded the half basic tracks and then we went on top of that and finished it off and then we recorded whole songs. He did work on some of the record, we’re still really good friends with Phil - we just wanted to do it ourselves, get a little bit crazier and try stuff just for the sake of trying it.”
 
Do you feel that as you produced it as a band, its got a different feel and sound to it compared to the previous two?
“It does - you know its got more writers on this record, Ryan, myself and Tyler all contributed to the writing, so there's that and  a lot of it was played live. Some of the tracks were recorded completely live except for the vocals. We went for different ideas on this, trying to make more of a wide spectrum record.”
 
This was both yours and Ramsey’s first recording experience with the band, what was the recording experience like?
“It was really great, Ben’s such a phenomenal vocalist and songwriter, he really knows how to work in the studio as well. We just had such a blast recording it, we’d try new stuff and send it back and forth. Now there's the internet, we would send stuff to each other and put his vocals on top of it and then I’d add something onto it and by the time we got down to recording we already had a bunch of songs. The sessions were just so much fun.”

Whose idea was it for Ryan Monroe to sing lead on one of the tracks on the new album?
“That was a group decision, Ben was really excited about having Ryan contribute a song to the record cos Ben usually sings on the other songs, but Ben wanted to open it up and have other singers.”
 
The band were originally called ‘Horses’ what caused the change in name?
“Well, what happened - right before the first record came out we realised that there was a band in the 70’s called Horses so at the last minute he said 'ok we’ll just call it Band of Horses'”
 
Your lead singer, Ben Bridwell, is a known supporter of the PETA charity - is this a charity which is as important to the whole band?
“Yeah, I don't really know to much about it so cant say a lot, but if there's something that one of us feel so strongly about then we will support it.”
 
The band have been through their fair share of past members, would you say you were all happy with the way it is now and this will be the finial Band of Horses outfit?
“Yeah, I would consider this to be it. Ben has often said this is the first Band of Horses record, meaning this is the first record of the group, I’ve been in it for 3 years now and were just a solid band. We’ve been playing together so long that it feels like we’re just getting started with the records we can make. So yeah, I consider this to be the final line up.”
 
The album has been quoted as influenced by everything from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the glamorous Hollywood Hills - but what was your main influence when writing/recording the album?
“Well, a lot of stuff - stuff we were listening to at the time, personally I was listening to a lot of classical music and The Faces and just classic records. When I was writing it, I was actually living in Los Angeles at the time and when you live in LA you see a lot of things. Musicianship is really high out there and whenever you go out you get to see music from all over the world. We just tried to listen to as much stuff as we could.”
 
You were carried by Sub Pop for your first two records, however Infinite is on Columbia - was this a mutual break up?
“Well our contract with Sub Pop was up and as we were funding the record ourselves, when it came to the time to put it out, we just looked at all our options and wanted to go with Sony as its got a bigger base all over the world. We ended up with Fat Possum and Sony Worldwide - we’re still really good friends with Sub Pop and there’s no hard feelings.”
 
Before your recent SxSW headline performance, you were plugged by none other than Justin Timberlake (or at least on his official website - the blog post coming from ‘Rae Alexandra’) are you old mates? Musical buddies? Currently working on a collaboration?
“Ha, I’ve never met him, didn't even know anything about this.”
 
Would you ever collaborate with another band or artist?
“There’s been talk of it, there has been people we’ve spoke about collaborating with, like people we are friends with, but we haven't got down to it yet. We really like Kid Cudi.”

Your latest single Complaints was followed by a homemade video, was this made by the band?
“Our photographer Chris Wilson, whose been with us from the beginning, he made that video. He went on a journey across the United States taking pictures and made the video for us. Some of the videos that he's been making are going to be part of the packaging for the record when you buy the LP. There will be some surprises coming through there.”
 
Its to early to talk about 2011, to late to talk about 2009, what do you see in store for the rest of 2010?
“We’re excited to do a lot more touring, we are doing a world tour, releasing a few more singles and videos coming out and a few TV performances coming up in America we’re excited about. We’ve got a lot of touring to do, so just getting around and seeing everybody.”

'Infinite Arms' is released via Columbia Records on May 18th.