1/29/08 Band of Horses, Cass McCombs, Tyler Ramsey @ Exit/In, Nashville, Tenn.

As the floor of the sold out Exit/In began to fill, Tyler Ramsey took the stage and set the standard for the night’s dress code: grizzly beards and flannel shirts. Solemnly picking his guitar to the accompaniment of a bass drum sample, Ramsey headed into the title-track of his new album, A Long Dream About Swimming Across the Sea, an appropriate title considering the pace of his set.As the floor of the sold out Exit/In began to fill, Tyler Ramsey took the stage and set the standard for the night’s dress code: grizzly beards and flannel shirts. Solemnly picking his guitar to the accompaniment of a bass drum sample, Ramsey headed into the title-track of his new album, A Long Dream About Swimming Across the Sea, an appropriate title considering the pace of his set. Although the performance was a short and gentle one, Ramsey’s pristine vocals and rhythms put out a soothing vibe, similar to one that might be experienced while dreaming about a long, calm swim across the ocean. He also provided additional guitar and vocals for Band of Horses.

Following Ramsey was Cass McCombs, opening with the slow and steady rocker, “AIDS in Africa.” McCombs sang/spoke lightly over most of the tunes in a manner comparable to Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard, but sometimes too softly, where his lyrics and melody would get lost under the band. The songs were long and repetitive, but nonetheless kept the crowd interested and tapping their feet.

After a lengthy sound check, Ben Bridwell and Co. saddled up. The last few months had been very kind to Band of Horses. Their last venture to Nashville was in August 2007, and was in a completely different atmosphere-opening for Modest Mouse at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Since that show, the band has released their second full-length album under Seattle’s SubPop label, titled Cease To Begin. The album sold roughly 21,000 copies in its first week, and showed up on dozens of 2007’s Top Ten lists. I guess that explains why the crowd had no trouble singing along with frontman Ben Bridwell (who, by the way, had the most respectable beard of the night), one catchy melody after another.

Band of Horses proceeded to play an hour-and-a-half set consisting of a familiar mix of old, new and even included covers of J.J. Cale’s “Thirteen Days” and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Effigy.” Bridwell belted his vocals over the melodies of “Is There A Ghost,” the catchy, guitar-driven radio single, “The Great Salt Lake” and the upbeat crowd-pleaser “Islands On The Coast.” The best part of the night, however, came during the third encore with Cease To Begin‘s toe-tapping “The General Specific,” where Bridwell danced around with a tambourine while harmonizing beautifully with keys player Ryan Monroe, ending the night on the best possible note.