Band of Horses @ O2 Academy, 27 Jan

A seemingly relentless touring schedule finds Ben Bridwell and his Band of Horses making an early 2011 return to these shores following their high profile support to Snow Patrol at Bellahouston Park only last June. With material from their latest long-player – the Grammy nominated Infinite Arms – on cue to offer a fresh breath to what may be a somewhat familiar set list for tonight’s Glaswegian audience – alongside some yet to be released exclusives which hold true to their whooping country-rock formula – there’s no questioning that the South Carolinians are still striving to evolve.

For tonight’s gathered legions it’s the old favourites – in commercial haymaker The Funeral, a barnstorming Is There a Ghost, and the ever touching No One’s Gonna Love You – that continue to elicit the most fervent response and the band are still to better. Delivered by an increasingly confident Bridwell – by now shadowboxing between tracks – the frontman is infectiously enthusiastic and utterly believing in everything his band do. It’s this leadership which continues to effortlessly sell us the Band of Horses brand yet again. [Paul Neeson]