Giddy up

Ben Bridwell relaxes in a Northhampton, Mass., hotel parking lot, one week into a month-long trek across America in support of the stellar Band of Horses sophomore effort Cease to Begin. He is on arguably -- no, make that definitely -- their biggest and most important tour yet. "Is There a Ghost" seems to be playing everywhere from late-night talk shows to prime time dramas, and bearded Ben and the boys have been talked up in more publications and in more blogs than you can dream up names for. So how does it feel?

"We've finally hit our stride," Ben explains, catching up to the harsh demands of tour. "This is our first tour on a bus. Ten people, no shower, drinking yourself to sleep. We've finally decided to take care of ourselves." But it's not always booze, parties, and late nights when you've got this kind of schedule. Plus, Ben mentions the drastic season change, secretly loathing the cold and longing for the warm South Carolina surf. "You leave for a week and it feels like a year."

Anyone who has seen Band of Horses knows that when it's time for them to hit the stage, it's focused, cathartic and, most of all, fun. Catch their second Metro show tonight, Nov. 12, with the Drones and Tyler Ramsey (doing double duty with Band of Horses). - B. Nanna