With a double header like this, expectations ran high at the Commodore on this Saturday night. The critically acclaimed Cass McCombs and his touring band of indie darlings were technically flawless, if a little underwelming. With a lack of any up-tempo moments, watching McCombs was kind of like taking in a Luna show, except that Luna’s Dean Wareham made sure to crank out a ripping guitar jam every so often, just to snap you out of your mid-tempo coma.

For me, Band of Horses have always sounded like Built To Spill’s country cousins. They write rock anthems like BTS, but with a little country flair. As they took the stage, it was clear that they’re a much beloved band. I remember hearing the song “The Great Salt Lake” on the crappy Fox show Standoff. It was emotive then, and even more so live—let’s just say I got a little verklempt. They played songs from their whole catalogue and new stuff that I imagine will find its way onto their soon-to-be-released third album. Now, I know BOH are a little bit country and a lot rock ‘n’ roll, but the country seems to be getting the better of them on their new material. Not being the biggest country fan, I wasn’t especially fond of this new style, but it didn’t seem to bother anyone else; in the end, these good ol’ boys treated us to some fine pluckin’, drummin’ and singin’, and made this city bumpkin mighty grateful indeed.