Pitchfork

Welcome to the latest edition of Pitchfork's Guest List. Each week, we ask one of our favorite artists to fill us in on what they've been up to lately: which tracks they can't stop spinning, what books they can't put down, and what new bands they've caught on tour. This week it's Band of Horses' Ben Bridwell, who has a bit of trouble pronouncing Andrew Bird's album title, bashes movie adaptations of C.S. Lewis novels, and makes it clear that he's rootin' for Georgia.

>> Favorite New Songs from the Past Year

I've mostly listened to Andrew Bird's last record, Armchair...

Pitchfork: Apocrypha?

Yeah, I can't say that word [laughs]. I listen to that a ton and the new Iron & Wine, The Shepherd's Dog. I listen to those records so much. I know that "Fiery Crash" by Andrew Bird, like, I'll always put on when we get on a plane or whatever. It scares the crap out of me; I hate flying so much. For some reason, that song even scares me more and makes me feel better at the same time. I probably listen to that over and over. And then "Carousel" from the new Iron & Wine record. I listen to that a lot. I really love that one.

>> Favorite Older Songs at the Moment

Well, I grew up a Rolling Stones kid like my dad, and not so much a Beatles guy-- like, I've just never really heard much of them [laughs], so I finally started listening to the Beatles this year which is strange, but I really like [the new film] Across the Universe. And last night I was listening to that song "Outta My Head" by M. Ward. I really love that song, too. And then one more, I really like George Harrison's "Blow Away" from, I think, one of his solo records.

>> Favorite New Band

A Decent Animal

My favorite new band is actually from Charleston, South Carolina, right next to where we live, and they're called A Decent Animal. We took them on tour from the West Coast dates we did through the summer, and it's the first band in a long time where I wanted to watch their set every night. It became superstitious if I didn't watch their set every night. I don't know, it's been a long time since I'd watch a band that many times and didn't even grow bored with the songs or anything. I just...I love what those guys are doing.

>> Favorite Song Ever

I have a hard time with that one, because I'll have a new one every day or something...but I think "Powder Finger" by Neil Young is definitely in the top five at least every other week. I just love how it starts. Like, with the "Look out, Mama, there's a white boat comin' down the river" or whatever. I think it's such a great opening line. The lyrics to that song are just...I don't know, it's such a great picture that he paints a little story of. Everything about it-- the guitar licks, the little refrains they do-- it's just my jam.

>> Best Recent Concert

Magnolia Electric Co.

That one's pretty easy actually. Me and my dad...my dad's a big Magnolia Electric Co. fan, and so they played at The Village Tavern in Mount Pleasant the night before I left for this trip. I actually postponed my ticket one more day so me and my dad could go to this show together. The Village Tavern is awesome. It's right down the road from us and it's a hilarious place. It's got a sports bar kind of feel, but my dad stayed up for the whole show even though he had to be at work at, like, 6 a.m. Stayed until the very last song, hung out with Jason Molina a little bit-- it was just the best time for ultimate father-son bonding. And it was a great show also, and the Watson Twins played and they were great. It was just a fantastic evening.

>> Last Great Film I Saw

Pan's Labyrinth

I don't really get to see that many movies unless it's in hotels and they've already been released. When I was in Minneapolis last week, I got Pan's Labyrinth off the TV, and I didn't really know what to expect for that movie. Like, I'd seen the preview when it was in theatres but missed it-- I just didn't have any idea what to expect and it blew me away. I really liked it. A great fantasy movie. Instead of watching the fuckin' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe or whatever, the Christian-themed fuckin' fantasy flick, you know what I mean? It's cool to have something that's not so directly religious or whatever.

>> Last Great Book I Read

I read this book Joe: A Novel by Larry Brown. Most of his writing centers around Mississippi, mostly Oxford, and so it's some good fiction. I really like it.

Pitchfork: What's it about?

Mostly he's writing about poor Southern people or whatever, people that don't have shit and it hurts a lot and they drink too much and it's kind of, well, good reading I guess?

>> Favorite Piece of Musical Equipment

I bought an upright piano for that house that I move into or whatever when I moved down there. Yeah, I bought this upright piano for about $700, which is pricey or whatever, but I was determined to have people come over and fuckin' jam in the living room. There's a lot of hardwood or whatever in my living room so everything just bounces around...I really just wanted to have like, some barroom piano going on. So our piano player, Ryan, can come over and play, like, "Bell Bottom Blues" three times in a row or whatever, or some Chicago songs-- we just go bonkers. So, easily, the best piece of any investment I think I've ever made.

>> Favorite Record Shop

I'll go with 52.5 in Charleston, South Carolina. I've been going there since I was probably like eighteen. They were in a different location, but now they just moved but still in downtown Charleston. I remember going there and wondering even what ska or, like, the Intelligent Dance Music or whatever IDM was. You know, just like, when I was young enough to not even understand all kinds of forms of music, I've been going there that long-- it holds a special place in my heart. And I actually haven't been there in awhile unfortunately. I hate-- my truck doesn't have a proper tags on it, and I'm afraid to cross the bridge into the next county, in case they throw me into jail or something.

>> Best Purchase of the Past Year

It's really tough. I have a hard time thinking what would be the best purchase. I guess, I bought a 1985 Ford truck that's like...I really, really adore that thing. That cost me like $800 bucks. And it still runs even though I have to put a bag on the window or whatever. It's my favorite. I guess that would be my favorite purchase.

>> Best Thing I Did This Year

Professionally, it would be just to travel the world or whatever and seeing places I never imagined I would get to go to, like Australia or Europe...I guess that's the best thing I've done professionally.

>> Favorite Music Venue

I have two, because I saw Andrew Bird and the Decemberists when we opened up for them at the Hollywood Bowl. That was really cool, I mean I really liked playing there, but as a spectator I went out and had a little table or whatever. And as far as the viewing experience, I thought that was one of the coolest things ever. So I'll say that from a viewer's standpoint, but I really like playing at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland. It's an easy room to sing in, I find. I really enjoy Portland and their fans, as well. So that's always a high point.

>> Favorite TV Show at the Moment

Hard to say, because I'm not sure if a football team counts as a TV show, but when the University of Georgia Bulldogs are playing on Saturdays or whatever, that's my favorite show that could possibly be on television. Tomorrow versus Tennessee at 3:30 eastern!

Pitchfork: Well, the Vols being my home team, I guess I'll have to watch that.

Go Dogs! Fuckin' hell. Let the big dog eat!

[Tennessee defeated Georgia 35-14 ;) --Ed.]

>> Favorite Video Game at the Moment

Yup, also a tie with the NLD the show series or whatever, I really like those video games. And then me and the drummer Creighton, we play the NHL Ice Hockey, the newest one, "2K7" or something like that, that we didn't even know our song was on, we forgot; we bought it just for the challenge, but then we were playing and our song came on! But we do like video games.

>> Favorite Radio Show

I guess, well I lived here in Seattle for a long time and always dug the Audio Oasis program [on KEXP]. It's all local stuff and being in local bands forever here, like, that's the one show where you get recognized, where they actually play your stuff to begin with. So, I have some sentimental reasons to choose that. But I also have been listening to the Current in Minneapolis. That station, anything that they're playing I usually enjoy too.

>> My Ringtone

Normally I keep it on vibrate, but if I'm having a little fun, my phone can record anything or whatever for a ringtone. So usually I get, well I had our piano player say the word "paint" real slow or whatever, and it's real creepy or whatever, so every time my phone rings my girlfriend fuckin' hates it.