It had been nine years since I witnessed A Thousand Horses’ London debut at the Barfly (now the Camden Assembly) and, after a gig at Islington Academy that same year, they had only paid one more visit since (at the 229 just over five years ago). I was therefore a bit concerned that their initial popularity might not have endured; the strange decision to curtain off one side of the rear standing area during the early part of the evening served only to reinforce those concerns.

Fortunately, the Assembly Hall filled up gradually, although the latecomers should rue having missed a fine support set, of which more later. There was a fair bit of loyal singing along too, as half the setlist was culled from the band’s familiar debut album ‘Southernality’ (2015). That in itself was a little surprising, as that music was recorded a decade ago and the mini-tour of the UK was billed as a promotion for the latest release ‘The Outside’ (2024).

The band has gradually reduced over the years to a core trio of Michael Hobby (vocals), Bill Satcher (guitar) and Graham Deloach (bass); they were ably assisted on this tour by the experienced Adam Browder (guitar) and Nathan Sexton (drums).

Opening with ‘First Time’ (from ‘Southernality’) and then the title track from the latest album, the band was firmly in its Southern-Rock-meets-Country groove by the time the familiar ‘Blaze Of Somethin’ (also from ‘Southernality’) drew smiles and applause in equal measure. ‘Another Mile’ (from ‘Broken Heartland’, 2022) was followed by Hobby’s long spoken introduction to ‘A Song To Remember’ (the only recording of which seems to be on the acoustic ‘Wood & Wire’ EP, 2023).

We were back on familiar 2015 territory with ‘Trailer Trashed’, on which Hobby duetted with a feisty female singer whose name was sadly drowned out by the applause, followed by plenty of audience participation on the radio friendly ‘Drunk Dial’. ‘Southernality’ was further mined for ‘Heaven Is Close’ and ‘Travelin’ Man’; the latter featured a harmonica intro by Hobby and more from the audience.

Band introductions preceded the title track from ‘Broken Heartland’ and Deloach switched from bass to background keyboards for Hobby’s spoken intro to ‘Summer’ (from ‘The Outside’). ‘Smoke’, another song from 2015, segued into the band’s Oasis tribute in the shape of ‘Champagne Supernova’ (from ‘Morning Glory’, 1995); in fairness, ATH has been playing the song for quite some time, so it was surely bound to coincide with a Gallagher brothers reunion eventually!

The band stuck to the latest album for their encore. ‘Highway Sound’ featured another harmonica intro by Hobby, as Satcher’s vocal interlude was distorted by something which sounded like a vocoder; there were a pair of extended guitar solos and plenty from Sexton’s drums. The closing ‘Room Full Of Strangers’, about life on the road where the audiences become your friends, moved from acoustic to electric, with Deloach switching between keyboards and bass.

That was the cue for a queue, with both merch stands doing solid post-gig business. This was particularly true of These Wicked Rivers, the five piece band from Derby whose strong 40 minute support set won them a host of new fans, including yours truly.

This truly hairy bunch of guys, with plenty of beards and hats, have been together for over a decade and their bond is evident. The focal points are the gravelly vocals and rhythm guitar of John Hartwell and the flamboyant lead guitar work of Arran Day, although the sound is grounded by the solid rhythm section of Dan Southall’s drums and Adam Brewell’s bass.

They are Classic Rock with a twist of Grunge; it was no surprise to read that Neil Young is one of their main influences, although fans of Blues and Southern Rock will also find plenty to enjoy. Their seven song setlist was drawn from their two albums, ‘Eden’ (2020) and ‘Force Of Nature’ (2024); ‘Shine On’ and ‘Black Gold’ hooked the audience immediately, while ‘Evergreen’, with it’s three drum beat chorus was perhaps more radio friendly.

‘When The War Is Won’ slowed the pace briefly, before ‘Testify’ and the unrecorded ‘Horse To Water’ revved things back up. The church organ effects of Rich Wilson’s keyboards introduced the closer ‘Don’t Pray For Me’, which ended with the audience joining in on the refrain of Neil Young’s ‘My, My, Hey, Hey’ (or was it Hey, Hey, My, My?). Definitely a band to look out for.

Review: Gary Smith
Photos: John Bull

Setlists:

ATH – First Time; The Outside; Blaze Of Somethin’; Another Mile; A Song To
Remember; Trailer Trashed; (This Ain’t No) Drunk Dial; Heaven Is
Close; Travelin’ Man; Broken Heartland; Summer; Smoke/Champagne
Supernova; Highway Sound; Room Full Of Strangers.

TWR – Shine On; Black Gold; Evergreen; When The War Is Won; Testify;
Horse To Water; Don’t Pray For Me.