Fresh off the boat from a show in Copenhagen Thursday night, Band of Horses strode into Grand Central Friday to play a free hour-long show to an intimate group of 500 people as part of an AOL Pop-Up Show. True fans -- some of whom had driven from as far as Ohio and waited in a line that stretched seven blocks from the entrance -- were treated to what will go down as one of the band's most unique shows.  

The historic Vanderbilt Hall rotunda provided incredible acoustics for the 15-song set that included hits from albums Everything All The Time and Cease to Begin as well as the recently released Infinite Arms. Though the group admitted they were so tired from their travels that they felt like they were on acid, lead singer Ben Bridwell proceeded to belt out his plaintive wail and the band smashed through their huge hooks. No sign of jet leg here.

For the most part, the crowd was a mellow one. (No alcohol sales might have had something to do with this). Or maybe everyone there knew they were apart of something special.  Hats off to AOL for putting this together with very little corporate messaging -- a refreshing twist on a tried-and-true marketing technique.    

Band of Horses is playing a sold out show at Williamsburg Waterfront on Sunday.
Photos by Keith Carlsen // keithcarlsen.com