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In good: Company rides down to SXSW with Band of Horses
One day you’re asking one of your musical heroes if he wants cream with his coffee; six months later you’re asking him if he’s seen your wah pedal lying around. That’s the shorthand version of the story of Brian Hannon, frontman for the band Company, and how he ended up playing at the Central Presbyterian Church with Band of Horses on the Friday night of SXSW.
Following one Company’s shows at a club in Charleston, South Carolina, Hannon, wearing a Band of Horses t-shirt, was approached by David Bridwell, father of Band of Horses frontman Ben Bridwell. Hannon happily gave a Company CD to the father of the bearded rock star who had become a regular at the restaurant where Hannon worked as a waiter.
Soon after his introduction to the elder Bridwell, the baby-faced (despite the eager beard) singer approached his musical hero at the restaurant and finally worked up the nerve to introduce himself. Bridwell remembered hearing Company from his father and shortly thereafter asked Co. to play a local gig with Band of Horses in December.
“I was just a guy at a restaurant, but he’s still nice enough to talk to me like a normal person,” Hannon said of Bridwell’s kindness and generosity.
The show in December led the big brother Band of Horses to invite Company (whose psych-tinged rock should bring the youngsters some more attention as their playing matures) out West to play two shows in Denver before coming down to Austin for SXSW.
While extremely grateful for the opportunity his young band has been afforded by one of the country’s most critically acclaimed bands, Hannon admits that he hopes the whirlwind of the past six months is only the beginning for him and his friends in Company.
“It’s great. I hope it continues,” Hannon said.
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