The country genre is known for producing big-name stars in the form of solo artists. Full bands are much rarer — and in the case of this decade’s breakout country band, Zac Brown Band, often come disguised as a solo act.

A Thousand Horses bucks that trend (pardon the pun). At first blush, it might be tempting to compare the Southern rock hybrid to Brown’s ragtag group of country rockers (they even have a Zach Brown in the band on lead guitar, though he’s obviously not the same person).

But A Thousand Horses is a better fit for country radio than Brown ever was, as evidenced on “Smoke,” a stomping rocker in the vein of Alabama or the Allman Brothers Band. The lead-off single from the band’s debut album “Southernality,” “Smoke” eventually hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, the first country band to score a No. 1 on the chart since — you guessed it — Zac Brown Band.

Another rarity in country music: The band writes all its own songs. Each of the debut album’s 13 songs features songwriting credits from at least one member of the band’s core four — Zach Brown, lead vocalist Michael Hobby, bassist Graham DeLoach and guitarist Bill Satcher. Live, the band’s membership balloons to nine members, including female backup singers, giving the songs a soulful edge while suggesting more comparisons to a cleaner version of the Allman Brothers Band.

The band makes its Bend debut at the Century Center tonight, with openers Chasing Crazy and Jones & Fischer.

A Thousand Horses, with Chasin’ Crazy, Jones & Fischer; 6 p.m. today, doors open at 5 p.m.; $20 plus fees in advance; Century Center, 70 SW Century Drive, Bend; www.bendticket.com. —Brian McElhiney