Date of show: April 16, 2013
Shot of choice: tequila
Written by: Chiara DiAngelo
Always a fan of checking out Nu Music Nites at The Horseshoe, on this occasion we were there specifically to see Houndmouth. The Indiana band made quite the impression on us when they opened for Dry the River last Fall and we’d been looking forward to seeing them again ever since.
Their authentic dirty southern rock transports you to a dusty Western saloon and goes down easy, like whiskey-spiked sweet tea. Comprised of Matt Myers (vocals, guitar), Katie Toupin (keys, vocals), Zak Appleby (bass, vocals), and Shane Cody (drums, vocals), the four-piece share lead vocal duties, which are arguably the star of their live performance. The guy-girl vocal pairing of Myers and Toupin on set opener “Penitentiary” and the building chamber-like three-part vocals of Myers, Toupin and Appleby – one entering after the other – on one of their newer tracks was so commanding. Drummer Cody took the lead on “Krampus,” but it was the powerful moment that Toupin’s near-sublime voice emerged that really had the ability to knock you off your feet and leave you breathless. She might have stolen the show in that moment.
With a new album on the way, the band treated the audience to some new songs as well as those from their self-titled EP – though it is likely that all their songs were new to most in attendance. If their long drawls and amiable banter – “Canada is like the US, but nicer” – wasn’t enough, Toupin used the fact that her father was from Toronto, therefore making her half Canadian, to help win them some new fans. Based on the amount of applause they earned after they finished, I think it might have been an effective maneuver.
Houndmouth’s debut full-length album From the Hills Below the City drops June 4th and the band will be back in Toronto soon after, opening for Alabama Shakes at Echo Beach on June 20th. It should only take until the second song of their set before they immediately become everyone’s new favourite band. We were just happy to see them in a tiny venue for what could possibly be the last time!
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