Look This Gift Horse In The Mouth

It shouldnt be much of a surprise to learn that Gift Horse are from Athens, Georgia. The place is fit to bursting with amazing rock acts of all colours and persuasions - I wish I could immerse myself in those icy waters right now to fully understand the burgeoning talent in the current music scene there. Highlighting other Athenians Dead Confederate as strong contemporary influences (most notable in their track 'Both Of Me'), Gift Horse have delved to drag the Nineties' version of indie loud rock into the 21st century. Their new LP Mountain of Youth even seems to state this in its title. 'Missionaries' feels like what Local H might've been like if they manned up and sounded more like J Mascis, whilst 'Plastic People' has some slamming distorted chordage up front before melancholic murmurs mark the verses, then the riffage and laments kick in... I never thought I would see the early 1990s in a sepia-toned looking glass, but Gift Horse are doing their darnedest, especially as their slowly building reputation precedes them - some have staked the claim that Gift Horse are the loudest band out of the South West! Either way, their nostalgic (albeit louder) take on the grungier side of slacker indie rock seems relevant. Its scuzzy as fuck, its simplistic, its epic, and its worthy.

You can buy Mountain of Youth here.

Gift Horse - Missionaries

Gift Horse - Plastic People

A Dead Fang in the Wind

Fancy a double dose of Southern psych comfort at Koko for a fiver? Next Friday sees Wax Fang and Dead Confederate playing a great double header. Louisville sluggers Wax Fang are fresh from playing Pavement's ATP and Stag & Dagger and releasing 2nd album La La Land here after being out in the US for two years (two fucking years! Where is the love???), and Dead Confederate are making their second trip here in six months. Two great names for two great bands (they are tag teaming the Dot To Dot festivals also). Ive been looking forward to seeing Wax Fang after hearing 'World War Two Part Two' last year, and this promises to blast away any cobwebs you may have in order to clear the way for a brilliant Bank holiday...

Wildlife calamaties

I heard about John McCauley last year when I went to see Dead Confederate at Hoxton Bar and Grill. I immediately fell in step with his down home southern US folk vision - his voice a plaintive strangler, denoting a man who has seen it all and still gets out of bed in the morning. The fact that McCauley is only 24 somehow heightens the magic. Since his first dalliances with Hank Williams tracks in his bedroom back in 2004, he has formed Deer Tick, a rollicking 4 piece that truly showcase the strength and passion in each of his songs, and projects them on a wide canvas of dense Americana that somehow translates - maybe because i was brought up on Hank Williams, Charlie Pride and Johnny Cash, it doesnt matter really! The point is that the band is good, and this track is indicative of what they do. Its from 3rd album The Black Dirt Sessions, coming out through their new label Partisan in June. It would be worth your while hunting down 2007's War Elephant and 2008's Born On Flag Day. They are currently touring with Dr Dog over in the US, so hopefully they will make another detour to ol Blighty before the year runs out.

Deer Tick - 20 Miles

Waxing lyrical

Wax Fang are another band that I stumbled over late last year - their seminal track World War Two Part Two was, along with Menomena (see upcoming post) was an integral part of my moving-to-London soundtrack. And, just like Menomena, Ive been hankering to post about these guys since forever, but important information has forced my hand to do it RIGHT NOW.

Finally, the Louisville, Kentuckians are coming to the UK!

And how. Wax Fang splash down in May with their first gig being in Bath on the 10th (see what I did there? Ahhhhh...) They then play Huw Stephens' Introducing... @ the Social on the 11th, then a string of festivals throughout the month (ATP curated by Pavement, The Great Escape, Stag and Dagger, Dot to Dot).

AND - if that's not enough exposure, they will also head a double bill with Dead Confederate (who blew Hoxton Bar and Grill away last December) at Koko on the 28th of May.

I can barely contain my excitement! I intend to slake my thirst with as much Wax Fang as possible - check out WW2 Pt2 for evidence...

Wax Fang "WWII (Pt.2)" Music Video from don't panic records on Vimeo.