Consisting of Matthew Myers (guitar/vocals), Shane Cody (drums/vocals) and Zak Appleby (bass/vocals), New Albany, Indiana-based Houndmouth have carved their place in the contemporary folk rock movement across three records, earning considerable acclaim and attention in the process. With an uncanny ability to straddle the holy trinity of fun, emotional resonance and narrative depth, the band have won fans near and far, getting as mainstream as primetime TV on Conan and Letterman without losing any of their ragged sincerity and charm.
Forthcoming record Good For You consolidates this status, and represents the fullest realisation of their modern interpretation of classic country rock to date. As with many of the genre’s figureheads, Houndmouth use their music to weave fully-formed stories, and the new record sees them push the boat out on this front, offering detailed and often surrealist tales that blend magical realism with goodtime energy and good ol’ country heartbreak. Be it Elvis staring down his own downfall on ‘Las Vegas’ or the fairy tale-esque dreaming of ‘Cool Jam’.
Latest single ‘Make It To Midnight’ serves as a perfect example. A midwestern gothic of nocturnal vistas and bright burning flames, an attempt to ward off the darkness through sheer will. As the track builds and the vocals emerge with increasing intensity, the stakes are raised, a lycanthropic thread emerging in the narrative. A real reason to fear the night. But by the time the guitar solo kicks in, the fear is replaced by something else altogether. Music’s coolest werewolf since Warren Zevon dropped one onto the rainy streets of Soho.
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The band have also unveiled a live performance video to accompany the single, recorded at the 18th-century shotgun style home known as ‘The Green House’ and directed Matt Fulks (Tomahaux).
Good For You is out on the 5th November via Dualtone Records and you can pre-order it now from the Houndmouth Bandcamp page.
