1.
Please introduce Horses and give some background behind the band.
Horses formed in the fall of 2005, during a drive between Sydney,
NS and Halifax, NS, as a result of a long winded conversation
between 3 bros touching on the subjects of living away from your
economically depressed hometown and what constitutes good, authentic
rock music. I started writing songs that night, and we started
playing them in front of people in Halifax and other spots in
the maritimes shortly thereafter. The band ended up being mostly
about writing songs that reflect folk and rock storytelling traditions
that are played in an aggressive, stripped down fashion.
We
are currently in the process of relocating, reforming, and reformulating
our future trajectory.
2.
How would you describe your music to someone that has yet to hear
it?
"The band [is] about writing songs that reflect folk and
rock storytelling traditions that are played in an aggressive,
stripped down fashion."
I
also might say that we sound like shellac playing bruce springsteen
songs, but I am not sure how accurate that is.
3. What does Horses mean to you?
Horses is the most fulfilling band I have been a part of. I think
it is the best expression of the music I have always wanted to
make. Good dudes I get to play with too.
4.
What were the original goals of the band and have they been met?
I don't know that we had any real goals beyond writing music and
playing shows, so, sure? That we are going to tour is surpassing
my expectations of what was going to happen with this band. When
I moved to Toronto to be with my lady the band was on indefinite
hiatus, but now it looks like it will be my main musical focus.
I guess the question is can we meet my current aspirations for
this band (an official release of our album, tours of western
Canada, the US and Europe, more albums, etc). I sure hope so.
5.
What inspires you as a band?
A lot of the songs I write are inspired in one way or another
by Cape Breton (where we grew up), and my conflicted relationship
with the nature of life there. I am constantly drawing on the
people I know and the places I have been in the songs I write.
Disconnected from that, I am inspired by (and constantly borrowing
from) bands and musicians that either write good music or good
stories, usually both.
6.
What is your musical background? When did rock/folk/whatever come
into play?
I grew up playing in a variety of punk/hardcore/indierock bands,
and going to and putting off all ages DIY shows in Sydney. I have
only developed a taste for rock/folk/country in my 20's. I have
no real explanation why.
7.
You have an upcoming tour with Greg MacPherson, how did the tour
come about?
Greg is a super nice fellow, who I had corresponded with about
putting off a show in Sydney in like 1999 or some shit. A few
years later, me and my buddy Albert backed him up somewhat randomly
at some shows in Sydney. We were brutal. For some reason he let
me (and this time Glenn as well) do it again last year, and we
had alot of fun. He was also into our band. He has been spending
alot of time in Toronto, and when I moved here we decided to play
some music together. Eventually, we decided a tour together would
be a good time.
8.
Is it easy for you go to out there and play in front of an audience?
What's your ideal show situation (type of venue, crowd, other
bands, etc)?
I don't usually get nervous anymore. I have been playing music
in front of people in one form or another since I was 15 (I'm
27 now). When Horses started, it was my first time "singing"
singing in a band, and I was fairly nervous about that. But I
am pretty comfortable with it now. I wish I could do it all day
everyday.
The
ideal show situation is generally in a venue where nice people
work with decent sound, an enthusiastic crowd of any size (more
than say 2), and some bands that don't suck.
9
What do you think sets Horses apart from other bands?
Not alot. I think we draw clear influence from several obvious
places, and I am pretty comfortable with that. I think our music
isn't trying to be groundbreaking; rather it is attempting to
fit in with a particular musical aesthetic emphasizing traditional
song structures and storytelling songs with themes of desperation
and dissillusionment. I think in that way I would rather fit in
than stand out. But I guess we stand out from bands that do not
sound like the bands that we are attempting to fit in with.
10
. When do you think the best time and situation to listen to a
Horses >record is?
On 8 hits of acid on your way to a foghat concert.
11.
What future plans does Horses have?
Ideally, get on a label, release albums and tour a bunch.
12.
How can people contact the band? myspace.com/horsesrunwildtonight
is likely the most reliable, though I guess we have an email address:
horsesrunwildtonight@gmail.com
