Horse Feathers
It was a modest and older crowd at the Bottom of the Hill one Wednesday night in San Francisco, all waiting patiently for a special evening with the always wonderful Horse Feathers.
TV Mike And The Scarecrowes
Combining wistful, storytelling lyrics with folksy, jangling chords, shimmering and virtuosic fingerpicking, and deliberate gestures, TV Mike & the Scarecrowes invariably recalled the glory of an amphetamine-strained 70s folk rock movement.
TV Mike And The Scarecrowes
Also like that specific era, TV Mike sang with a free spirited twang, using every iota of breath before sputtering out completely, only to create brilliant arpeggios to balance their lyrically intensive and fun songs. While I wasn’t making a mad dash for the merch table, it was a welcomed opener.
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[mp3] T.V. Mike and the Scarecrowes – Paint the Town from Spittin’ in Cursive (2008)
Horse Feathers
On record, Horse Feathers favors a sparse, acoustic sound. Their songs are subdued and melancholic with a mix of vocals, string instruments, light guitar, with the occasional addition of piano or perhaps drums. So when Justin Ringle, Nathan Crockett, Sam Cooper and Catherine Odell all arrived on stage, the room was patient and quiet, anticipating that misty sound that Horse Feathers are known for.
Horse Feathers
Things start off simple enough – a song like Heathen’s Kiss, from 2008′s House With No Home, is close enough to its recorded version, just fleshed out comfortably by the extra instrumentation, and Justin Ringle’s voice, with gentle levels of strings provided by Catherine Odell, is comfortably foregrounded in the mix. Working Poor features some beautiful harmonies from the band that even silenced the chattering back at the bar.
Horse Feathers
About 40 minutes later, the floor of the Bottom of the Hill was silent and respectful, listening contently for every pluck of the string and every word Ringle uttered. Most impressive though was Ringle’s voice, which I certainly had come to appreciate from repeated listens of House With No Home, but really fell for after hearing it live. This is similar to a meek and mild hushed solo sound similar to Sam Beam of Iron & Wine. While there is no varied intensity, I remained attentive due to the brilliant arrangements of the rest of the band.
Horse Feathers
It was an expected experience for anyone that is familiar with the Mid-Western, snow covered log cabin inspired folk music. A mellow and enjoyable night for anyone willing to witness this very special act.
For more pictures click here. For when Horse Feathers will be coming to your town, click here.
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[mp3] Horse Feathers – Curs in the Weeds from House With No Home (2008)