I’ve seen the Indiana four-piece Houndmouth four times in about two years and, over that period, they have put out their two albums, 2013’s debut From the Hills Below the City which features their breakout single “Penitentiary” and their latest, Little Neon Limelight, which features the single “Sedona”. Every time I’ve seen them, the band has put on a fun, loose show that is made all the more engaging because each member of the band, guitarist Matt Myers, bassist Zak Appleby, keyboardist Katie Toupin and drummer Shane Cody, has a genuine grin spread across his or her face as they mix up instruments and sing in harmony.
At the Bowery Ballroom, the second of two sold-out shows in New York City, Houndmouth had the youthful Parker Millsap open for them. A native of Purcell, Oklahoma, Millsap released his self-titled, second album just last year (“his voice and his rich, suggestive songwriting”, earned it a rave review here) at the age of 21. Millsap’s youth was quite visible on stage (as was that of one of his best friends, bassist Michael Rose, who Millsap explained won a competition for being a cute baby earlier in his life) but his music resonated on a level far beyond his years. His voice carries a folksy vibe that rode over his guitar work. His band included the impressive fiddler Daniel Foulks and, a newer member, Paddy Ryan on drums. Their music had a darker strain to it, but it was a great warm up for Houndmouth.
Houndmouth sauntered out of the gate with “Black Gold” and Myers twang started to sear the crowd. The heat wasn’t always on full, there was the softer blues of “Honey Slider” and the gentler “Hey Rose” for example, but the band’s exuberance was the most fixating. The audience gleefully sang along along to “Sedona”, “Penitentiary” and many others. As Annie Galvin wrote after seeing the band at SXSW, “their live shows are infectious, brimming over with youthful energy but also suggesting the refinement of true visionaries coming into their own.” Those who don’t know of Houndmouth would be smart to catch them soon. The band’s voice and energy are already stretching the max capacity of the venues on their 2015 tour.
Parker Millsap:
Houndmouth:
Houndmouth setlist:
Black Gold
On the Road
Honey Slider
15 Years
Comin’ Round Again
Casino (Bad Things)
Sedona
Hey Rose
Darlin’
Come On, Illinois
Say It
Penitentiary
Gasoline
By God
My Cousin Greg
[encore break]
For No One
Houston Train
Runaround Sue [w/ Millsap] (Dion)
Houndmouth 2015 Tour Dates:
03/05 – Bloomington, IN @ Bluebird
03/06 – Knoxville, TN @ Bijou
03/07 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
03/08 – Nashville, TN @ 3rd & Lindsley
03/17 – 03/22 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
03/26 – Louisville, KY @ The Brown Theatre
03/28 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls
04/01 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
04/03 – Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
04/04 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
04/10 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew’s Hall
04/11 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection
04/26 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
04/29 – Charlottesville, VA, Jefferson Theatre
04/30 – Chapel Hill, NC, Cat’s Cradle
05/01 – Charlotte, NC @ Visulite Theatre
05/02 – Charleston, SC @ Southern Living Insider’s Weekend
05/08 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
05/09 – Columbus. OH @ Newport Music Hall
05/15 – 05/17 – Gulf Shores, AL @ Hangout Festival
5/28 – Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue
5/29 – St. Louis, MO – The Ready Room
5/30 – Kansas City, MO – The Record Bar
6/1 – Tulsa, OK – IDL Ballroom
6/2 – Little Rock, AR – The Rev Room
6/5 – Austin, TX – The Scoot Inn
6/9 – Jackson, MS – Duling Hall
06/11 – 06/14 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo
6/19 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
6/20 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
6/23 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
6/25 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
6/27 – Santa Ana, CA – The Constellation Room
07/18 – 07/19 – Louisville, KY @ Forecastle Festival