Houndmouth Plays To A Packed House At Mercy Lounge

Nashville – The rough-and-tumble blues rock of Houndmouth has been hot in Nashville lately. We figured we’d better catch their show at Mercy Lounge to see what the buzz is about and see if they’re ready to join ranks with other neo-blues players like The Black Keys and Kings of Leon. The four-piece band from Indiana has been rigorously touring since September. Nashville was just one stop on their odyssean loop around America.

The life of a sojourner seems appropriate for a band who primarily writes songs about hoppin’ trains, runnin’ from the law, and other illicit activities that sound cool without a ‘g.’ Their mellow Midwestern upbringing surely didn’t bear witness to the sort of hardship that inspired their first song of the night, “Penitentiary.” But that doesn’t mean they can’t follow the lead of Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard who knew what they were talking about when they sang, “I Got Stripes” and “Momma Tried.” Keys player and band beauty Kate Toupin had enough head-banging, hair-swinging energy to at least tell a good story about the wrong side of a jail cell.

Houndmouth assured fans that the band is in a creative upswing by playing several new songs between the best ones off their album— “Casino (Bad Things),” “Hey Rose,” “Ludlow.” The new songs sound a lot like the ones off 2013’s From the Hills Below the City (via Rough Trade Records). But then, the songs on that album all sound pretty similar to each other too. This didn’t seem to present an issue to the crowd though, who were packed in more tightly than is normal for a show at Mercy Lounge. The friendly smile and liveliness of lead singer/guitarist Matt Meyers was met with a lot of hollering and hip-swinging. The full house and body heat only added to Houndmouth’s devil-may-care persona.

The age range at the show was hard not to notice. Twenty-somethings dominated as usual. But kids sporting Xs on their hands were aplenty, and people mature enough to be their parents were also out to see Houndmouth. As a testament to the band’s blues rock chops, several “industry types” were milling about—the ones who still wear the long hair of their youth and walk with the assurance of owning a record label, management company, or at least several expensive guitars. Props to Houndmouth for standing out as a great new band and attracting the people in Nashville with the keenest and most jaded ears.

True to what these “industry types” must have suspected, Houndmouth is at their best in a live setting. They come off as likable and humble, and it’s impressive when they switch up instruments and alternate vocal leads. A few ripping guitar solos from Meyers certainly didn’t hurt their clout. Their three-part harmonies are powerful and give the band that unique edge that has pushed them past their beginning as a band busking the streets of New Albany, Indiana.

Houndmouth is hopefully just beginning a long career. They have a good thing going between the dynamism of their live show and their songs full of character and adventure. They’ll need to grow beyond their drinkin’ and smokin’ brand of songwriting though because the truth is that it’s already been done. It’s fun to hear a band dust off the past, but fans will eventually need fresher fodder. Assuming their show at Mercy Lounge was an indication of the band’s skill, their potential will surely flourish.

Photo By Bebe Besche

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Caroline McDonald

My first memory is of singing Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” quietly to myself during preschool naptime. Perhaps it’s because I’m from Nashville where an instrument lives in every home, but music has gripped me for as long as I can remember.

After dabbling in many parts of the music industry—recording studios, PR, management, labels, publishing—I’m expanding into music journalism because I’m yet to find anything more rewarding that finding and sharing new music.

A longtime sucker for girls with guitars, my musical taste unabashedly follows the songwriting lineage of Dolly Parton and includes Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch, and Neko Case. But not to pigeonhole myself, my music love is big love that stretches from R.L. Burnside to Animal Collective to Lord Huron.

I’ve recently moved home to Nashville after living in Boston and Big Sur for several years. I’d forgotten how music pours onto the streets ten hours a day, seven days a week. I’m honored to share the creative explosion happening here. If your band is in the area or of the area, please reach out!