An Horse

The Aussie duo An Horse has spent the last two years opening up for bands like Tegan and Sara, Death Cab for Cutie, and currently Appleseed Cast.  What began with band practices in the record store both Kate Cooper and Damon Cox were employed and small gigs around town quickly turned into touring full time and their debut album Rearrange Beds, which hit on shelves last March on Mom & Pop records.

The band has put out a pensive indie rock album about relationships lost and yet to come.  The album rides on a similar hook from start to finish, but remains catchy in its own right.  My favorite tune off the album: “Postcards.”

Fend: “Rearrange Beds was called a “killer breakup album” by Spin Magazine, whats your reaction to that?”

Kate: “I’m glad they think its killer as far as breakup record some of the songs had to do with a relationship that ended, but its not a breakup record.  I guess if I could go back and change it now I would.”

 

Fend: “Whats the writing process for you guys?”

Kate: “I write and record at home on my computer and then Damon listens and we make changes together.”

 

Fend: “The first time I saw you guys you opened up for Tegan and Sara at Terminal 5, what was that experience like?”

Kate: “That tour taught us everything we know.  The fans were amazing and it blew me away the crowds were going wild and it was really incredible.  I thought maybe they thought we were Tegan and Sara.”

 

Fend: “Where are you guys headed now?”

Kate: “Nashville, TN”

 

Fend: “Favorite place to play?”

Kate: “ Cincinnati, the kids are kind of crazy there.”

 

Fend: “Pre-show routine?”

Kate: “There’s a lot of high kicking, from the days of being bored at the record store.  High fiving- we are going for the kind of high five that makes a high pitched snap if you do it right, and we get waters.”

 

Fend: “An Horse has been on the road for quite some time, any awkward experiences on the road?”

Kate: ” Nothing really awkward, but I do have a story…everyone holds doors open for people here, and I didn’t hold the door for an old lady, and she kind of got stuck in the door and now my friends wont let me live it down.”

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Tags: an horse, appleseed cast, Australia, damon cox, death cab for cutie, debut album, indie rock, kate cooper, rearrange beds, tegan and sara

Laugh with me, shout, scream.

“Like O, Like H in your gut.”  It felt like I waited a lifetime for this concert to arrive.  I had anticipated seeing them play live ever since the first time I heard “Where does the Good Go.”  

They have a gift.  A gift that not every talented musician has.  They make me want to cry.  There are those who are great at playing their instruments, singing, and putting on a good show and then there are some that have all the aforementioned characteristics plus they write music that tears at your soul. 

Tegan and Sara make me want to lay on the floor and pound my fists into the wall to every word they sing.  When I listen to them it feels like they have been inside my heart these long 24 years and now finally someone is telling my story.  ”when I was 8 I was sure I was growing nerves.”  

On their latest album, The Con, Tegan and Sara take you to a strange place.  Their songs are catchy enough to want to dance to but when you pay attention to the lyrics it stops you in your tracks, but only for a second.  Their lyrics stir up my emotions, every single one off The Con pings me in one way or another.  The music they play takes me to a whole different place.  I could be on the subway and 5 minutes later realize I have just been pounding the ground with my foot to the drums in “Nineteen”. Its so good I dont even mind infringing on my neighbors space.  Not only is their music bananas but their style is too.  

It is well known, if you are a Tegan and Sara fan, that seeing them live is a truly unique, mirthless, perhaps life making, time.  You are provided with comic relief in between songs as the Canadian born twins recall certain stories from their past, and its only fair that they try and make us laugh after they play song after song of tear invoking tunes.  I saw them this past May and it is still the best concert I have ever been to.  Their stage presence is ridiculous. They interact with their crowd and are hilarious while doing it.  It was once said in an interview that they dont play any of their old songs that they don’t feel are relevant to them today, and it shows. Tegan and Sara are back in town today and tomorrow at Terminal 5, go see them if you have the chance.

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Tags: canadian, comedy, concert, dance, drums, fasion, live music, lyrics, Music, musicians, nyc, sara quin, stage, style, subway, tegan and sara, tegan quin, terminal 5, The Con