Line-up

Venue

Val Air Ballroom

301 Ashworth Road, 50265, West Des Moines, IA, US

www.valairballroom.com/

View upcoming concerts

Additional details

Doors open: 19:30

Concert in your area for Indie & Alt, Pop, Rock, Folk & Blues, and Country.

Find out more about Pop, Rock, and Country.

Houndmouth biography

Houndmouth (formed in 2011) is an Americana-infused indie-folk four-piece, best known for their 2013 album “From the Hills Below the City”, hailing from New Albany, Indiana, U.S.

Comprised of guitarist and frontman Matt Myers, keyboard and vocalist Katie Toupin, bassist Zak Appleby, and drummer Shane Cody, Houndmouth was born in 2011. On the back of successful and immersive performances in Louisville, Kentucky and around Indiana, the band was invited to perform at the 2012 SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. The show strongly aided the success of their debut, self-titled EP, following which Houndmouth were contacted by Geoff Travis of Rough Trade, who subsequently signed the band to his roster.

Later in 2012 the group was named “Band of the Week” by The Guardian, raising Houndmouth’s international reputation, before heading to the studio to record a debut full-length. In 2013 Houndmouth their debut studio album “From the Hills Below the City”, showcasing a selection of heart-on-the-sleeve, country/blues-infused, rock & roll tracks. In promotion of the record, Houndmouth performed on “Letterman”, “Conan”, and “World Cafe”, before embarking on their most ambitious tour to date including shows at Americana Music Festival, Bonnaroo, and Lollapalooza.

The majority of 2013 and 2014 was spent touring alongside the likes of the Wheeler Brothers, Andrew Combs, and Drive-By Truckers, regularly testing out new material. In March 2015, Houndmouth issued their sophomore studio album “Little Neon Limelight”, once again generating popular responses from the musical press.

Live reviews

Ripping it up across the U.S, Houndmouth strike a chord in everyone's heart that sends them into an orgasmic oblivion of country music.

Their journey began in 2011 when the band were playing a show and Geoff Travis, the head of Rough Trade was in the audience and offered a contract shortly after seeing their rendition of modern country music. The band have toured greatly since and last year released their stunning debut album 'From The Hills Below The City.'

It seems Alabama Shakes have shaken their Alabama 'shakes' onto Houndmouth, and Houndmouth may be in great debt to them for that because huge crowds come from all over to sing along with singers Matt Myers and Katie Toupin, feel the steady beat of the drums and howl to the guitar solos.

It's a fantastic sound on the record and live it's breath-taking. There's essences of Kings Of Leon later stuff and happiness that is glittered across the crowd when they perform.

Report

LouisAntoniou

The Mountain Song is one of my favourite tracks, and to hear Ryland Baxter open the show with an acoustic version of the song was awesome. He immediately got everyone singing along to his indie country music, and as he sang ‘down the mountains and the valleys like the breeze’, everyone had their hands in the air appreciatively. I’ve listened to the albums over and over again, but hearing his raw voice echo through the auditorium in a live setting, it was even more natural and grounding than I’d ever heard.

His guitar playing was also incredibly, and watching his fingers dance across the frets whilst he sang beautiful harmonies with his violinist was a true demonstration of talent. Baxter interacted really well with his band (a violinist and electric guitarist), and when he launched into sections of improvisation they were right with him playing along in perfect time.

He played a great selection of tracks from the old to the new, and even took requests from the audience. Ryland is a great performer as well as musician, and his ability to captivate an entire audience for nearly 2 hours was incredible.

Report