Shit Horse @ Mansion

Kevin -

Great review! Shit Horse are definitely their own thing - they refuse to have a website, myspace page or facebook page. They insisted that their record be released only on cassette, and that "no computers are ever to touch it", meaning they wouldnt allow it to be mixed or recorded on protools or any other software based recording technology. They also initially insisted that no promo copies were sent out - press, radio and the like would have to buy it if they wanted to review or play it. They have since softened on this last bit, I've been allowed to send out a small number of press and radio copies.

But yeah, the record is great and as you have guessed - they are an amazing live band. They have been saddled a bit unfairly with charges of gimmickry, and although yes, they are called Shit Horse and have an unlikely lineup, I can assure you they are dead serious and work very hard on their music. They do have a sense of humor though, which I think is refreshing.

I think they would be happy to do the interview. I have emailed them and asked them permission to give their email addresses to you. The hardest one to get in touch with is Danny - he usualy is crashing with friends, having no home of his own so I dont know how frequently he is in front of a computer. But I can set something up.

They have been recording on and off - always on four track. I have been trying to get them into a studio but it is hard these days to find one that doesnt rely on computers in some way that isn't also very expensive. Guitar player/singer Josh is also in a great band called Americans in France. They have been working on their second full length at a great studio in Richmond called Sound of Music (owned by David Lowery of Camper Van Beethoven/Cracker). Josh is the one who mosts insist upon no computers, so it has been a long arduous process. Even studios that track to tape generally bump the songs to computer by mixing, and this is a no-go, thus we worked at S.O.M. which has the ability to do a completely analog record. I would love to get Shit Horse in there, but there just aren't the funds, so either they can hopefully loosen their rules a bit in the name of getting a great sounding record, or they continue with the four track - which is great, but doesnt quite capture how intense they are.

Question - which blog did you initially stumble upon that had the review? It has been hard promoting Shit horse because most people are put off by the format or the name. But it is a shame because they are such a great, unique band.

Thanks again for the review - I know they will appreciate it.

I will keep you posted on the interview. It would be great to get them over to the UK at some point ...