Written by Jeremy Goldmeier Monday, 28 August 2006 05:48

For They Shoot Horses Don't They?, having seven members with buckets of manic energy makes for a particularly unique live experience.

 

In today's increasingly crowded indie scene, one old adage holds true: You'd best bring the noise live to gain cred with the kids. For They Shoot Horses Don't They?, having seven members with buckets of manic energy makes for a particularly unique live experience.

"We do a lot of freaking out and hitting things," admits the Vancouver collective's leader, Nut Brown.

The band's stampeding stage show has been hitting up all of the major North American markets as of late, though St. Louis has regrettably been spared in the onslaught. Inspired by everything from high school concert bands to arty eccentrics like Thinking Feller's Union Local #282, Brown says the group's horn-powered attack reminds many people of deranged carnival tunes.

"I hope some people can be disturbed by it," says Brown of the band's sound. "Other people think it's fun."

The venerable indie label Kill Rock Stars clearly heard something worthwhile in the group's three-ring sonic circus, and signed on to distribute TSHDT's debut, Boo Hoo Hoo Boo. Brown says that the band didn't want to merely reproduce their fabled live show in the studio.

"We're more interested in using the energy we use live, but doing lots of experiments with microphones and amplifiers, and try to make a completely buried kind of sound," he explains. "Not excessively, [but] trying to do it artfully and subtly."

As the group continues to ransack the North American continent with its touring show, be on the lookout for an imminent arrival in the Midwest. Just listen for the sounds of distorted horns and joyous group shout-a-longs...