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The Duchess, 13^th January – And The Horse You Rode In On…

What better way to spend a sub-zero January night, than investigating new bands? And, to be honest, they don’t come more new than York’s And The Horse You Rode In On…, making only their second appearance on stage, this time headlining a showcase night at The Duchess.

The set started bombastically, with a big opening number in the form of ‘Smokestacks’; before the band changed down a gear, with slow bar-brawler ‘Sour Mash’ and the introspection of ‘Road to Purgatory’.

However, this formed a delightful ruse – no sooner had the final notes rung out on ‘Purgatory’, than a flurry of sharp rocky numbers confirmed that the Horse can gallop, including a cheeky cover of Black Spider’s ‘Stay Down’ tucked in between home grown rockers ‘Pig’ and ‘Enemies’. Ending on the set on a high came ‘The Dark’, a brooding build-up to a final rock-out – maintaining the theme of big riffs and big fun throughout a compact set.

And what of those influences? Rock, rock and more rock is a fair start. Here and there is a hint of Sabbath; a twist of AC/DC or the Black Spiders; before you get the sense that these lads grew up in the era of grunge and might have learned a trick or two from their elders. Brightly, there’s no pretension, no exaggeration to the Horse – you get a sense that they’re just out doing what they enjoy rather than trying to be trendy, and making the most of the rock revival being spearheaded by the likes of the Black Spiders and Turbowolf.

The sound is impressive from a four-piece – clever drumming being complemented by bone-rattling bass work; overlaid with big guitar riffs, and some lungful vocals which would not be out of place coming from a young Robert Plant.

The set played out to warm applause from those braving the freezing weather. For a second show, it’s impressive – and you get a sense that more stage time will rub the rough corners from any nerves, and deliver a little more confidence.

So, where next for the lads? To a man, the response was “the pub” from these do-it-for-fun rockers – but with the promise to be back on stage as soon as possible, and with the recording studio beckoning early in the year. The Duchess promo said to expect good things – we did; we got; and we want more.