Houndstooth

BIOGRAPHY

Houndstooth formed in Portland, Oregon in 2010, founded by Austin, Texas natives Katie Bernstein and John Gnorski. Bernstein's mellow lead vocals and Gnorski's intricate guitar work anchored the group's blend of country-rock, later filled out by Mike Yun on organ, Courtney Sheedy on bass, and drummer Brette Marie Way (also of the Parson Red Heads), before Graeme Gibson took over on drums in mid-2011. The band's debut 7" single, 'Beachbummer' b/w 'Francis,' arrived via self-release, followed by digital singles 'Hidden Hollers' and an early version of 'Bee Keepers' in 2012. Their debut LP, Ride Out The Dark, came out on No Quarter Records in July 2013, led by the single 'Canary Island.' By 2015 the lineup had settled into a four-piece with Gibson and bassist Cari Palazzolo, releasing the follow-up No News From Home that March.

WHY THEY'RE COOL

Houndstooth's subtle country-rock draws on 1950s and '60s rock classics, Link Wray, old American country song forms, and Brit-folk atmospherics, filtered through the twin voices of Bernstein and Gnorski. Their two No Quarter albums, Ride Out The Dark and No News From Home, capture a band comfortable moving between road-worn rock and hushed psych-folk without losing its plainspoken songwriting core.

GEORGE'S PLAYS

First time on the station.

PLAYED ON WOKE1

• Canary Island1 PLAY