Bark Hide and Horn were an indie/folk-rock band from Portland, Oregon.

Bark Hide and Horn
OriginPortland, Oregon, United States
GenresIndie rock, folk-rock, naturalist rock
Years active2005–2009
LabelsBoy Howdy Records
Past membersAndy Furgeson
Peter Valois
Dusty Dybvig
Brian Garvey

History edit

Bark Hide and Horn has released one self-titled EP, and one LP entitled National Road. Thus far, the music on these albums has focused on the history and content of the National Geographic magazine from the years 1957 to 1967, when it was under the editorship of Melville Bell Grosvenor.[1] National Road contained as its centerpiece a fictionalized narrative focusing on Melville Bell Grosvenor and the implicit downtrodden perspectives left unaddressed by the content of the magazine.[2]

In their initial incarnation, Bark Hide and Horn consisted of Andy Anderson Furgeson on guitar, vocals, harmonica, violin, banjo, and pedal steel and Brian Garvey on mandolin, keyboard, synth, trumpet, saxophone, trombone, percussion, and vocals. Eventually, Peter Valois on bass, vibraphone, vocals, glockenspiel, penny whistle, and percussion and Dusty Dybvig on drums, percussion, and theremin were added to the band's lineup. The band members, used to playing in larger ensembles, found that they needed to constantly switch between instruments live in order to achieve the full sound that they desired.[3]

Genre edit

The National Geographic-heavy content of Bark Hide and Horn's first EP and album has led some to identify Bark Hide and Horn as a naturalist-core band.[4] Others have described Bark Hide and Horn as having "navigated around roots rock to find the actual roots" given the content of their songs.[5]

In the Portland music scene edit

Bark Hide and Horn played in the 2008 PDX Pop Now Festival.[6] Additionally, they performed at the 2008 Northwest Folklife Festival.[7]

Recognition edit

In addition to garnering praise from music critics for their debut album,[2][5][8][9][10][11] the music has also been recognized by PZ Myers, a prominent atheist, in his blog Pharyngula for depicting mollusks and other invertebrates in a positive light.[12] Additionally, according to an article in The Portland Mercury, Jane Goodall loves a song from National Road that focuses on the spacefaring chimpanzee Ham, and mentions her in the lyrics.[2]

Discography edit

Year Title Record label Ref.
2008 National Road (Album) Boy Howdy Records [13]
Bark Hide and Horn (EP)
2010 Animal Mind (EP) Swollen Nation Music [14]

References edit

  1. ^ "Bark Hide and Horn, National Road". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  2. ^ a b c "For Melville With Love". The Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  3. ^ "Bark Hide and Horn Q&A". The Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  4. ^ "Up and Coming". The Portland Mercury. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  5. ^ a b "Bark Hide and Horn, National Road". Stranded in Stereo. Archived from the original on 2008-12-08. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  6. ^ "PDX Pop Now 2008 schedule".
  7. ^ "Northwest Folk Life Festival 2008 schedule". Archived from the original on 2009-03-31. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
  8. ^ "Bark Hide and Horn, National Road". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  9. ^ "Bark Hide and Horn, National Road".
  10. ^ "My Ass Was The Ball, My Thorax The Chain".
  11. ^ "Bark Hide and Horn and Worms". 11 July 2007.
  12. ^ "Aw, it's so sweet". Archived from the original on 2008-07-25.
  13. ^ Bark Hide and Horn - National Road Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-05-24
  14. ^ Animal Mind by Bark Hide and Horn, 2010-04-06, retrieved 2023-05-24

External links edit