Houndstooth

Formed in Portland, Oregon in 2010 by songwriters Katie Bernstein and John Gnorski, Houndstooth's unique and subtle take on country-rock is perhaps defined by Bernstein's mellow lead vocals and Gnorski's intricate lead guitar playing. Both natives of Austin, Texas, the pair brought three other members on board once they had laid down their initial collaborative compositions as lo-fi demos. While the Detroit-born Mike Yun and Courtney Sheedy joined the band on organ and bass, respectively, Brette Marie Way of the Parson Red Heads was initially appointed on drums. In mid-2011, seasoned alt-rock engineer Graeme Gibson stepped in as Houndstooth's drummer prior to the birth of Way's first child, ultimately taking up the post on a full-time basis. Their debut 7" single, "Beachbummer" b/w "Francis," was self-released later that year before summer 2012 brought a couple of digital-only singles: the Clientele-influenced "Hidden Hollers" and an early version of "Bee Keepers," a track that would eventually make it onto their impressive July 2013 full-length debut, Ride Out the Dark.