There’s always that one guy on the streetcar with the oversized headphones, socially aware T-shirt and contently bobbing head. He’s clearly witty, stylish and with the times, so one can’t help but wonder what’s playing on those things (or if he’s just using them as a particularly hip earmuff alternative).
After extensive pondering, it should become clear that it is most likely an advance copy of Blue Horns’ upcoming release streaming through the gargantuan electronic devices, providing John Doe with a surround sound experience of their tunes’ invasive, uplifting beats and juxtaposed casual/energetic mentality.
The Vanguard recently had the opportunity to interview the four-piece, made up of Colin Howard on lead guitar, Andrew Stern on bass, Brian Park on vocals and guitar, and Brian Kramer on drums.
Like much of Portland’s music selection, Blue Horns is a tough-to-pin-down genre hopper, and each of the bandmates has their own ideas on just what it is they create.
“It’s rock ‘n’ roll,” Park claims. To which Howard argues, “I’d say jingle-jungle pop.” “Toe-tapping airy punk, yeah, but I think rock ‘n’ roll is really what it is,” Park responds.
Which leads to Howard’s decisive conclusion, “The drums are always pretty pummeling and jungley, the vocals are kind of squirrelly and fluttery, and the guitars are idiosyncratic and bounce off of each other. And those elements are in pretty much all of the material. So whatever that is.”
Despite what they call it, the band in its entirety agrees that their sound performs best in intimate settings, with plenty of room for dancing.
“I like being on ground level, or a very small stage,” Park explains. “It’s about small, sweaty spaces with a properly inebriated crowd.”
Blue Horns is the collaboration of four very different musicians with unique inspirations, influences and external commitments. Andrew Stern, a Motown aficionado who works at KPSU and plays with four other bands, explains how hectic things can get.
“It’s kind of crazy, and I have a record label too [King of Hearts], which keeps me pretty busy,” he says. “I keep trying to get [Blue Horns], but they just keep saying no.”
The band decided post-recording to take some time off to label shop, despite a large population of local musicians committing to remain self produced.
“We don’t want to be famous or get free stuff or meet women, that would be frustrating, and I think that’s what happens when you sign. We wouldn’t want to do that,” Howard jokes about the community’s often anti-label stand.
Blue Horns has played countless local shows, but remains timid in their self-promotion.
“I’m not blessed with a huge ego,” Howard confesses, to which Park adds, “I think pretty much any artist feels awkward like, ‘So. Check me out. Can I interest you in me?'”
After the LP’s complete release in January, Blue Horns plan on starting a Northwest tour.
“I love touring,” Stern admits. “I wish I could do it nonstop. The only downside is coming back.” With constantly evolving goals, touring seems to be the most appropriate current focus. Howard explains, “Now that we’re happy with [the record], the live show is where it’s at for us.”
Touring is not the sole means of promotion for these guys, though. They have a few guerilla marketing techniques up their sleeves.
“We’d like to soundtrack the ocean. First of all we need to buy out the rights to the ocean, then replace that ocean sound in seashells with our sound,” Park quips. “I think the copyright’s almost up on that.”
Though completely unified in their sarcastic, humble humor and point of view, the members of Blue Horns maintain a clear-headed approach to music.
“Whatever contribution you end up making is unconscious,” Howard says. “You go up there just looking to have a great time. You spend the time at home trying to make music you like, and if that contribution is exciting to people it’s great.”
The resulting product is a tapestry of sharp beats, bouncing chords and hard-to-distinguish vocals combining to create a mood lifting, obnoxiously-large-headphone-worthy vibe that’s perfectly coordinated with Park’s get-up-and-dance lyrics.
Their album artwork, by Afton Hakes, beautifully illustrates the band’s funky but cohesive feel, and their fast-paced songs could provoke mass dancing hysteria anywhere they’re played.
There seems to be a new movement of talented but highly unpretentious artists invading the Portland indie music scene, and with their tongues pressed firmly in cheek, Blue Horns are leading the way.
Blue Horns CD Release ShowBackspaceNov. 15, 8:30 p.m.$5All agesCD $8 at show