Strung Like A Horse throws down a performance at JJ's Bohemia as some considered it their 4th anniversary. JJ’s was the primary venue where SLAH launched into Chattanooga's "Live" Music Scene. SLAH, features Ms Lacy Jo, dancer with Zanzibar Studio.
SLAH members;
BJ Hightower, vocal, bassist
Clay Maselle, vocal, guitar
Mark Fiddler, vocal fiddle,
Ben Crawford, banjo
Eric Crisp, drums, bells, chimes and other weird instruments
The performance was scheduled for midnight due to the popular demand to have Lauris Vidal http://www.laurisvidal.com/ and Hot Damn http://hotdamnmusic.com/ opening the show for Strung Like A Horse. I arrived late only catching the last few songs of the latter group. A tremendously strong vocal band.
After witnessing SLAH performance several times it hard to really describe the garage grass acoustic infused bluegrass gypsy rocking style tune with some ballad persuasion. Now that as close as I can get to describing SLAH. So now let’s go to their website for more information http://www.strunglikeahorse.com/ . The bio extends the Band’s character as this….
So far, this the only description that nearly fits Strung Like A Horse. Their acoustic driven sound fires people off to the darker areas of this strange universe. These unique individuals and their music is like a hellbender found under a rock; not hard to find, but hard to get a grasp on.
Built in a garage four years ago, these fellas resemble a psychobilly diesel pick-up. There’s BJ Hightower’s manic bass work providing the suspension of the band; bouncing, at times weird, but always reliable. Ben Crawford and his “s-s-s-s-string drum”. Eric Crisp, the Crisper, his chair drum set, ping-ding-crack-and-rumble like a pieced together yet functional engine. Mark Fiddler a/s/a “Spooky Chicklets” exists as an otherwordly force surrounding the truck; his violin sings the sounds of night-woods on the sides of the highway. Clay Maselle with his guitar in the shotgun steers the band into the depths of the wood with lyrics to narrate the adventure.
To bring it down to a point, these junkyard dogs bring “honest, playful, head-bangingly interactive fun” to any venue their rocket crashes. Hey, don’t take our words for this. Explore their website for more goony goodies of information and the social media of Facebook where we all seem to hide better behind the book with the FACE we only really want you to see.
Well it’s short and tart but the photos will give you a look behind the door of JJ’s Bohemia tribal community. Are you more curious now? SLAH started about four years ago with something new the local live music has really never seen must less experience… only when Here Come The Mummies somber into Chattanooga does Strung Like A Horse feel a bit challenge. Seem as both bands lurk around better around midnight on the grave crypt side.
SLAH write their own material and several song transformed into unique video stories. They also occasional will pull a cover song unique to SLAH style. You may reach into the Youtube vaults and find a variety of recording.
Watch these and then check out their next local live performance.
http://vimeo.com/35462701 Byrd Dog - produced by SLAH and Director Tomas Andres Donoso
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J11Ptr60Z_0 Circus Song - performed at Rhythm & Brews
Check out their websites www.strunglikeahorse.com also found on Social Media Facebook.
(Mark A Herndon, certified professional geologist and professional photographer grew up in Chattanooga area, graduated from the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga. He is the Entertainment and Chattanooga cityscape photographer affiliated with Chattanoogan.com and contributor to several magazines, venues and Friends of the Festival events. Email at; MAHerndon@ChattanoogaLiveMusic.com)