Last week Louisville’s Houndmouth released their self-titled, debut EP on Rough Trade Records.  The perfect introduction to the band came to us in the form of an unplugged performance below of their song Krampus.

Who hasn’t been in a bar or restaurant desperately trying to listen to musicians while the bar crowd thronged-on completely ignorant and dismissive of the musical opportunity (several Tom Brosseau/Angela Correa shows at the decidedly un-regal Roy immediately come to mind)?  In the video below, Houndmouth find themselves in just such a setting at the Irish Exit in NYC.  Houndmouth won’t give up the fight, however, while the hellions blather on in the background (you can almost taste the determination in Katie Toupin’s face).  Eventually the intensity of the group’s singing and a dynamic down-shift manage to finally shut the crowd the hell up.  People, if there are musicians playing on a stage and you happen to find yourself in the audience, please pay attention and hush up.  Or go elsewhere so the rest of us can enjoy/assess the band.

After Krampus, check out their song Houston Train, and then go over to the band’s site (linked above) and check out the official video for Penitentiary and buy their EP.  We like what we hear.  Time will tell.