IT’S NO SECRET Midwestern cities have given birth to dozens of high-profile bands throughout rock ’n’ roll history. Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Louisville all lay claim to some very well-known fixtures, from The Smashing Pumpkins to The Afghan Whigs to My Morning Jacket.
Just across the river from the home of My Morning Jacket (Louisville) and a scant 90 minutes from Indianapolis, New Albany can now lay a similar claim to being a place where rock ’n’ roll royalty began. Houndmouth formed in 2011 and, after five albums, hundreds of live performances, and a legion of fans, they show no signs of slowing down.
The band has gained a reputation over the years for their energetic approach to live shows. Houndmouth is preparing for two consecutive nights in Indianapolis at The Vogue Theatre October 29-30. “It always feels like a hometown show,” says frontman and lead songwriter Matt Myers. “You could say Louisville’s a hometown show for us because New Albany is nearby, but I’ve always said I’m from Indiana. Even though I grew up like 10 minutes from Louisville. I feel like Indy is always like a homecoming for us.”
Myers says the lineup has changed over time, but the core elements of the band’s sound remain the same: a mix of rock ’n’ roll, folk, blues, and jazz. Myers credits spending time in the car with his father for shaping that sound and, ultimately, his approach to songwriting.
“He would play Randy Newman, a lot of James Brown, Motown, and then I got on John Prine,” he says. “When I was really young, I listened to Stevie Ray Vaughan as well.” Those car rides helped shape Houndmouth’s sound, with Myers serving as the primary lyricist. “I’ve always written story songs,” he says. “Just like the ideas of characters on a journey. That’s always been really fun to me.”
The band’s fifth album and first in five years, Lordy, dropped in July to critical acclaim, particularly for Myers’ evolution as a songwriter. “On the most recent record, it’s a more personal experience. I processed my feelings through writing songs,” he explains. “I still like writing about throwing characters into specific situations. But, on this record, in the midst of talking about whatever I got going on, I can kind of stick with it, try to figure out what’s really happening, and make sense of it like in real time.”
Myers has a home near Louisville, but only comes through sporadically in between touring and recording. But when he’s in Indy, he has a well-known favorite spot to hit. “Shapiro’s. I have to hit Shapiro’s Deli,” he says. “I always get the classic pastrami on rye.”
Houndmouth is on tour in the U.S. through mid-November, with dates scheduled for Canada in February 2027. Visit here more information on the band or to get tickets for the October 29-30 shows at The Vogue.
