Austinist Show Preview: Horse + Donkey at Lambert's

Sometimes you hear bands that are just meant, like, by the sheer nature of their music, for the soundtrack of a badass film--preferably an artsy film, and quite possibly violent. Surely, when that movie is indomitably un-Hollywood, it's makes for all the better listening, as the somewhat problematically named Horse + Donkey headline a nice little set tonight at Lamberts Downtown Barbeque, a fine dining establishment and music house in the heart of the 2nd Street district. Sounding not terribly unlike a European-influenced and pop-suppressant version of recent indie hypesters Tapes N Tapes, Horse + Donkey mushes a churningly forward-moving bass rhythm, jangling surfer guitars, steady percussion, and confident vocals into music it'd be no shock hearing as the credits roll.

Getting the bill ready for Horse + Donkey are Followed by Static, who aren't afraid to use canned beats in unexpected ways. Their dark and throat-swallowed vocals provide a nice juxtaposition to the play-time percussion and spare, wandering guitar, and, with austere lyrics like "I don't care to / see the light," it'll be interesting to watch how it comes together live. Also on the ballot is Elvis!, and, to be completely honest with you, we're not quite sure what that means. Is Elvis! a local post-rock-ska-punk-blues band who hasn't quite made their stamp on the sprawling search pages of Googledom, or is Elvis! a rhinestoned impersonator here to wow us with his rendition of "Hound Dog"? Maybe, just maybe, could this Elvis! be the real thing? We doubt that, but with unique and engaging bands like Horse + Donkey and Followed by Static on the roster, we sure intend to find out for ourselves.

...Oh, and one last thing that'd be wrong not to mention: Lamberts Downtown Barbecue is said to have some of the best (and highest quality) bar food in town...and the kitchen stays open until eleven.

Horse + Donkey [MySpace]
Elvis! [???]
Followed by Static [MySpace]