Hindershot

It would be way too easy to say that Hindershot’s sophomore release, Curse Us All, charts the band’s development over the past year and a half.

Of course, throughout that time, the band released its first EP, went on a lengthy Northwest tour and dealt with the untimely departure of its drummer, John Fate. But Curse Us All doesn’t draw inspiration from any of that stuff.

Instead, this 4-track EP is just another exercise in strong, consistent songwriting for the Denver-based sextet.

From the ambling attitude of the title track down to the experimental roaming of the final song, “Dinosaur,” which is about — as frontman Stuart Confer has said — one world ending, each cut showcases Hindershot’s innate ability to write fluid, yet detailed, indie pop.

The best part about Curse Us All, however, is that the essence of “pop” music is really present throughout the EP. Although the songs deal with melancholy subject matter (e.g. Doomsday, nostalgia, love lost, self-deprecation), they are also underlined by a sense of exuberance.

And such askew hopefulness — considerably the driving force behind popular music — can be found in the effortless emotion of “Rain Fare” or the revelry of “Furlough.”

In the end, tracks this immaculate will hook in so many repeat listeners; it won’t even matter that the band has evolved. Still, Hindershot really has grown up.
- AV Club

I was wondering when the hell this was going to happen. Hindershot is FINALLY releasing its debut EP, It’s Only Blood. This is a poke but one with the warmest of wishes and admiration, and I’m highly pleased that the tracks that hooked me last year have now found a home in my iTunes favorites playlist.

At the 2010 Denver Post Underground Music Showcase (UMS) was the first I’d heard Hindershot, and within the confines of a store morphed into a live music stage you could say the boys blew the tanks right off the racks.
Lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter, Stuart Confer, gets the panties in a bunch to hit the high notes on “The Mark,” working beautifully with the saunter of the guitar lines and high hat percussion, while also showing off his vocal range.

Although I’m still not clear on the meaning of the lyrical metaphors behind “Twisted Tongue,” it’s irrelevant when the speedy, surf-esque lead guitars meet the rhythm guitar bridge, making the heart skip in a good way.

Of the four tracks on It’s Only Blood, “Not Ready To Go” has to be Hindershot’s shining star, with a melody that swirls around the ears like a furry love snake. It would definitely be a “good day” track for “Steve Lamacq's Good Day Bad Day” on BBC 6 Music.

When Hindershot plays these songs live is when they really come to life, filling the room (or store) with the kind of indie rock crack that sinks deep into your skin and makes you feel like your cells are dancing.

So okay guys. Don’t make us wait another year for the Hindershot full-length. I know we all have lives and jobs and need to make that 2-hour stop at Cosco, but come on. It isn’t nice to keep your fans jonzin’ this way. - Kim Owens - Kaffeine Buzz

It's Only Blood, the debut release from six familiar faces led by Stuart Confer, is about apathy. All four songs address not feeling when you should, and let's just say the perspective isn't exactly hindsight. The title track starts the seven-inch out quietly, building to a pop about halfway through. "Not Ready to Go" comes two tracks later with a similar agenda. Confer has a songwriting style that rewards you with songs that come together in satisfying ways; they're probably a lot of fun to play. An echo of fellow Hot Congress band Amazing Twin -- which shares three members (including Confer) with Hindershot -- comes out in the guitar breakdowns and blossoming chaos. What defines this band, however, is restraint, emotional and otherwise. - Kiernan Maletsky - Westword

The title of Hindershot’s debut EP, It’s Only Blood, alludes to a dismissive, macho approach to life. There’s going to be cuts, there’s going to be bruises. "Walk it off. Deal with it." could be a sensible subtitle. The lyrical content of the title track may just reverse that teased opinion. In a poppy-driven beat that sounds almost Surf; nothing less than a commitment to extracting more from life is promised. “Let’s take this to the grave, let’s give this life a little more meaning.” Handclaps, stabbed keys, splash cymbals, and flat out exuberance offer up something camp, celebratory, and ultimately fun. If blood, abrasions, and pains are ignored, it’s simply to get down to business. Meanings to life are explored, but the incentive to party appears key.

There’s a tangible sense of democracy across the brief collection. Not one musician, from the congregated six, appears to breach the sense of being just one of many. Producer credits are shared, which is an admirable objective that sometimes leads to disarray or faltering harmony. In this case, the unified approach offers reward. Whilst Stuart Confer, penning lyrics and baiting guitar hooks, seems to be at the helm, the broader balance of all things sonic is employed, and almost every shot is landed. Noises are layered, vocals are treated, and sometimes noodling occurs, but never to distract and always to serve.



There are moments of genuine abrasion which aren’t so easily shrugged off. “Not Ready To Go” is angular, punchy, and feels like we’ve had too much of something nocturnal, something chemical. Maybe it’s against better judgement to stay and indulge. There’s a trace of post-punk residue here, but it’s easily done it doesn’t sound as self-conscious as some of Hindershot’s hipster contemporaries who tried and failed. True, this is a band who echoes the influence of artists that they obviously love, but there’s no duplication of approach and no sense of anything being forced. No one intends to smash any boundaries; genres aren’t being naively redefined.



A strong expression of just what to expect from proceedings is “The Mark,” which rattles, struts, and dances sideways into your ear. Confer’s voice, at this point, comes in like some kind of disco-bastard that straddles a bass amp and spits falsetto into the wires. Vocal delivery here draws a dynamism like wearing cheap shoes to the disco--you know you’re going to dance, but there’s going to be blisters. The chorus “C’est La Vie” marries well with the filthy-camp undercurrent. Understated keyboard work here, like on other tracks, is a real treat. Special nod should be given to Jesse Livingston, who employs the minimal stab and sustain approach, creating more atmosphere than pretty much any amount of showiness. Again, none of these constituent parts win unless they all get rich. Wealth is distributed.



As a signal of intent, It’s Only Blood is a well-considered debut EP. There’s dynamism, range, and belief. However, the winning element is the atmosphere of unity--the sense of inclusion or invitation. Aspects of conflicting genres come together--Post-Punk isn’t so hip that it won’t bow to the Indie-Pop calling, and the lighter side flirts with genuine substance. Hindershot is having a good time and they want to share. No snarling, no sarcasm. Whilst modern, this is like the good old fashioned stuff, when bands were buddies and you, the listener, weren’t ‘out-cooled’ but were invited to be a part of the scene. Needless to say: play this loud and sing along, or at least get in on the handclaps. Await further dispatch. - Andrew Shaw - Buzzine

If you've been a cognizant observer of local bands at all, you may see these guys take the stage and think, "Oh, no, it's another one of those local-band supergroups!" Rather than try to list the other projects that have contributed to this sextet, let's just say that Hindershot (due at the Larimer Lounge on Thursday, August 26) doesn't sound like any of its members' other bands. If anything, these guys are charting warped melodic territory akin to that of early Brian Eno solo albums. Vibrantly atmospheric and possessed of a kinetic on-stage energy that in itself constitutes a strong presence, Hindershot, despite its Eno-esque proclivities, would never be taken for glam-rock revivalists. The group does, however, make pop music for people who prefer songs with depth combined with a playful spirit. - Westword

Although Hindershot’s debut 7-inch won’t be available to fans until Feb. 26, when it’s unveiled at a release show at Hi-Dive, air passengers who left their iPods at home will get an advance taste of the Denver band’s recorded material starting next week. Noise Pop Records selected the band’s “Rain Fare” for inclusion on Delta Airlines’ indie-rock, in-flight radio station. Although inclusion on airplane-radio programming theoretically gives Hindershot the chance to be heard by thousands of bored air travelers, the band’s taking its achievement with a grain of salt—or a tablet of Dramamine.

“We’re in the Sky Magazine, kind of by the barf bag in the back of the seat. We’re still not sure how big of a deal it is,” singer-guitarist Stuart Confer says, laughing. “Barf bag or not, it’s exposure. That’s the name of the game.”

You don’t have to book a flight to preview “Rain Fare.” The A.V. Club has a stream of the track below. Just pour yourself a half can of soda and talk one of your coworkers into providing an invasive TSA-style security check, and you’ll enjoy all the perks of air travel without having to leave the ground. - Matt Schild - AV Club

Denver all-stars Hindershot will be releasing its debut 7" next weekend at the Hi-Dive. The band, fronted by guitarist, singer and songwriter Stuart Confer, knows when to employ complexity and when to go straight for the power chords.

The 7-inch, called It's Only Blood would be a shockingly coherent four track debut had we heard the other music these guys have created. It's a thrill regardless -- if there's a limit to its replay value we haven't found it yet.

"Hindershot started as a creative outlet for me, I was writing and recording demos in my bedroom," says Confer. "After a few failed attempts at forming an actual band, we finally formed as we are today, and we are having a blast.

We picked the songs for this EP because they all had a common theme: The concept of becoming numb to life experiences that should evoke emotion."

It's Only Blood was recorded Sack 'Em Studios with Josh Wambke. "The Mark," available for streaming and exclusive download here, starts with jagged guitar and tambourine and builds to a chaotic climax.

Hindershot is just getting started: They've already started work on the follow-up 7-inch, tentatively set to be released in the coming months. From there, the band could go a lot of different places. The crowds are starting to show up pretty consistently here in Denver, and they may test the road sometime this year.
- The Denver Westword