“On Horse Feathers’ sixth album, their introverted persona has thawed, revealing a surprising affinity for the joy of Stax-era and countrified-soul.” —Pitchfork
“…from Justin Ringle’s sandy-voiced warmth to lush string arrangements to fatalistic lyrics that undercut the surrounding swirl of sonic comfort food.” —NPR
“The arrangements are beautiful, borderline orchestral, and contribute to an expanding Horse Featherssoundscape… Horse Feathers are forging a new way forward.” —Exclaim!
“Horse Feathers has evolved expertly, and Appreciation is a case study in artistic growth.” —Pop Matters
Horse Feathers, and their re-imagined string ensemble of seasoned players are returning to the road in the spring of 2022 in support of their April, Kill Rock Stars re-issue of their 2008 breakthrough release “House With No Home.” Justin Ringle and longtime violinist Nathan Crockett will be backed by new additions of upright bass (Luke Ydstie: The Hackles, Blind Pilot), banjo (Kati Claborn: The Hackles, Blind Pilot) and violin (Halli Anderson: River Whyless). The group will be performing selections from “House With No Home” as well as old favorites, highlighting the acoustic characteristics of earlier orchestral arrangements as well as the energy of recent releases.
MAITA
Following MAITA’s 2020 debut, Best Wishes, named one of the “50 Albums that Define Oregon” (Portland Monthly), MAITA’s sophomore LP, I Just Want To Be Wild For You, digs into the crippling oxymoron of modernity, the constant bombardment of communication paired with utter disconnection.
Released via venerable indie label Kill Rock Stars, I Just Want To Be Wild For You grasps passionately for a world that too often seems at a gauzy distance.
Splitting time between her mom’s Japanese-speaking home and her father’s English-speaking home, Maria Maita-Keppeler, who KEXP calls “a master storyteller who can turn intimate moments into quippy, catchy indie-rock songs,” found an expressive avenue out of her childhood shyness through music. The Portland-based songwriter tapped into that grand yet intimate reverence for MAITA’s sophomore album, from the churning twinkle of “Pastel Concrete” to the riotous give-and-take of “Honey, Have I Lost It All?”. In those moments of disconnect, of confusion, of isolation, I Just Want To Be Wild For You thunders ahead, forging unexpected connections along the way.
Named the Willamette Week’s 2020 “Best New Band,” MAITA, the musical vehicle for songwriter Maria Maita-Keppeler has gone on to reach national acclaim, opening for the likes of Mirah, Blind Pilot, Horse Feathers, Typhoon, as well as performing at SXSW and Treefort.
“She just has this sensitivity to her sound that I really really love.” Bob Boilen (NPR music)
“Jaunty, lighthearted folk-rock being used as a Trojan Horse for the creeping dread of existentialism.”- KEXP, Song of the Day
“One of the most impressive and shining acts to come out of Portland in quite some time”- Portland Mercury
“The rarified class of artists with the ability to enthrall the listener right from the jump”- Spin
“Where Do You GO” video premiere on Flood Magazine
MAITA’s essay on Talkhouse
‘A clear-eyed look at growing up and holding yourself responsible for actively creating the life you want to live instead of just waiting around for it to happen.” — Cyrena Touros, NPR All Songs Considered