Night Horse

Night Horse, a blues-infused hard rock band from California, emerged from collective admiration for 1970s artists such as Alice Cooper, John Lee Hooker, Aerosmith, the Allman Brothers, Van Halen, and ZZ Top. The ensemble assembled in 2008 with vocalist Sam James Velde (Bluebird), guitarist Greg Buensuceso, drummer Brandon Pierce, bassist Nick D'Itri, and guitarist Justin Maranga, the final trio having previously played in the heavy Los Angeles-based psychedelic rock group Ancestors. Originally dubbed the Mother Fucking Razorbacks—a name supplied by Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister—the act adopted its present identity once the lineup stabilized. They promptly entered the studio to capture material for a debut release, resulting in The Dark Won't Hide You, which appeared in October through Tee Pee Records. The group followed in 2010 with Perdition Hymns, shifting toward a sound more shaped by Southern rock.