Los Angeles-based double-guitar five-piece Night Horse treat classic rock like it’s a pretty lady. They take it out do a nice dinner, they hold the door, they pick up the tab, maybe they go to a show afterwards, and all the while they’re perfectly charming. Of course, sweet love is later made, and the end result is the band’s second album for Tee Pee Records, Perdition Hymns, which is 11 tracks of high-grade rock and roll genetics that, listening through, I’m honestly surprised didn’t come out on Small Stone. Where Tee Pee has mostly diverted into the heavy psych realm — bands like Quest for Fire, Naam, Earthless, etc. – Night Horse seem more suited to accompany the likes of Sasquatch, the recently-reviewed Red Giant, Gozu and perhaps most of all Sun Gods in Exile, whose 2009 album Black Light, White Lines, was equally shy about showing off its riff and solo prowess. And by that I mean not at all.

But there’s a Tee Pee connection in that Night Horse guitarist Justin Maranga also plays in Ancestors, so there you go, mystery solved. And honestly, after hearing the kind of blues-driven ‘70s jams Night Horse traffic in, I can’t imagine not wanting to put out a record like Perdition Hymns, no matter what sound you’re trying to associate your label with. Songs like the powerful opening trio of “Confess to Me,” “Angel Eyes” and “Rollin’ On” provide the kind of rock wallop you’d usually expect from an older bunch of dudes, but Night Horse’s love for what they do is evident. You can hear it in the playing of Maranga and fellow six-stringer Greg Buensuceso, in the straight-ahead rhythms of bassist Nick D’Itri and drummer Jamie Miller, and in the vocals of Sam James Velde, whose performance was also a highlight on Night Horse’s debut, The Dark Won’t Hide You, but is perhaps even stronger on Perdition Hymns, standing up with no trouble to the considerable instrumental competition provided by the band behind him.

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I still haven’t listened to Night Horse‘s second album, Perdition Hymns. I’ll get there. It’ll be reviewed soon enough. Not like I need to worry though, because the band’s upcoming tour is headed nowhere near Jersey, so even if I was to immerse myself in their ultra-bluesy ’70s rock, I wouldn’t get the chance to complement that experience with a live show. Crazy California gets everything. Fuckin’ hoverboards.

Alright. Here’s tour dates from the PR wire:

Night Horse returned with their highly-anticipated sophomore effort Perdition Hymns on Aug. 3, produced and mixed by Matt Bayles (Pearl Jam, Mastodon, The Sword). Perdition Hymns is a patent demonstration of a group that has quickly become a well-refined songwriting machine. The band has chiseled the six-minute jam style songwriting of their debut The Dark Won’t Hide You into the hook-laden gems that comprise Perdition Hymns; with riff driven catchiness and soaring melodies that stick.

Perdition Hymns is a rock and roll classic for current times; a statement of what’s to come within today’s musical landscape; a missing link to years gone by; and a glimpse into what is about to become.

Night Horse tour dates:
Aug. 20 Los Angeles, CA Vacation Vinyl (Free in-store)
Aug. 28 San Diego, CA Soda Bar
Sept. 10 San Diego, CA The Casbah (w/Olivelawn)
Sept. 14 Long Beach, CA The Prospector (w/Radio Moscow)
Sept. 15 Ventura, CA Zan Zillas (w/Radio Moscow)
Sept. 16 Los Angeles, CA Spaceland (w/ Radio Moscow)
Oct. 7 San Francisco, CA The Hemlock
Oct. 8 Portland, OR East End
Oct. 9 Seattle, WA The Comet

It’s unreal how many bands they packed into the Roadburn festival. It could have been three separate killer fests and no one would have complained. Being there was like being at the Metropolitan Museum in New York — you couldn’t possibly see everything on offer in one day. Though it was fun to try.

Walter and the good folks at Roadburn have made available more live audio streams, and they sent me the links to share with you. I remember Fatso Jetson‘s performance was especially killer, but I wouldn’t count out any of these bands, because I’ve yet to hear one of these streams I didn’t think was awesome. Enjoy:

Fatso Jetson live at Roadburn 2010

Sons of Otis playing Templeball live at Roadburn 2010

Ahkmed live at Roadburn 2010

Night Horse live at Roadburn 2010

I think maybe because they didn’t have the same grandiose scope as Ancestors, with whom they share guitarist and occasional Obelisk checker-inner Justin Maranga, Los Angeles‘ Night Horse didn’t get the attention they really deserved on their first record. As we all know, there’s no fix for that except releasing another, and that seems to be the plan for Night Horse, whose sophomore Tee Pee Records full-length of classically styled rock is due the first week of August.

The band has uploaded the track “Good Bye Gone” to their MySpace now and will have a new EP for free download on their website come June 15. I’m sure there will be more on that later. Till then, here’s what the PR wire has to say about the new album, Perdition Hymns:

Celebrated Los Angeles, CA, rock ‘n roll band Night Horse has completed work on its sophomore album. Titled Perdition Hymns, the record will see an August 3, 2010 release date via NYC’s Tee Pee Records.

Recorded in East L.A. at Infrasonic Sound (Beck, The Mars Volta, No Age), Night Horse’s Perdition Hymns is an album made by fans of rock, for fans of rock! Produced and mixed by Matt Bayles (Mastodon, PearlJam, Isis), the record is a classic for current times, made up of all the peaks and valleys, textures and nuances that timeless records yield over repeated listens. Songs like “Choose Your Side” and “Shake Your Blues” demonstrate guitarists Justin Maranga (Ancestors) and Greg Buensuceso’s flair for intricately weaving guitar leads and rhythmic patterns, much like their classic predecessors Thin Lizzy or The MC5 did, while vocalist Sam James Velde (ex-Bluebird) invokes the ghosts of every classic rock singer you’ve ever loved by flat-out refusing to hold anything back; the singer teeters on the edge of total abandon while the band pushes him closer to the brink.

“Writing and recording Perdition Hymns was an amazing experience,” says Velde in a statement. “The collaborative effort and the productivity we all showed were intense, but fun. Everyone was so focused and enthusiastic. The songs just came to us so quickly. We’d start with a riff, then POW it was on! Same went for writing the lyrics. I’d get a few words or ideas stuck in my head and then the melody was just there. It was magical, really.”

Perdition Hymns track listing:
1. Confess to Me
2. Angel Eyes
3. Rollin’ On
4. Good Bye Gone
5. Black Clouds
6. Come Down Halo
7. Blizzard of Oblivion
8. Hard to Bear
9. Shake Your Blues
10. Choose Your Side
11. Same Old Blues

Actually, I’m the one doing the posting, but the bands will definitely be the ones playing the shows, and that’s what counts. In the case of Ancestors guitarist Justin Maranga, it counts twice since he’s in both bands. Double duty! Ah, these kids and their rock and roll. Best wishes to both bands for safe travels. Here’s the info straight off the PR wire:

Ancestors and Night Horse are set to begin a tour in support of their April 15th appearance at the internationally renowned Roadburn festival. The tour will begin on April 9th in Essen, Germany. These will be the first overseas shows for both bands. Dates below.

April 9  Essen, Germany Cafe Nova
April 10 Arlon, Belgium L’ Entrepot
April 11 Fidenza, Italy Circolo Arci Q
April 13 Wien, Austria Arena
April 14 Munich, Germany Sunny Red
April 15 Tilburg, Netherlands Roadburn Festival
April 16 London, UK South of the Border
April 17 Plymouth, UK White Rabbit

Los Angeles rural riffers Night Horse, who released their debut EP on Tee Pee not so long ago, are streaming a new song now. Not only that, but San Diego‘s prog specialists Astra have also put up a new track to their MySpace page that comes off their Rise Above debut, The Weirding. Nothing like free goo. Here’s press release excerpts:

Night Horse:
Fresh off the heels of their critically acclaimed EP The Dark Won’t Hide You, Night Horse return with another heavy helping of rockin’ blues ‘n roll by the name of “Good Bye Gone,” the A side to a split single with like-minded roots rockers from San Diego, Dirty Sweet — the first of three split singles Night Horse have planned for this summer on Tee Pee Records.

Night Horse, “Good Bye Gone”

Astra:
San Diego based progressive rock band Astra has completed work on its hotly-anticipated debut album, entitled The Weirding.?The record hits stores in North America today via Rise Above Records. A taste of what The Weirding holds in store can be experienced now as the new Astra song ?The River Under? been posted online at this location.