Time for you to drop everything and slowly shake your head in embarrassed silence. You may remember the recent folksy offering from Kill Rock Stars, Horse Feather’s third full-length, Thistled Spring (TMT Review), from — well, this spring. Apparently, way back when, they played a release show in Portland, and ended their set with a cover of Old Crow Medicine Show. Just kidding! It was actually a decent cover of Iron and Wine. Not! Even that would make sense. The truth is that Horse Feathers closed the show by plucking their strings and pulling out a cover of none other than Nirvana’s “Drain You.” What?
I’ve got news for you, guys. Much as Cobain liked lo-fi indie with a quirky side (Fleet Foxes wouldn’t count, either), I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t have covered you. Grunge covers of The Vaselines were okay in its day, but the whole “let’s slow it down and make it folk-acoustic” thing (should we decide to equate it with the reverse of Cobain’s fondness for Daniel Johnston) died when Jeffrey Lewis covered Crass for 12 songs straight. But maybe I’m wrong. If Kill Rock Stars are any judge, the cover from that infamous night in Portland was pretty outstanding. Hence a forthcoming 7-inch with “Drain You” on one side and a new track, “Bonnet of Briars,” on the other.
The single isn’t due until November 2, when Horse Feathers begin their tour of the US. I guess that means we’ve got time to get used to the idea of Horse Feathers covering Nirvana. Maybe by Thanksgiving we’ll want Mudhoney covers?
Tourdates:
11.03.10 - Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center
11.04.10 - Chicago, IL - Schubas
11.08.10 - Toronto, ON - The Drake
11.09.10 - Montreal, QC - Il Motore
11.10.10 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
11.11.10 - Boston, MA - Middle East
11.13.10 - New York City, NY - Bowery Ballroom
11.15.10 - Charlottesville, VA - The Southern
11.16.10 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
11.17.10 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle
11.18.10 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
11.20.10 - Nashville, TN - 3rd & Lindsley
11.21.10 - Charleston, WV - Mountain Stage
12.01.10 - Vancouver, BC - Media Club
12.02.10 - Seattle, WA - Tractor
12.03.10 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir
12.04.10 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir
• Horse Feathers: http://www.myspace.com/horsefeathersmusic
• Kill Rock Stars: http://www.killrockstars.com