Local Spotlight - Horse or Cycle - January 2012

Horse or Cycle is our local spotlight for the month of January. The quartet is made up of  Phil Johnson [drums, backing vocals], Ricky Moslen [guitars, bass], Chris Ryan [guitars, bass], and Liam Cooney [vocals, guitar] who create late 90's style indie rock. Horse or Cycle just released a new EP entitled Godsmack You! Black Emperor (nice title) and will be having the cd release show this Satuday, January 7th at Gooski's. Included on the bill are Allies, Skinless Boneless and Strip Club. Liam Cooney was kind enough to answer our spotlight questions. Be sure to checkout their streaming album.

How did the band come together? Were you all friends that went to school? or?

HOC started in earnest early 2009. Chris and Rick had played in other bands together and are from the area. I met Chris through a mutual friend a started recording things with him in 2008. I am transplant to this fair city and originally from New England. Phil our drummer is from Indianapolis, Indiana and we met him through his other band we had played with.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?

I could best describe our sound as loud indie rock. But there are so many sub-categories of genres these days im sure someone wiser could break it down a bit further.

Do you all create music full time or is this more of a part time venture?

We all have day jobs. Some more flexible than others. Two of us are married, and I have a 3 year old so we try and get everyone schedules to mesh in order to practice, write and tour.

How do you create your music? What is the song writing process?

I write the lyrics and the basic structure of the song and everyone else writes their own parts, it is a very democratic process. Which is to say slow and ham stringed by special interests.

What are your goals for the band? What would you like to accomplish? Are you trying to get signed to a label?

Our goals for music are pretty simple. We try and make music that is fun for us to play and listen to. The bonus is that it appeals to some folks other than the 4 of us.

What advice would you give to local acts trying to make it?

The only advice I would pass on to newer bands is try to look like you are enjoying what you are doing on stage. Ive been to so many shows, and especially indie rock shows, where the band looks like they are enduring water torture while on stage. Always remember that people paid to see you, so entertain a crowd and it will be easier for them to dig your music. How am I supposed to enjoy the very thing makes you look like your passing a kidney stone?

Have you all toured nationally? Or do you usually stay more regionally?


Touring we try to keep to about 5 days at a time. Try and do regional tours, so midwest one time, east coast another time.

You can find more information about the band at these links:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Horse-or-Cycle/179994348705874?ref=ts
http://horseorcycle.bandcamp.com/
http://www.myspace.com/horseorcycle