Knoxville duo set to release first album April 27 at Pilot Light
By Matt Rankin
Some bands struggle in order to form musical connections. For others, the process is easier and more intuitive and occurs more naturally. Experimental Knoxville two-piece Horcerer definitively falls into the latter category, as the respect and admiration each member holds for the other appear both genuine and tangible.
Comprising vocalist Adam Deal and William Tugwell on keyboard, synthesizer and drum effects, the duo seems to share a strong bond based on a solid friendship. Over the course of an hour-long conversation with BLANK over drinks at Landing House in South Knoxville, the pair exchanges knowing glances and infectious grins often, even finishing each other’s sentences on occasion. Deal and Tugwell are easygoing, jovial and quick to crack wise, but they also make it perfectly clear just how seriously they take their craft.
“I feel like, in a lot of ways, we’re making music in a vacuum,” Tugwell says of the band’s sound, which he and Deal describe as containing elements of rock, metal, industrial and noise. Song structures vary, they say, with some being more straightforward and others meandering for longer than seven minutes and consisting of multiple, radically divergent parts. Defining the overall identity of the group, however, proves to be more difficult for the pair.
Paraphrasing a quote from Doors’ keyboardist Ray Manzarek, Tugwell says that being inside of a creative unit prevents him from being able to view its work objectively and suggests that such things should be left open to outsider interpretation. Meanwhile, Deal is content to relay a recent analysis from a fan, who likened the band to a mix of Skinny Puppy and Iron Maiden.
Having performed sporadically since its foundation nearly seven years ago, Horcerer has been ramping up its activity as of late leading up to the cassette release of its first full-length, “Still Counting Crows,” on Saturday, April 27. The tape issue will be celebrated that night in the Old City with a show at the Pilot Light, the same esteemed music venue at which the band opened for Norman Westberg (of Swans fame) on April 6. In addition, it has plotted a few regional dates in May in support of the album.
Regarding its inception, though, the framework for the group was forged when Tugwell accepted an invitation to perform as Soft Cell at the 2012 iteration of the annual Pilot Light-curated Halloween masquerade show at Fireproof Gallery. Always a highly anticipated night for edgy, music-loving revelers, the pressure of making a good showing forced Tugwell to take a “deep dive” into mastering his instruments. Having been a huge fan of Ascension Party, Deal’s project with Matt Compton, he then reached out to the singer, who agreed to take part in the festivities. To round out the sound of the tribute act, though, they needed something else.
“One of the things about Soft Cell is that they have a saxophone player,” says Tugwell. “So immediately we thought [of] Josh Wolitzky.”
The Big Bad Oven member, too, confirmed his involvement, and the three set about learning the synth-pop group’s material. When their time to shine arrived, the trio knocked it out of the park, with the saxophonist – clad in tight-fitting pink and leopard-print clothing, as a laughing Tugwell recalls – stealing the show by running his instrument through an effects generator.
Enjoying the experience immensely, the three unanimously agreed to build upon the performance. “We just kept going after that,” says Tugwell. “It was too much fun.”
According to Deal, the band played its first actual show on July 17, 2013. For a while before moving to New York City, Church Gore (who Knoxville audiences might better remember as Fine Peduncle) provided live drumming for the outfit. In November 2015, Horcerer began recording its output in the basement of the house in which Wolitzky and his partner (and former member of the BLANK family) Erin Bilbo lived. The group continued practicing, performing and recording until the couple moved to San Francisco in early 2018, leaving Deal and Tugwell as the only remaining members.
“As far as I’m concerned, Josh is in Horcerer. He might be on the other side of the country, but if we ever have the opportunity to meet back up … ” starts Tugwell. “ … Yeah, if he’s in our presence, he’s playing,” finishes Deal.
Still, they admit that Wolitzky’s absence has allowed them to streamline their creative process. Most of their material stems from jam sessions that are recorded and later dissected for the best nuggets, around which they write songs. Improvisation has proven to be easier between two people, and they are more readily able to share songwriting duties.
Deal and Tugwell’s mutual appreciation is most evident when listening to them talk about their process. While a typical practice for most artists might involve a regimented schedule, sometimes upwards of an hour spent watching YouTube videos – basically a devoted hangout session – provides these friends with enough inspirational fodder to compose at least a track or two. But once they find a groove while playing together, good things tend to happen.
“He’ll be jamming on keyboard or guitar, and I’ll just be singing along, and we’ll just meet in this perfect little spot,” says Deal, who credits Tugwell for having a strong work ethic with regard to creating music. “We find the sounds together,” he says. “But he probably puts in more work than me.” Tugwell readily returns the favor, complimenting Deal’s vocal capabilities – particularly his range – and showering praise upon his lyrical prowess. About one song with a discordant bridge, Tugwell says that Deal’s “intense, operatic tapestry” over that section in question is spellbinding.
“Still Counting Crows” has been a long time coming. “It’s been in the works for a while,” says Tugwell, wryly smiling. Of the 10 tracks, eight were self-recorded. Of the remaining two, one was recorded with Josh Wright, and the other features Will Fist, who provided Deal and Tugwell with the band’s name. Jason Boardman, the founder of the Pilot Light and an accomplished musician in his own right, mastered the album. Also, as it was recorded in his basement, Wolitzky’s contributions can be heard on each song.
Horcerer is self-releasing the cassette on its own imprint, Pickman’s Records (named after the H. P. Lovecraft short story “Pickman’s Model” – also the original name of the band before it realized it already had been taken). Tugwell says that every dollar the group has ever made from a live performance was collected and went toward the production costs. As Deal jokes, “We did it responsibly. Horcerer: the most responsible band in town!”
Producing his phone to show an old photograph of an early recording session for the new album, Tugwell says, “That’s my little guy right there that’s recording the tracks.” He is talking, of course, about the modest recording equipment that also is included in the shot, but Deal doesn’t skip a beat. “Wait … your ‘little guy?’ Are you talking about me?” he quips, causing both to erupt into laughter.
Such irreverence is inherent in the title of “Still Counting Crows;” the name and the corresponding artwork constitute a three-way parody of the erstwhile ‘90s band, the cover of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and Brandon Lee’s depiction of the titular character in the movie “The Crow.” The music itself is legit, though. As Tugwell asserts, “We’re serious about performing well and creating good music, but it’s a goofball world, man.”
It should be known, though, that Horcerer is no stranger to weirdness and/or discomfort. Although it occupies the same building as the Tennessee Theatre, Clancy’s Tavern isn’t what anyone locally would consider a hotbed of progressive music. However, in the summer of 2017, the band played a stripped-down set in the whiskey bar that, by all accounts, was fairly well-received.
“It was amazing, I loved it,” Deal says. “I want to do more shows like that. I want to be thrown out of my element. I was so worried about it beforehand, but when I was up there, I thought, ‘This is beautiful.’”
Because the recording process for “Still Counting Crows” took so long, Horcerer has a surplus of at least 30 songs that is ready to be recorded. As such, the band is looking forward to re-entering a studio environment in order to lay down tracks for a new album it hopes to release by the end of the calendar year.
In the meantime, the group can be seen alongside pals Cat Casual and the Final Word, Criswell Collective and Headface at the Pilot Light this Saturday starting at 9 p.m. Admission is just $5. The next show will be Monday, May 6, also at the Pilot Light. Support will be provided by Andy the Door Bum and Emotron.
