Taylor Hildebrand
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Taylor Hildebrand

Jackson, Mississippi, United States | INDIE

Jackson, Mississippi, United States | INDIE
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"Horse Trailer rolls into Oxford"

When genres, personalities and styles collide
O
xford can begin thinking of
horse trailers in an entirely
new way as Horse Trailer, a
six-member band with col-
lective sounds and
different musical
backgrounds from
Jackson, rolls into
town to entertain at
Thacker Mountain
Radio and Two Stick
Sushi Bar tonight
(Thursday, April 1).
The band formed
nearly six months
ago for what was
expected to be a
one-time music gig.
“When we first
got together we all expected it to be a
one show deal,” said Taylor Hildebrand,
singer and guitarist for Horse Trailer.
“We had so much fun together we
decided to see what would come out of
continuing to do music together.”
Now, Horse Trailer has grown to
become a well-known band that is as
enthusiastic about working together as
it is talented.
“I would describe the start of our
band as what we thought was going to
be a one night stand, that ended up
being a relationship we didn’t want to
get out of,” said bass player of the band,
Valley Gordon.
Horse trailer first formed when they
combined their musical talents for the
Jackson Arts council. Each member of
Horse Trailer was previously involved
in other bands or musical projects
before their giant conglomeration.
“After the first show that we did, we
all felt it was one of the best times of
our lives,” Gordon said. “We just gelled.
It was rockin.”
The band’s sound is unique, featuring
the sounds from six different musicians
that come from different backgrounds.
“This band features four different
song-writers, so the sound and styles we
are able to come up with is extremely
distinctive,” Hildebrand said. “We have
also begun to write songs together.”
As for the unusual name of the band,
Gordon explains it as more of a joke
than anything else.
“The name Horse Trailer sounds like
it should be country music,” Gordon
said. “It is funny to us because country
is very different (genre) than what we
actually play.”
The future of Horse Trailer seems
solid and headed in the right direction.
Their blended sound of blues and rock-
n-roll, along with other creative sounds
had already attracted a strong fan base.
“What makes us different than other
bands is that we don’t have any pres-
sure for what is ahead,” Gordon said.
“We don’t feel forced to go on tour,
we’re just having fun with each gig that
we get to do.”
“I would love to see us get to make a
record one day,” Hildebrand said. “But
for now, we are just hoping that Oxford
can see our fresh take and see the kind
of talent that Jackson can bring to the
region.”
Horse Trailer plays gigs tonight (April
1) at the Thacker Mountain Radio
broadcast at Off Square Books at 6 and
later at Two Stick at 8. Before heading
out, the band will cruise into Taylor
Grocery on Friday, April 2 for a show
there.
Strap in Oxford—Horse Trailer is in
town.
RACHEL
BATTEN
Oxford Town
PHOTOS BY AARON PHILLIPS
Valley Gordon
Taylor Hildebrand
Jackson band plays Thacker Mountain Radio and Two Stick tonight - Oxford Town # 868


"Band of Brothers"

not avaliable for copy and paste. url posted below to direct link to story - Boom Magazine


"Taylor Hildebrand - Naked and beautiful (review of an acoustic solo show at Hal and Mal's)"

Taylor Hildebrand is a beautiful soul. In fact, I would wager that just about anyone who knows him would attest to his warm company. I, however, fall into the category of acquaintance...having worked with him on a few festivals, but I can tell you that there are few artists who are as friendly or so open. He sets you at ease. Which makes his outstanding lyrics the more disarming. It helps that those lyrics are propelled by a soulful and dynamic voice that soars above the soft melodies he has crafted. His sound recalls Ray Lamontagne a bit, but less Memphis and more Portland. His bands Horse Trailer and Passenger Jones are stylistically quite different, but equally able to showcase Taylor's strengths, as a frame would a portrait. But not on this particular evening.

Standing in the dining room of Hal & Mal's and performing to a sparse and largely quiet crowd, Taylor was simply Taylor. Alone and beautiful in the simplicity. Horse Trailer's bassist Valley Gordon joined with some soft standup on a few songs, but otherwise, it was a stripped down solo gig. And in that format, he soared, reminding us how a song on a simple acoustic can be just as powerful as its heavily amplified counterpart. It was like a warm hug from an old friend to this listener, because my first introduction to Taylor was solo at Jacktoberfest in 06 (note - If memory serves, he was in fact the very first performer ever for Jacktoberfest, making him the christening bottle to the bow of the good ship Free Festival.) He had a few less miles on his tires...a few less stories to tell. But even then, there was an old soul behind his sleepy eyes. Some things only get richer with time, and the depth of a few years of experience had seasoned the flavor on this night in the present tense.

Journeying through Passenger Jones staples, covers of Sun Kill Moon and Ryan Adams, as well as some tunes from his upcoming solo EP, the short-ish set felt like a good cross-section of strong lyrical songs that fit the acoustic format well. To Be The One, a not often covered song from Ryan Adam's legendary Heartbreaker album, was particularly memorable. "The empty bottle, it misses you. But I'm the one it's talkin' to" flowed from Taylor as if the words were his own. And the conviction applied to them made the illusion all the more potent. But the highlight of the night was Taylor's own Float Slowly. The lament of a long held love lost, he belts out the lyrical daggers of the song's beautiful chorus "Spun wild out, swim around my head. Only to float slowly now it's bellied up and dead." Later into the set, the similar tempos of many of the songs did muddy the pace a bit, bleeding one song into the next without much distinction between them. But it could have been that I was on my fourth pint. That I must concede. Even still, Taylor can grab your attention and snap your head back up pretty quickly when he steps into the mike for extra emphasis.

After paying the tab and shuffling out the door, past a cadre of bearded hipsters on the way to my truck, I bumped into Taylor again. Expressing my approval of his set (as if he needed my affirmation), I noticed that the warmth of his soul, like the craft of his songs, had grown richer with the years. The brief moment was like a desertif after a fine meal...the warmth lingering long after the night had ended. And like consuming anything worthwhile, the conversation with friends afterwards quickly turned to the subject of "what a great night it was." A testament to this, we all agreed to do it again soon. And I can think of few better hosts. - Chris Nolen- Jackson Free Press


"Times Such As These (review of my latest EP Nena)"

In a non-descript back-lot studio near the downtown fairgrounds, long-time collaborators Taylor Hildebrand and producer Byron Knight, of Sneaky B Records, have forged a beautifully melancholy treasure has that may confirm your faith in the Jackson music scene. In fact, the two have managed to create as pristine a snapshot for this period of local music as you will likely find. It is a bittersweet capsule to a bittersweet time.
You may be familiar with Hildebrand from his bands Horse Trailer and Passenger Jones, and with that reference, you will likely feel right at home with “Nena.” The songs have his rootsy signature and powerfully soulful voice. Even with the densely woven instrumentation, his lyrics are projected with clarity and emotion, giving each song resonance.

“Nena” centers on themes of conflict and separation, and the thesis is the haunting “Man at War.” Hildebrand tells of a man returning from war, finding a wife who did not wait on him. Oceans away, he ponders: “Will she be there / to put the coffee on, or make love if I am able?”

“Demon of June,” punctuated by Jamie Weems’ mandolin, tells of how certain seasons can dredge up painful ghosts as he sings: “These days I sit here missing you / but you’re a stranger, a sick feeling.” Hildebrand knows how to twist the knife and make you feel the familiar sting of loss. And, at his best, he can make you feel things you’ve never experienced.

“After the Fall,” perhaps the strongest track on the album, feels like being in your last moments and looking back at times that mattered. An intricately layered waltz, it builds instrument on instrument until Hildebrand softly sings, “One last long breath I’ll be breathing there with her, in a peaceful time.”

It is my suspicion that one day, we may all look back upon our lives in such a way. Ehen we are nostalgic for this moment of our lives lived in Jackson, “Nena” could be the catalyst to bring the deluge of sweet recollection.


- Chris Nolen- Jackson Free Press


Discography

Taylor Hildebrand "Nena"
Passenger Jones "Float Slowly"
Passenger Jones "People EP"

Photos

Bio

Taylor Hildebrand is a native of Jackson, MS. At an early age Hildebrand was exposed to many different genes of music by his avid music fan father. As a young child Taylor honed his writing skills writing poetry and short stories and later picked up a guitar to match his writing gift. Beginning his career as a performer and song writer in local Jackson clubs such as Hal and Mal's and Martins, Taylor was soon an intrical part of the Jackson music scene. While performing and writing for his band Passenger Jones and solo works, Taylor was also a second grade school teacher in the Jackson Public School systems. Late nights of playing shows and opening for National acts such as Galactic and The Drive By Truckers, Hildebrand soon put his teaching career to the side and began to pursue music full-time. With a Crossroads film festival music video of the year award http://vimeo.com/11001780, under his belt, Hildebrand is off on a great foot in his music journey. Hildebrand's writing styles have been influenced by the great Mississippi authors and bands such as Wilco, Ryan Adams, and all the other folk greats. Taylor has currently released his first solo project "Nena" Chris Nolen of The Jackson Free Press says of "Nena", "In a non-descript back-lot studio near the downtown fairgrounds, long-time collaborators Taylor Hildebrand and producer Byron Knight, of Sneaky B Records, have forged a beautifully melancholy treasure has that may confirm your faith in the Jackson music scene. In fact, the two have managed to create as pristine a snapshot for this period of local music as you will likely find. It is a bittersweet capsule to a bittersweet time.
You may be familiar with Hildebrand from his bands Horse Trailer and Passenger Jones, and with that reference, you will likely feel right at home with “Nena.” The songs have his rootsy signature and powerfully soulful voice. Even with the densely woven instrumentation, his lyrics are projected with clarity and emotion, giving each song resonance.
"It is my suspicion that one day, we may all look back upon our lives in such a way. Ehen we are nostalgic for this moment of our lives lived in Jackson, “Nena” could be the catalyst to bring the deluge of sweet recollection."
Taylor is currently a forerunner in the Jackson music scene and is planning his southeaster tour for "Nena".