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The Four Horsemen Debut @ Solly’s

All words and photos by ReadysetDC reader and friend Jennifer Jeremias.

Monday night marked the one year anniversary of a monthly musical gathering at Solly’s, the aptly named, Thornley and Friends. Hosted by John and Paul Thornley of the band U.S. Royalty, what drew me out into the bitter cold was the promise of “winter music” from the newly formed, and hopefully not fleeting, super collaboration of John and Paul with Matthew Hemerlein and Ryan Mitchell as The Four Horsemen.

I suppose it was bound to happen. Hemerlein has been making guest appearances at U.S. Royalty shows for some time now and the Thornleys have done a bit of the same. But the ease with which this all seems to have come about, in no way diminishes what this days old “band” has accomplished. BYT posted a singular recording of The Four Horsemen’s “Karenina” last week, and about 30 seconds in I knew I wanted an entire album. I’m a sucker for a ukulele, what can I say?

The Horsemen delivered on the promise of that one recording, in a big way. Their set was a mix of covers (Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline), U.S. Royalty and Hemerlein originals, a lovely country tune written by Mitchell and a few Horsemen songs including Karenina. The lyrics so new that pages were shared on stage, chords and keys discussed with each transition. For me, it all added to the charm. Mitchell used the pauses to jokingly remind us that the band was only a few days old and working without the benefit of “phantom power.” He also took to playing off stage, into the audience and even on top of a table. String instruments outnumbered the musicians on stage (banjos, bass, acoustic guitars, violin, a 7-string guitar and ukulele) and a tambourine and hand claps were all the percussion they needed. Mitchell’s vocals, a bit more earthly and unrefined, provided the perfect balance to John and Hemerlein’s dreamier harmonies.

What I saw that night were four extremely talented musicians/writers/performers/friends enjoying making music together. And they might have been going for a winter sound, but it came out like summer to me. It left me longing for sunny days, lounging on a picnic blanket in the park, surrounded by laughter and good friends. And so to The Four Horsemen I make my humble request – one EP in time for summer, please.