Hounds Before Lions (clockwise from left): Sam Clark, Rick Haneman, Andrew Bocher, and Captain FancyPaws.

Every year brings new students to Eau Claire’s universities, many of which join the local arts scene and contribute their talent. One of those new groups is Hounds Before Lions, who just released their debut EP. The band consists of Andrew Bocher on keyboards, accordion, and vocals; Rick Haneman on drums and percussion; and Sam Clark on guitar and vocals. Clark and Bocher began the project in the spring of 2012. They were originally going to focus heavily on self-recording ambient-style acoustic music. However, their music didn’t actually turn out that way. During the summer, Clark began writing songs for the group, but knew right away that they were going to need more power behind them. When they finally got together and started playing last September, everything just clicked into place. It makes sense that it would, considering they all come from musical backgrounds: Bocher is a music education major, Haneman is a music performance major, and Clark is a music history major. While studying music theory and history is different from playing music, Clark believes it benefits them all in terms of playing in the band. “I think in some way we all view Hounds Before Lions as a release from that academic setting, but also an opportunity to apply what we know to our original content,” he said.

Hounds Before Lions may be classified as an indie rock band, but Clark doesn’t think the group’s sound is that easy to describe. “Other people that like more descriptive terms might deem us ‘indie-folk’ or ‘dream pop’ or something,” Clark said. “I don’t know; I’d be hard-pressed to attach something definitive to our sound.” The band draws a lot of inspiration from ambient groups like The Antlers and Eluvium, as well as more straightforward indie pop groups such as The Smiths and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. However, each member brings his own individuality to the group. Haneman relies heavily on a background in jazz and world percussion, which Clark says creates some fascinating rhythms, while Bocher is always trying to find new settings and new ways to use his keyboard to create original, exciting sounds. These influences have led them to be compared to bands within the indie rock genre and even reminded one listener of ’90s alternative rock.

The band recently released its first EP, Hudson Street. This three-song EP is meant as a way to get their music out to their fans and give a taste of what’s to come to someone who is just learning what they’re all about. The three songs are titled “Half Moon Lake,” “Gaslamps,” and “Hudson,” and each comes with its own story. “Gaslamps,” for instance, was one of the first songs that Clark wrote for the band. They all thought that a lot of people knew that song from their shows and would enjoy being able to own it. The opening track, “Half Moon Lake,” is a newer song that quickly became a band favorite because of the groove of its 6/8 time signature. Lastly, “Hudson” is an instrumental piece that Bocher wrote while they were in the studio. It’s just him on the accordion, which leads well into “Gaslamps.” Clark senses that the album comes off as bleak, but doesn’t seem to blame himself or his bandmates for that. “I think the weather and the general feeling I have during winter influenced the song choice a bit,” he said.

Bleak or not, the EP is poised to be a success for the band. Not only have they completed it, but they have set up what kind of band they want to be. The EP itself is available on the band’s Bandcamp page at the “pay what you want” rate. “It’s a nice way of saying it’s free,” Clark said. “People still have the option to throw a few bucks our way if they want to.” Whether you do throw them a few bucks or not, it is an impressive gesture on the part of Hounds Before Lions to make their music readily available to anyone who wants it. Pick up the album at houndsbeforelions.bandcamp.com and be sure to check out their Facebook page for more information about the band, upcoming shows, and future albums.