Urban Horse Thieves have been playing and recording their own brand of americana music in and around the hills of Ithaca, NY since 2001. With foot stomping enthusiasm, the band plays original alt-country that draws from numerous genres and tells the tales of “a hidden America†where heartbreak, hangovers, and the highway are part of everyday life. A typical performance by the band often includes everything from fast pickin' back porch stomps, tear in your beer ballads, psychedelic two-step, cosmic cowboy jams, and a good natured folk song or two. With numerous and diverse influences, the band most frequently draws comparisons to the likes of Gram Parsons, Steve Earle, Uncle Tupelo, and Johnny Cash.
To the relief of their following, Urban Horse Thieves signed with I-Town records in 2004 and released their debut cd "Won't Be Long.†In 2005, Shut Eye Records included "This Song Ain't About You" from the band's debut on its United State of Americana Volume 2 release. In 2006, the same song was included on the soundtrack of the film “10mph.†In the three years following this initial release, several songs from the album have received radio play in at least 5 different countries and have been included in many podcasts and internet radio broadcasts.
Urban Horse Thieves have played numerous festivals and venues throughout the northeast and yet, remain unabashed about playing some of the roughest, dirtiest, middle of nowhere kind of road-houses the business has to offer. This past fall, UHT were the headlining act at both the Americana Jubilee in Trumansburg, NY and a Johnny Cash tribute show in Ithaca.
Released in September, Urban Horse Thieves are currently celebrating their second release on I-Town Records entitled “When the Rubber Meets the Road.†Recorded at the Music Tank under the guidance of Chad Crumm and produced by Trevor MacDonald, this cd features thirteen songs of “heartbreak and lonesome drifter nostalgia†that will surely make fans of alt-country music want to raise their glass up and holler. This release is already being hailed as the band's best effort to date and is quickly grabbing the attention of listeners everywhere. A little bit country and a little bit rock-n-roll, this cd once again covers the broad spectrum of the Americana genre and takes on topics ranging from brand new love to losing a loved one to war. For a taste of the Ithaca alt-country sound, this is the must have cd.
