In the '90s and '00s, the Denver-based band 16 Horsepower perfected their own grandly gothic form of country-rock. They were obsessed with religion and apocalypse, and frontman David Eugene Edwards had a leathery gravitas — like a version of Nick Cave who was actually American, rather than just one that was obsessed with American iconography. 16 Horsepower broke up in 2005, and Edwards kept going with his side project Wovenhand. Next week, he'll release Mercurial Silence, his second solo album. But now, 16 Horsepower are back together, playing shows.
16 Horsepower announced their reunion late last year. Core members David Eugene Edwards, Jean-Yves Tola, and Pascal Humbert are all back together. Later this summer, they'll headline Montana's Fire In The Mountains fest, the same festival that marks the live return of Neurosis. After announcing that festival, 16 Horsepower announced plans for a European tour. The tour kicked off Wednesday night, as the French city of Rennes got the first 16 Horsepower show in 22 years.
There are a lot of online videos from last night's gig. Now that David Eugene Edwards is a little older, he's got even more authority in his barrel-chested wail. Below, check out fan footage from last night's show, as well as the setlist, via Setlist.fm.
SETLIST:
01 "I Seen What I Saw"
02 "Haw"
03 "Dead Run"
04 "Brimstone Rock"
05 "Straw Foot"
06 "Splinters"
07 "American Wheeze"
08 "Prison Shoe Romp"
09 "Heel On the Shovel"
10 "South Pennsylvania Waltz"
11 "Sac Of Religion"
12 "Strong Man"
13 "Black Soul Choir"
14 "Black Bush"
15 "Phyllis Ruth"
16 "Harm's Way"
17 "Clogger"
18 "Poor Mouth"
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19 "Hutterite Mile"
20 "Blessed Persistence"
21 "For Heaven's Sake"
