Taking over the studio at the MSU School of music, Hornbread recorded their first album- Freshly Baked. Released on June 9th, 2023 the eight tracks take the listener on a raucus high speed journey through post-covid college life with a stop in the middle to cover a few ska and funk standards – “Keasby Nights” by Catch 22, a Tower of Power tune- ” What is Hip?” , and “Party at Ground Zero” by Fishbone.
The album kicks off with a cheerful blast from the horn section in “This How it Ends (Dad’s Song) ” and the energy carries through to the end , building with “What is Hip?” and “Stink Bug Rug”.
“Vitamin R” is a love song to Rainier, the band’s favorite beer. “Stink Bug Rug” combines gypsy jazz and ska in an inventive way and puts the pedal to the metal, drifting through speedy funky grooves and jazzy interludes. The album ends with “Blue Cheese”. Starting with a catchy drum and bass groove, the horns come in and the lyrics take on take you on a high speed chase through a lunch break gone awry.
All told, I think if you’re in your friend’s car and jacked into the bluetooth, they won’t kick you out into traffic if you put on Hornbread : Freshly Baked. With solid high energy grooves, great pacing and a variety of sounds, it’s a half hour of your life well spent.
Lineup:
Austin Belluscio – Guitar
Tyler Lennon – Bass
Nathan Rodacker – Drums
Pete Briccetti – Main Vocals
Noah Ziegler – Bass trombone
Gunter Roylance – Trombone
Tanner Rubino – Trumpet
Cole Orelup – Trumpet
-Patrick Lokken
10/8/2023