Head of the Herd

Head of the Herd have recently finished their 3rd, and most ambitious album to date. Recorded in 4 countries, with producers chosen to match the songs that needed their particular touch, this album makes a statement that Head of the Herd doesn’t take the easy road. “Whatever is best for the song, is the path we take. Too many bands mess up their records by doing what’s easy, cheap, and expected of them. We knew these songs were special, and would go to any lengths to get that across.” After months of writing, they went to the southern border of Georgia, USA to work with Mr. Mark Neill, the man who produced “Brothers” by The Black Keys, an album that Neu and Clay bonded over during the genesis of the band. Clay stated, “Brothers was a record that pushed me to become a musician. It was a record we listened to obsessively when it came out and in many ways inspired the direction of our own band. So, to be able to journey down to the southern USA and work with the man who produced that record was an honour and I'll never forget the experience. Mark forced us to think about the songs in ways we never imagined and by doing so brought out the best in them.” The first single "Live For Love" came from the deep south in an old ballet studio where Mark Neill makes his magic. The next step was hopping on a plane across the Atlantic to the countryside of England and Wales to work with Ian Davenport, notable for his work with Band of Skulls and Radiohead’s Phil Selway. The band’s singer Neu recalls, “We were awestuck by that place. The history of Rockfield studios is baffling. Oasis made “What’s the Story” there. ‘Nuff said you’d think. And then we’re tracking drums on the OK Computer kit while I play the piano used on Bohemian Rhapsody. At one point, I was on the keys and saw my reflection in the black finish. I realized that Freddy Mercury saw his face staring back on the same piano. It floored me emotionally, and honestly, I messed up the take instantly! You walk into a room like that, with history like that, and you know it’s been worth the trip. Ian elevated those songs in a big way.” The band then travelled home to Vancouver, BC to wrap up the record. Following the success of their last album, they knew the combination of Gggarth Richardson, Ben Kaplan, and H.O.T.H. was a force to be reckoned with. A session at The Farm Studios with those fellas, and a final session produced by the band’s singer Neu Mannas, complete Head of the Herd’s 3rd album “Birds on the Roof.” On the band's sophomore record, aiming to harness the energy of their live show, they highlighted the beastly, melodic, storytelling prowess that is Head of the Herd. They created the album in two sessions. The first with one of rock’s most sought after producers Gggarth Richardson, the man behind Rage Against the Machine’s chart topping debut, Biffy Clyro’s 2013 UK #1 album “Opposites” and countless in between. The second session was produced by Rick Jackett & James Black from the multi-platinum group Finger Eleven. The album is named after the first single, a duet with Jasmin Parkin from Mother Mother titled “By This Time Tomorrow.” The song has been used by the NHL & Hockey Night in Canada for a playoff montage, and hit #1 on the national rock charts. The singles that followed, "Ain't My day" & "We Could Get Together," both went top 20 nationally, and the latter was used several times during the 2014 NHL playoffs. They've also been recipients of a Canadian Radio Music Award for Best New Rock Group. The band was created over a trip to Boise, Idaho to watch a college football game. Hours spent showing each other demos on the drive and cowboy boots full of whiskey flasks at the game, led to a fuzzy yet memorable weekend that marked the genesis of the band. Head of the Herd is proud to unveil their 3rd LP, “Birds On The Roof,” available in stores and online through Universal Music Canada. The band's 3rd album #BirdsOnTheRoof is available for pre-order on iTunes now. http://umc.fm/HOTHboth