“It took a California alt-country band to make a song about fear, anxiety and paranoia sound sweet and lilting. For their next challenge, they’ll be writing a series of lullabies based on the works of Einsturzende Neubauten.”

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“When Emily Neveu’s previous band imploded before they could finish recording their debut studio session (with Black Heart Procession’s Pall Jenkins), she called on some friends for help. The result was the brooding, piano-based Calico Horse. Neveu is best appreciated live, where she comes off as an overcaffeinated, cheerleaderish spectacle, a Siouxsie with no need for banshees.”

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“Calico Horse have been together barely a year and already they’ve played to packed clubs along the West Coast, been featured in Spin and Rolling Stone, and been asked to open for local legends like The Album Leaf and Black Heart Procession. The singer, a sexy vamp with a penchant for morose lyrics, rocks out spontaneously onstage, while the drummer and guitarist are local music vets better known for raucous indie rock than Horse’s laid-back, piano-based serenades. But this seemingly combustible combination is making music that’s going against the grain of the typical San Diego sound and music fans of all stripes are perking up their tastemaking ears.”

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So she did what any indie rock star who wants to survive would do: She rebranded the band as Calico Horse, hired some new bandmates, finished the sessions with Jenkins, and started work on a covers album (Cat Power? Scarlett Johannson?) featuring an iteration of Radiohead’s “Idioteque.”
Mission accomplished.

Calico Horse’s full-length debut Mirror is out June 24 from Banter Records, and Pall’s impact is immediately recognizable. Although his first heinously underrated band Three Mile Pilot, with Pinback bassist Zach Smith, trafficked in stripped-down art-punk, his recent band has specialized in the type of dark waltzes found in Calico Horse’s “Father Feed Me,” which is streamed below with Nevue’s Radiohead cover.”…

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Immediately, if you’re familiar with BHP’s work, you can tell Jenkins was a good choice. The majority of
Calico Horse’s songs are dark, moody and piano-driven - similar to BHP. It’s all very Feist on some serious downers, or very Blonde Redhead minus the art scene and helium.”

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“Bands are volatile and nothing can be left unexpected. Band life is certainly not all glitz and glamor and, oftentimes, can be a burden. Keeping a band together can be a chore and even your entire heart and soul may not be able to keep it standing. And, what’s worse is that your heart and soul may get buried in the rubble.

So goes the story of San Diego’s Clock Work Army, who stepped into a friend’s studio in 2006 to record the follow-up to their debut EP, A Catalyst for Change. Over the course of 18 months, the band dissolved, not once, not twice, but three times. Following the third collapse, lead singer and songwriter, Emily Neveu (pronounced “neh-voo”), couldn’t bear to be torn apart any longer and decided to scrap the album. However, she soon realized that the album possessed her heart and soul and, although making it left her in shambles, finishing it was the only way to piece herself back together.”

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“Calico Horse is primed and ready to be the next band to break out of San Diego. On the eve of their CD Release show and West Coast tour, we sat down with them to discuss their musical backgrounds, influences, day jobs and karate lessons…”

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“You can only imagine the waves of excitement that swept over me when I discovered that, at last, a San Diego band had named itself after Virginia Lee Burton’s classic 1941 book, “Calico the Wonder Horse, or the Saga of Stewy Stinker.”

Well, you could if I had actually read what is reportedly a lighthearted tale of the Wild West by the author of “Choo Choo” and “Maybelle the Cable Car.”

But Calico Horse is a much more refined monicker for a band than, say, Stewy Stinker, even if the members of this gifted San Diego quartet have never read Burton’s book. And, under any name, the often absorbing music featured on “Mirror,” Calico Horse’s soon-to-be-released debut album, commands attention.”

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“Anything you’ve read by now about this San Diego band will surely mention that the Black Heart Procession’s very own Pall Jenkins produced its debut album, Mirror. And although opening track, “All We’ve Left to do is Pay the Boatman,” appears to pick up right where BHP’s The Spell left us in 2006, Calico Horse’s lighthearted sound won’t be tied to the melancholy BHP for very long.

From beginning to end, the album is a ride through a whimsical but raucous world of darkly cheerful piano and pulsing guitar riffs. Wait, is that a Theremin? It’s spooky, too! Making economical use of Jenkin’s somber and moody influence, Calico Horse frontwoman Emily Neveu’s haunting vocals are still uplifting enough to err on the side of upbeat.”

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“With a mix of experimental and melody-driven tunes, local band Calico Horse and touring bands Papercuts and Beach House played to a packed house at The Casbah.

San Diego’s cozy hotbed for independent rock. Taking the stage first and showcasing a laidback alternative sound was Calico Horse, formerly known as The Clock Work Army. Frontwoman Emily Neveu provided much of the band’s excitement, her carefree but intriguing vocals holding the audience’s attention as she switched between guitar and keyboard. ”

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After a long weekend at the Coachella Valley Music Festival, I thought I’d tire of hearing any more music. I’m a fuddy duddy and to me, all the new stuff sounds the same. My persistent pal Meredith sent me a few songs by Calico Horse to check out and lucky for me, she was right that I’d like them. I’m a sucker for female-fronted indie rock bands.”

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“Calico Horse started the show. They drew a strong crowd of local music fans. Obvious, to me, that Calico Horse is a pick for 2008 San Diego Music Awards “best new band” category. Emily (ex-Muslims) is the singer/guitar player/keyboardist that powers the band, though I note she’s added Matt (ex-Influx Cafe, Blue Monday) on guitar and has a capable bassist and drummer. This was my first live encounter with Calico Horse and I found Emily an intriguing front woman.

Calico Horse has a rock baseline, but most of the songs have a light, lilting quality to them that put me in mind of Tori Amos. Emily’s singing is charmingly imperfect. Sophie heard an early PJ Harvey quality in her singing. I was engaged by the performance and want to hear the recorded work. Judging from the attendance last night, Calico Horse already has an avid local following.”

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