Concert Review: Horse Jumper of Love Set a Slowcore Scene at Parish on Oct. 1

Horse Jumper of Love, accompanied by openers Shallowater and Teethe, evoked casual intimacy in its set on Oct. 1. 

Written by Julianna Riccioli

Photos courtesy of Full Time Aesthetic

The intimate confines of the two-tiered Parish in Austin sparked to life with Horse Jumper of Love, its slow shoegaze ushering in the cozy vibes of October. 

Originating from Boston, Horse Jumper of Love has remained a steady staple in the indie scene since its conception in 2013. Tracks like “Ugly Brunette” and “Orange Peeler” from its first album resonated with those loving a slow-burn croon, but with the August 2024 release of its newest album, Disaster Trick, Horse Jumper of Love now has a clearer focus and maturity that ignites poetic purpose into its sound. 

Setting the stage for the spacey, immersive atmosphere of the concert were openers Shallowater and Teethe. The Houstin-hailing Shallowater showcased its indie roots with a dreamy set, performing tracks from its 2023 album, There Is A Well. As lead singer Blake Skipper told the crowd, this show marked its second and final night opening for Horse Jumper of Love. The group’s casual vibes shone through tracks like “Angels” and “Snap,” where slow guitar and steady drums accompany soft vocals that had the audience swaying in appreciation and buzzing with excitement for the next act. 

Teethe took the stage promptly at 9:16 p.m., setting a moody tone with red lights and subdued vocals. Most of Teethe’s songs flowed seamlessly into one another, with highlights like the slow, sincere “Moon” causing the audience to melt into one another. Heavy guitar riffs complemented buzzing drums, and as the lighting shifted from red to blue to purple, the audience drew deeper into Teethe’s hypnotic performance. “Scribble” featured guitarist Madeline Dowd’s vocals, which evolved from a gentle melody into a darker, guitar-heavy track. Dowd eventually asked the audience, “Can you scribble something out for me?” Unfortunately, the sound mixing occasionally drowned out lead singers Boone Patrello and Grahm Robinson, but the duo's ethereal energy filled the room nevertheless. Though they spoke little between songs, Patrello concluded the band’s set with a simple, yet heartfelt, “This is our last song. Thank you for coming out.”

As the crowd eagerly anticipated Horse Jumper of Love, songs by similar artists like Duster — whom Horse Jumper opened for in 2019 — and diiv played in the background. When the band, dressed in jeans and t-shirts, casually ambled on stage after setting up its instruments and mics, blue lights illuminated the stage and immediately set a mellow tone. They kicked off the first half of its 45-minute set with tracks from Disaster Trick. The first song of the night and the opener of the album was “Snow Angel,” which lulled the audience into a calming atmosphere, with Giannopoulos’ crooning cut by fuzzy guitar and heavy bassline. 

Transitioning into “Today’s Iconoclast,” gritty instrumentals deepened the subdued mood while being peppered with clever, if somewhat desolate rhymes like “We gave blood to our fantasies / We play fuck, kill, marry,” and “Hate’s the noise of sorrow / I read it in the Amazon Basics Bible.” The crowd continued to sway as the band played songs off of Disaster Trick, sharing the melancholic track “Wait by the Stairs,” which features more complex arpeggios and the soft grunge song “Death Spiral.” 

Giannopoulos paused to check in with the audience, drawing cheers and a shout-out of “How’re you!” He responded nonchalantly, “Doin’ alright.” He also took a moment to thank the openers, say how “amazing” performing with Shallowater for its Texas dates has been, and, express his joy at being back in Austin. 

As Horse Jumper of Love resumed playing, the lighting shifted to a hazy dark red, adding another layer of punch to its set. During “Word,” with its haunting lines “Last night we had a fight / You blamed it on the moon / But that’s not very fair to the moon,” the overhead lights on stage turned bright red, casting an ominous glow over the band and the audience. 

“Ugly Brunette,” the band’s most well-known track, jolted the audience from the band’s Disaster Trick haze, with lights transforming from red to an alternating blue and purple scene. While the crowd didn’t film other tracks, a noticeable glow rose from the masses during this fan favorite. With Giannopoulos' tender delivery and the powerful riff of guitars and bass crunches, Parish was alight with sound as everyone sang, “I am an ugly brunette / I want to have a lonely child,” and the sweet serenade of “I’ll be patient with you / That’s the way / The garden grows.” The band followed with “Heavy Metal,” a deceptively named track that maintained the signature shoegaze vibe of its discography, only to break into a punchy instrumental section that showcased guitarist John Margaris’ talent. 

In a return to the band’s roots in its self-titled album, “Orange Peeler” catapulted the pit audience into excitement as they sang along to the poetic lyrics and sliding guitar licks, while the balcony viewers continued to sway calmly. “The fruit was rotten but the dirt was expensive,” Giannopoulos warbled as the lights shifted to a bright pink, encapsulating the gentle hum of sadness of Horse Jumper of Love’s music. He finished the song with some extra guitar improvisation of licks and strums. “We’ve got a couple more. We’re Horse Jumper of Love. Thanks,” he said, before starting the band’s next song, “DIRT.” This track, also from its debut album, featured slow drumming that tumbled into a deafening drop two-thirds of the way through. 

The final song, “Lip Reader,” returned the scene once more to its most recent album. “What do you see when you look at the sky? / Do you see who has done it before?” Giannopoulos sang as the overdriven grunge guitars and drums clashed behind him. The concert concluded with a calm “Thank you” from frontman Giannopoulos, with the rest of the band remaining silent apart from its backing vocals and instrumentals.

In two and a half hours, Horse Jumper of Love asserted its status as slowcore dreamers, owing the creation of a casual, hypnotic ambience to openers Shallowater and Teethe.