Dino Porno #1: Hindu Rodeo

1995. Wow, what a phenomenal year. Hard to believe an entire decade has already passed. ‘95 marked a huge turning point in my simple life. I experienced so many milestones during that epic year. Let’s see, ‘twas my freshman year of high school (well, not really…9th grade was still part of the junior high in my town). I got my driving permit. Oh yeah, first kiss! And the turning point of all turning points: my family purchased our very first CD player!

What, Lee Barnett is idolizing a material possession? Wait, wait, hear me out. That CD player affected me in ways you can’t imagine. It signaled the beginning of my career as a fulltime music geek. I would sit in front of that machine for hours just listening to music and playing with the features (track skip, shuffle, repeat, program; unheard of!). I didn’t have any CDs of my own yet, so I had to depend on what my dad brought home. One of the first CDs he brought home (quite possibly the very first) was the debut album by a local band called Hindu Rodeo. I immediately fell in love with that album. I listened to it over and over and over and over again. The music, the lyrics, and even the album art became more familiar than the back of my hand. I don’t liberally throw around the word “life-changing,” but if you think about the effect Hindu Rodeo had on my future obsession with music, that’s exactly what they were.

The girl I kissed in my neighbor’s hammock back in 1995 has long since disappeared from my life. But Hindu Rodeo has never left me. When I moved out, I had to buy my own copy of their album. And even though I can easily sing the entire album from memory, I still have to listen to it at frequent intervals.

Lucky for me (and you), Hindu Rodeo is still active. After a sizeable hiatus, Hindu Rodeo returned in 2003 with the “radio ready” and extremely clever Nalladaloobr. Guitarist, Dirk Freymuth, and drummer, Jimi Englund, currently reside in Los Angeles, but they’ve still been able to get together with songwriter/bassist/singer, Joel Sayles (who still lives in the Twin Cities) to record new material. A new album is expected to appear sometime next year. Definitely something to look forward to.

Needless to say, Hindu Rodeo was my first introduction to local independent music. For that, I am forever indebted to this remarkable band. Therefore, it is only appropriate that a Hindu Rodeo song is the first to be offered for download on Dinosaur in Trouble. The song I chose is one of my favorites from their life-changing, 1995 self-titled debut. If you like it, please go buy their albums.

FREE MP3 DOWNLOAD:
Hindu Rodeo - Wilderness