A Thousand Horses

A Thousand Horses
A Thousand Horses performing in Bloomington, IL on January 16, 2015. Photo credit: Chance Edwards A Thousand Horses in 2016
Background information
Origin	Nashville, Tennessee
Genres	Country country rock[1] Southern rock[1]
Years active	2010–present
Labels	Nashville Harbor, Highway Sound
Members	Michael Hobby Graham DeLoach Bill Satcher
Past members	Zach Brown

A Thousand Horses is an American country music band formed in 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. The band is composed of Michael Hobby (lead vocals), Bill Satcher (lead guitar), and Graham Deloach (bass and vocals); Zach Brown (guitar, vocals) was also a member until leaving in 2023. Their first EP, A Thousand Horses, was released under Interscope Records in 2010. In 2014, the band signed with Republic Nashville of Big Machine Label Group and released its first single "Smoke", which set a record for the highest debut by a new act when it opened at number 28 on the Country Aircheck radio chart.^[2]

Biography

Michael Hobby and Bill Satcher grew up in Newberry, South Carolina, where they began writing songs at the age of 15. Satcher's cousin and Savannah, Georgia, native Graham DeLoach joined the duo soon after. A friend eventually introduced Atlanta native Zach Brown, and A Thousand Horses was formed. The name "A Thousand Horses" came from a song on their first EP.^[3] They enjoy writing their own original songs, but they occasionally collaborate with other writers around Nashville. They have toured nationwide and released their full-length album Southernality on January 21, 2015.

Bridges

Their "deluxe EP", Bridges, was released on June 2, 2017,^[4] with Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. Producing the new CD with Dann Huff and Corey Crowder, the band vowed to keep their unique sound intact. One of the featured songs on the record is a live version of their breakthrough hit "Smoke" recorded in Printer's Alley.^[5]

Southernality

Released June 9, 2015, Southernality is A Thousand Horses' debut album, released by Republic Nashville. The first single, "Smoke", has charted on Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs, reaching number one on the former chart, making A Thousand Horses the first country group to chart a number-one debut single since the Zac Brown Band's "Chicken Fried" reached number one in December 2008.^[6][7] Reviews have been generally positive commending their smooth vocals, lyrics, and blend of country and rock.^[8] The album's second single, "(This Ain't No) Drunk Dial", was released to country radio on June 29, 2015. The album's third single, the title track, was released to country radio on February 29, 2016.

A Thousand Horses

"A high-energy hybrid of classic rock and bluesy country with enough soul flavor to resurrect the sound of American greats..."

Rolling Stone, 2014, Rolling Stone website.^[9]

Their debut E.P., A Thousand Horses, was released on August 17, 2010, under Republic Nashville. It was recorded in six days in Silver Lake, California, with producer Dave Cobb.

The song "Suicide Eyes" from the E.P. was featured in the movie Footloose starring Kenny Wormald and Julianne Hough. The director, Craig Brewer, found the song and knew that it fit the vibe for the movie.^[3]

For their performance at the Austin City Limits festival in 2014, Rolling Stone hailed the band as the best up-and-comer, praising their "undeniable energy and stage presence [and] their live performance".^[9]

Zach Brown quit the band in 2023 to spend more time with family. A year later, the other three members released a new album titled The Outside on Highway Sound Records.^[10]

Influences

A Thousand Horses self-identifies as a hybrid of English rock, country, American rock, soul, and blues. Their sound mimics Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Allman Brothers, the Black Crowes, and the Rolling Stones in the context of modern country. Hobby's songwriting is rooted in such songwriters as Dwight Yoakam, Tom Petty, and Noel Gallagher.^[11]

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions		Sales
		US Country[12]	US[13]
Southernality	Release date: June 9, 2015 Label: Republic Nashville Format: CD, music download	3	20	US: 50,200[14]
Bridges	Release date: June 2, 2017 Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment Format: Music download	—	—	US: 800[15]
Broken Heartland	Release date: 26 August 2022 Label: Highway Sound Records	—	—
The Outside	Release date: 2024 Label: Highway Sound Records	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Extended plays

Title	Album details
A Thousand Horses	Release date: August 17, 2010 Label: DGC/Interscope Records Format: Music download

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions					Certifications	Sales	Album
		US Country [16]	US Country Airplay [17]	US [18]	CAN Country [19]	CAN [20]
2015	"Smoke"	5	1	47	1	53	US: Platinum[21] CAN: Gold[22]	US: 474,000[23]	Southernality
	"(This Ain't No) Drunk Dial"	30	23	—	50	—
2016	"Southernality"	—	57	—	—	—
2017	"Preachin' to the Choir"	—	55	—	—	—			Bridges
2020	"A Song to Remember"	—	53	—	—	—			TBD
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

Year	Video	Director
2015	"Smoke"[24]	Peter Zavadil
	"(This Ain't No) Drunk Dial"[25]
	"The First Time"
2016	"Southernality"[26]	Shaun Silva

References

1. Monger, James Christopher. "A Thousand Horses biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 April 2017.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
2. Bjorke, Matt (January 23, 2015). "A Thousand Horses' "Smoke" Makes Radio History". Roughstock. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
3. "10 Questions With A Thousand Horses". FOCUS on the 615. February 9, 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
4. "A Thousand Horses Evolve with Bridges". CMT News. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
5. "A Thousand Horses Plot Return With New Release 'Bridges'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
6. "Smoke". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
7. Trust, Gary (June 1, 2015). "Chart Highlights: Taylor Swift Ties Record as 'Bad Blood' Hits Pop Songs Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
8. "A Thousand Horses "Smoke" Song Review | The Big 94.5 Country". 94country.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-14. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
9. Edwards, Gavin (October 7, 2014). "Best Up-and-Comer: A Thousand Horses - Austin City Limits 2014's Standout Performances". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
10. Joseph Hudak (August 19, 2024). "A Thousand Horses Have Stopped Chasing Country Radio Hits. It Was a Good Decision". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
11. "Official Site". A Thousand Horses. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
12. "Top Country Albums results for A Thousand Horses". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
13. "Billboard 200 results for A Thousand Horses". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
14. Bjorke, Matt (September 22, 2015). "The Country Albums Chart Report: September 22, 2015". Roughstock. Sales figure given here
15. Bjorke, Matt (June 13, 2017). "Top 10 Country Albums Chart: June 12, 2017". Roughstock.
16. "A Thousand Horses Album & Song Chart History - Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
17. "A Thousand Horses Album & Song Chart History - Country Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
18. "A Thousand Horses Album & Song Chart History - Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
19. "A Thousand Horses Album & Song Chart History - Canada Country". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
20. "A Thousand Horses Album & Song Chart History - Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
21. "American single certifications – A Thousand Horses – Smoke". Recording Industry Association of America.
22. "Canadian single certifications – A Thousand Horses – Smoke". Music Canada.
23. Matt Bjorke (July 13, 2015). "The Top 30 Digital Country Singles: July 13, 2015". Roughstock. Sales figure given here
24. "A Thousand Horses | Smoke | VEVO – Yahoo Screen". Yahoo! Screen. Archived from the original on 2015-02-03. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
25. "CMT : Videos : A Thousand Horses : (This Ain't No) Drunk Dial". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
26. Freeman, Jon (April 8, 2016). "See A Thousand Horses' Kinetic 'Southernality' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 9, 2016.