Gifthorse

Gifthorse is a name used by more than one rock act, including a San Francisco instrumental progressive group active in the early 1990s and a Pennsylvania rock band formed in 2005. The best-documented version in the available details is the San Francisco band, which also uses the name Gift Horse. That group plays instrumental, progressive, heavy, haunting, soundtrack-like skate rock and is active from 1991 to 1996, with a break-up in 1994 followed by a reunion for more recording and a few more shows in 1995 and 1996.

San Francisco instrumental group

The San Francisco line-up consists of Doug Hilsinger on guitar, Dana Schechter on bass, and Jef Whitehead on drums. The group forms in 1991 and releases an eponymous CD before splitting up in 1994. After reforming, it records again and plays a small run of shows in the mid-1990s. Former members go on to other projects: Doug works with Bomb and Waycross, Dana plays in Bee and Flower, and Jef takes part in Lurker of Chalice and Leviathan.

Pennsylvania rock band

Another Gifthorse comes from the Stroudsburg / Pen Argyl area of Pennsylvania and forms in 2005. This band features Mike Hoover on guitar and vocals, Jeremy Aguiar on bass and vocals, and Tommy Messinger on drums. Its debut EP, Motorista, appears in 2005 and is re-issued by Lakeland Records UK in 2008.

Sussex indie grunge band

A third band uses the same name: a five-piece indie grunge group from Sussex. It is made up of two sets of brothers and one additional friend, and the members meet at school. Their music draws on ’90s grunge, indie and punk, as well as traditional Altai music, and the band describes its songs as gritty, loose and energetic, with melodic bass lines, loud guitars and prominent drums.