2025 will certainly be a memorable year for Louisville rockers Houseplant. Born almost directly from the Covid pandemic of 2020, the neo-psychedelic groove project has grown considerably in popularity over the last five years. Despite that, the band has said goodbye to three founding members, and this past Saturday night was a chance for the group to introduce some new musicians to its hometown.
Mainstays Tavis Conley (electric mandolin) and Tommy Arnspiger (bass) were joined by new additions Chris Rodahaffer (guitar) and Sam Richardson (keyboard). The latter have become permanent members, gelling quite comfortably with the founding members. The most notable addition to Houseplant, though, at least for the foreseeable future, is Ben Atkind.
The former Goose drummer has been in a slew of other projects and musical endeavors recently, and now can add Houseplant to his resume. He too seemed very comfortable with the Houseplant repertoire, perhaps because, even as a high-profile drummer, he has always been a fan of the band. The love for Ben, or “Spudz” as he is affectionately known, was real, and that was evident by people holding up potatoes throughout the night.
The five musicians opened up with a concise version of “Gesundheit”, not straying too far from the template of the song as they eased into the concert. Their timidity didn’t last long. The second song, “Hippie Hank”, was an absolute scorcher and really showcased the new members’ contributions. Rodahaffer’s guitar solo was absolutely sublime.
The band then went into “Supernow”, an original song played for the first time. The new number was packed with energy and was well received by the crowd. However, this wasn’t the only song that got its debut on Saturday. Later in the set, Houseplant played another new original, “Tiger Paw Ocean Wave”.
It wasn’t all about the new tunes, though. Houseplant played a few covers, most notably Sturgill Simpson‘s “Right Kind of Dream” and Ween‘s “Kim Smoltz”, while also playing some of the band’s own classic hits including a dark and dirty “Midnight Buffet” that went deep down the rabbit hole. Fan favorite “Acetone” capped the night off with a superlative version.
It would be remiss not to mention the opener, Doom Gong. Also hailing from Louisville, the band performed a short set that kept all heads banging the entire time. They rocked. It was particularly entrancing to watch how in sync both drummers were—all while sharing the same bass drum!
The show also marked another first for Houseplant: It was the first time the band ever livestreamed a show for fans who couldn’t make it in person. Thankfully, the stream is now available on YouTube. Watch the full show and click below to view a gallery of photos courtesy of photographer Daniel Ojeda.
Houseplant has a number of upcoming spring tour dates, all with Ben Atkind on drums as the band continues to seek a permanent drummer. The group will open for Dogs in a Pile on select dates in April, while also having one headlining show on the books in Asheville. Find a full list of tour dates and ticketing details on the band’s website.
Houseplant, Ben Atkind — “Kashoo” — 3/15/25
Houseplant, Ben Atkind – Headliners Music Hall – Louisville, KY – 3/15/25
Setlist: Houseplant | Headliners Music Hall | Louisville, KY | 3/15/25
Set: Gesundheit, Hippie Hank, Supernow*, There Lives a Man, Right Kind of Dream (Sturgill Simpson), Midnight Buffet, Tiger Paw Ocean Wave*, Digging in the Dirt (Peter Gabriel), Traveling Solo, Country Mile, Kashoo, Kim Smoltz (Ween), Acetone
*First Time Played
