The Hiders: Bio

very so shy

The exact beginning of The Hiders is hard to trace. As lead guitarist for the Ass Ponys and Ruby Vileos, Billy Alletzhauser still needed an outlet for his songwriting. Alletzhauser began hosting informal jams with some of his idols on the Cincinnati scene, Eddie Cunningham, Dave Gilligan, Ma Crow, Niki Dakota, Ali Edwards, Chuck Cleaver, Jeff Roberson and more would meet at Alletzhausers and trade songs and covers. A semi-steady group formed organically somewhat centered around Alletzhauser's tunes and played around casually as The Hiders ( a name coined by Cleaver and Gilligan, it's roots from a 1975 episode of 'Gunsmoke' ). It wasn't until around 2004 a more formal version emerged after Alletzhauser's "dismissal" from Ass Ponys ( who reunited with their ex-guitarist then broke up mere months later ). The original formal line-up was Todd Drake, Beth Harris, Victor Strunk, Toby Ellis, Dave Gilligan and occasionally Tyler Ramsey ( Band of Horses ). This was the group that recorded 'Valentine' in 2006 with Nashville Producer/Engineer Brad Jones. The Bulk of the record was tracked live in February, and the whole thing was tracked and mixed in about 7 days. Something special emerged and in certain terms the record was an immediate success. The Hiders were pushed to the forefront of the Cincinnati music scene. The record also made it's way around the "industry" and soon The Hiders were being featured on World Cafe as an "Artist to Watch" and receiving serious nibbles from a fair amount of great record labels...but no bites. A couple of years of touring, trying, writing, playing , struggling ensued...members came and went. A new core emerged, drummer and longtime friend Tony Franklin, bassist and former Afghan Whig Michael Horrigan joined Billy and Beth. More peripheral Hiders came and went but it was these four who returned to Brad Jones and Nashville exactly two years later to record what would be 'Penny Harvest Field' This time 10 tracks were used from the Nashville sessions, which also featured Jones on some keyboard and guitar and Nashville session man Fats Kaplin on pedal steel, banjo and violin. Two tracks were added from Cincinnati sessions 'I Still Do' was recorded by longtime friend ( and another former Afghan Whig! ) John Curley ( with friend Brad Meinerding doing some guitar ) and 'Dumbos Feather' which featured violinist and friend Sylvia Mitchell ( a player in the cincinnati symphony! ) Penny Harvest Field was released in May 2008.

Most recently new members Kevin Carlisle and Glen May have joined Alletzhauser,Harris,Horrigan and Franklin to form the most, strong, cohesive and consistent line-up The Hiders have had since the "pre-Valentine" days. The Hiders are currently doing their best to tour with limited resources and are in Pre-production for a third album expected Winter 2010. This one will be recorded in their home studio, the "Batcave" and at Ultrasuede studios with John Curley. The Hiders also recently ( with the help of Nettwerk records ) had "Plastic Flowers" placed on the soundtrack of the 2009 film "Adam"

The Hiders and Billy Alletzhauser also scored and composed original muisc for the documentary "Conviction:the true story of Clarence Elkins" by Mike West. Alletzhauser and friend / songwriter Todd almond scored the film "WTC View" by Brian Sloan