Episode 97: Billy and Beth of The Hiders

It sounds like the setup to a joke: “A punk rock guitarist and a preacher’s daughter walk into a theater…” But when Billy Alletzhauser and Beth Harris starting singing songs together in 2004, the result was pure magic. Their band, The Hiders, is the Kevin Bacon of music, with connections to Ass Ponys, The Afghan Whigs, Throneberry, Wussy, Heartless Bastards, Band of Horses, Plow On Boy, Comet Bluegrass All-Stars, Pearlene and more. And their sound is an amazing amalgamation of folk, country, rock, psychedelia, bluegrass, and indie rock. We talked to B & B about their start, the band’s evolution, Billy’s Ass Ponys tenure, Beth’s harmony vocal work with Erika Wennerstrom and Heartless Bastards, the Hiders most recent album (2021’s Forever at the End) and their plans for the year ahead.

“One of Cincinnati’s musical treasures.”

Mike Breen, Cincinnati CityBeat

You can put your ears on Forever at the End via the player below.

Check out more from The Hiders on their website, as well as on Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Spotify and Apple Music.

Alletzhauser and gifted harmony vocalist Beth Harris, the two constant Hiders in a rotating roll call of stellar talent, have assembled an impressive canon over the past decade and a half, and all without the questionable assistance of a label structure.

Brian Baker, Cincinnati CityBeat, 2021

Here’s their 2009 session on World Cafe from WXPN (home of 97X alum Dan Reed):

Billy Alletzhauser’s old band, Ruby Vileos, (a 97Xposure finalist back in the day) got back together to do a new record. Here’s it is via Bandcamp:

Ruby Vileos is doing an album release show on Saturday, July 15th at The Loon Wine Bar in Northside, with special guest Tyler Ramsey. Looks like the show is sold-out, but if they release more tickets you can get them here.