The red river hog is also known as Potamochoerus porcus, but try sticking that on a T-shirt or a mug or saying it after four pints of cider. It is not known for certain whether Exeter-based Red River Hog are partial to adult apple juice, but we can be fairly confident that they like ham and eggs. ‘Country Ham & Eggs’ is the fifth single they’ve released this year, and it comes exactly a month after their previous release – the Billy Bragg-meets-Weezer track ‘Promise Not To Run’. The band are due to release an EP called Hello My Name Is, though it’ll be much closer to Half Man Half Biscuit than The Slim Shady.
That said, the muted chords at the start of ‘Country Ham & Eggs’ and the subsequent crunchy burst of rhythm guitar have more in common with the North East’s Futureheads than the North West’s most famous Dukla Prague supporters. “Wrap up warm / This weather’s so bitter,” advises frontman Peter Richard Adams. Indeed, it is. Football shirts and similarly flimsy attire just won’t do, but jolly food-based post punk with siren-like guitar riffs and a bellowing chorus are just the ticket. Single from Exeter, please.
‘Country Ham & Eggs’ is out now on Apple Music and other streaming platforms
