The Mallett Brothers Band unveils "Dogs and Horses," the latest single from their forthcoming album, Higher Up in the Hills, out April 4th. The track features legendary pianist Chuck Leavell—known for his work with The Rolling Stones and The Allman Brothers Band—who adds his signature piano and organ work, recorded at the historic Capricorn Studios.
Premiered via Americana Highways, "Dogs and Horses" captures the dichotomous nature of rural Americana life, with Luke Mallett's lyrics conjuring up broken-down tractors and mounting gravel piles alongside the nomadic existence of a touring musician. The track builds dramatically as violin, electric guitars, piano, and organ cascade over one another, creating a rich sonic landscape.
"Dogs and Horses is a love song at its roots," explains Luke Mallett. "It's about two people building a life around the things they love and then balancing and supporting each other in those endeavors." The song grew from Mallett's experience balancing life as a touring musician with supporting his wife Carissa's commercial horse farm in Maine. "These lifestyles aren't compatible at all. I spend half my life on the road, and she spends 12 hours a day in the barn taking care of animals. If it isn't one thing, it's another, but the way we try to hold each other up is really what I was moved to write about."
The collaboration with Chuck Leavell emerged from the band's appearance on his PBS series, America's Forests. "When we were bringing this song to life in the studio, all of us agreed that keys would fit the vibe really, really well," Mallett notes. "Having his piano and organ on the song brought it to a whole new place."
"Dogs and Horses" features Luke Mallett (guitar, vocals), Will Mallett (guitar, harmonica, vocals), Nick Leen (bass), Andrew Martelle (fiddle, synth, backup vocals), Brian Higgins (drums, percussion, backup vocals), and Chuck Leavell (piano, organ). The track was engineered and mixed by Jonathan Wyman at Halo Studios, with Leavell's parts recorded by Rob Evans at Capricorn Studios.
ABOUT THE MALLETT BROTHERS BAND
The Mallett Brothers Band's story began in 2009 in Portland, Maine, with brothers Luke and Will Mallett carrying forward the songwriting tradition of their father, acclaimed folk artist David Mallett. Over the past 15 years, the band has crafted a sound that draws from multiple American musical traditions while maintaining strong ties to their New England roots.
The current lineup features Luke Mallett (guitar, vocals), Will Mallett (guitar, harmonica, vocals), Nick Leen (bass), Andrew Martelle (fiddle, synth, backup vocals), and Brian Higgins (drums, percussion, backup vocals). Their approach to songwriting and performance has earned them recognition as "New England's wildly eclectic crew of genre rebels" (Texas Hill Country Explore Magazine) and prompted Bill Copeland Music News to declare them "like William Faulkner resurrected with an electric guitar in hand."
Never content to be boxed into a single genre, the band allows each song to dictate its own direction, moving seamlessly between rock, country, and roots music. This versatility has made them festival favorites at events like FloydFest and the New England Country Music Festival, while their dedication to craft and authenticity has earned them slots supporting artists across the Americana spectrum.
The band's commitment to their home base in Maine, combined with their extensive touring experience, has helped them create music that speaks to both regional identity and universal themes. As they enter their second decade together, The Mallett Brothers Band continues to prove that you don't need to relocate to Nashville or Austin to create authentic American music that resonates far beyond regional boundaries.
