Horse To Water

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs spinning vinyl at THE ZOO radio station, are cranking up "Horse To Water" by The Cold Stares from their album of the same name, firing up the Zoo Freaks in the audience. This track, a gritty blues-rock anthem, carries a raw energy that’s become a hallmark of the band’s sound. In an interview on Apple Music, the band shared that “Horse To Water” felt like a song that “just fell out of the sky,” highlighting its spontaneous creation. Frontman Chris Tapp described the writing process as almost mystical, with the riff and lyrics coming together in a single, inspired session, a moment he felt connected to the band’s roots in unpolished, authentic rock. The song’s title draws from the old proverb, reflecting themes of free will and stubbornness, which Tapp noted resonated with his own life experiences, though he kept the specifics cryptic, letting listeners interpret it their way.

On social media, The Cold Stares’ Instagram has buzzed with fan love for the track, with one post showing a behind-the-scenes clip of the band jamming it live in the studio, captioned, “This one’s for the rebels who won’t be led.” Fans in the comments, including some Zoo Freak types, called it their “road trip anthem,” praising its driving rhythm and Tapp’s soulful vocals. Over on their Facebook, the band shared a story about recording the song in a single take, with drummer Brian Mullins laying down the beat while battling a cold, adding a layer of grit to the final mix. A fan group on Facebook, The Cold Stares Fan Club, has been dissecting the song’s lyrics, speculating it’s a nod to the band’s DIY ethos, refusing to bend to music industry pressures. The band’s X account also retweeted a fan’s video of their kid rocking out to the song, showing its cross-generational pull.

The Cold Stares, a duo hailing from Western Kentucky, got their start in a way that feels ripped from a rock ‘n’ roll fable. Chris Tapp, the guitarist and vocalist, grew up steeped in his grandfather’s love for music, with a vivid memory of watching Jerry Lee Lewis on an old TV rerun, sparking his obsession with raw, emotive sound. His granddad bought him a piano for lessons, but Tapp gravitated toward guitar, teaching himself by ear. Brian Mullins, the drummer, came from a different angle, playing in local bands before crossing paths with Tapp at a bar gig in 2010. The two clicked instantly, bonding over a shared love for Delta blues and classic rock like Led Zeppelin and Free. They started jamming in Tapp’s basement, with no grand plan, just a need to make music that felt real. By 2012, they were gigging as The Cold Stares, a name inspired by a lyric about unyielding resolve, and their stripped-down, no-bass setup was born out of necessity when a bassist bailed on a show.

Their early days were all hustle—playing dive bars, self-recording demos, and building a fanbase through sheer grit. A turning point came when they caught the ear of a producer who helped them cut their debut album, A Cold Wet Night and a Howling Wind, in 2014, which got them noticed by blues-rock fans and led to tours across the U.S. and Europe. Their bio on thecoldstares.com emphasizes their commitment to staying independent, avoiding the polish of mainstream trends to keep their sound raw. Fans on sites like The Cold Stares Fan Site celebrate this, sharing stories of meeting the band at small venues where Tapp and Mullins hang out post-show, swapping stories with Zoo Freaks and other devotees. You can keep up with their latest gigs and musings on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X, where they’re always posting about new music and fan-driven moments.