While biking one afternoon in the splendid West Virginian hills, Attila Horvath encountered a mother black bear and her two cubs on the road. If he was driving, Horvath might have had to dodge the trio or perhaps he would have hit them. If he were walking, he wouldn't have been on the road in the first place. But on his bike, Horvath was able to observe the scene in its splendor without being in any danger.
It is extraordinary moments with his bike such as this that have inspired many of Horvath's songs. And naturally, many of them are about his favorite mode of transportation ' his bike.
Biking is a great way to explore your surroundings
Horvath said.
Every songwriter looks for inspiration. Horvath's unique perspective in his songs merely comes from the seat of a bicycle, he said.
Horvath started biking when he first came to Ohio University as a freshman in 1992, using his hallmate's mountain bike on the trails around Athens. Now he owns three bicycles: a mountain bike, a road bike and an all-purpose bike.
The inspiration from these rides led Horvath to write a few songs worthy of recording. However, as Horvath went into the recording studio, he decided to record not just a few songs but an entire album's worth of material, which was released in 2005.
Horvath, a multi-instrumentalist, plays nearly every part on the album, appropriately entitled Bike Rock, with the exception of a couple of guitar solos from other musicians. Horvath plays guitar, bass and drums. He credits his instinctive musicality to his father, who played keyboard and saxophone.
If I have any natural inclination it's from him
Horvath said.
But now that Horvath is taking his music on the road, he has enlisted the help of others to help fill out the sound created on the album. Horvath recruited friends Mike Riggins on bass and Justin Farkas on drums.
Horvath said he enjoys having the input they bring to the music.
The songs developed into something better than the album versions. (Farkas and Riggins) bring their own talent and vision to the band
Horvath said. It's the best of both worlds. I had the freedom and flexibility to do the album the way I wanted and collaborating with the touring band has been great.
This Saturday, Horvath will be breaking into a new venue in town. The courtyard at 5 N. Court Street, home to The GRID Lab and Peking Express, is opening up to any local bands that are looking for a new, smoke-free venue in town.
We're looking to take advantage of an unutilized space
said Mike Sweeney, manager of The GRID Lab and organizer of the event Saturday.
Horvath said he has participated in many weeklong biking events, such as the Great Ohio Biking Adventure and the Bicycle Ride Across Tennessee. Horvath said one of his songs, 600 Wheels
was directly inspired by the ride. He also mentioned the director of the Tennessee ride, Danny McCullough, in one of his songs and sent him the record. McCullough liked it so much, Horvath said, that he was invited to perform at this year's BRAT.
Horvath said he is looking to expand his touring in Athens this winter, as his day job as a landscaper dwindles off during the winter months. He said touring more extensively would lead him down the path to his dream job.
Rock and bike
Horvath said, how can I do that for the rest of my life?
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Chris Yonker
