On 23 August 1996, 16 Horsepower was invited to the Bullet Sound Studio’s in Nederhorst den Berg (NL) to do a recording for the Dutch TV-programme, 2 meter sessies (then VARA tv, now RTL-5).

Shift/click here to download "Haw" from the 2 meter sessie. (MP3, 3 min. 54 sec., 1,79MB, 64kbps).

"16 Horsepower hail from Denver, Colorado. They made a beautiful album, Sackcloth ‘n’ Ashes (be in sackcloth and ashes, the biblical expression that means as much as "penance") and they were truly sensational as Grant Lee Buffalo’s support-act at the Amsterdam Paradiso. On the basis of their sudden success we invited the band to do a "2 Meter Sessie" (acoustic session).

Before the band really sets to work I meet French drummer Jean-Yves Tola who tells me in his restrained yet friendly manner how he came to leave Paris nine years ago and went to the States to get to work as a musician there. Denver was not his first port of call, after all who goes there to find a job in the music industry? Los Angeles was the place where he ran into David Eugene Edwards.

Edwards is a very friendly and equally very restrained person, who can talk passionately about his mainsprings and the joy of making music. Today, August 23rd, is the best day in his band’s existence because every day he can still very much enjoy the fact that his music is heard in places he’s never been before. So, a sincere and thankful man. During the recording of the session he is evidently nervous, the presence of cameras does affect him. Not until the cameras are switched off does the first broad and kind smile appear on his face... "; according to Jan Douwe Kroeske, the host of the programme.

Note: The bass-player is Rob Redick, who replaced Kevin Soll before Pascal Humbert took his place. For more details about the switch, go to the biography.

This magnificent picture was taken by Rob Becker during the session. To see the picture in its actual size, visit the 2 meter sessies-website.