The Green House

“The Green House”, as it’s affectionately called, served as the official headquarters of Houndmouth for over a decade. It’s a shotgun-style house in New Albany, Indiana. Thomas Danforth, a partner in Day & Danforth Insurance agents, had this Greek Revival style townhome built by January 1854. New Albany entrepreneur John Briggs purchased the house in 1857 for $5,000, and the Briggs family occupied the house through the mid-1920s. It was then owned by Oscar Barth. Between 1935 and 1936, the Girl Scout Council occupied the house, and in 1937 the American Red Cross acquired the house for its local chapter.  

In 1941, New Albany historians John A. Cody, Jr. and Elizabeth Cody -- drummer Shane Cody's grandparents -- began a residence here that lasted over sixty years. The Codys were founding members of the Floyd County Historical Society and pioneers in building appreciation for New Albany's history and historic architecture. Mrs. Cody -- or "Bebe", as she was affectionately known -- continued to live in the historic home through 2004, even after the death of her husband in 1998. The house remains in the Cody family today, and earned a 'Facelift Award' from the NAHPC in 2021 for its preservation and sensitive rehabilitation.

In the house, portraits of Shane's great-great-great-grandparents hang above a drum kit, electric guitars rest against a large fireplace, and a soundboard has replaced the dining room table. Shane says the home feels like a Midwestern museum that happens to house a bunch of audio gear, the old books on the wall contrasting sharply with the recording technology.

“It’s always been our home base,” Shane says. “I don’t think we would be where we are without it. There’s something magical about it. It’s just like our little tree fort.”

Houndmouth recorded their 2012 debut EP, self-titled Houndmouth, in the The Green House. The cover photo of the Houndmouth EP is a picture of one of Shane's relatives, Oscar Barth. The cover of their 2013 album From the Hills Below the City is a painting of New Albany. Both hang in the house. Their 2021 album Good For You was recorded in The Green House as well. The Green House’s influence on Good For You is immediately apparent upon listening to the album. The first words uttered on the record, “chartreuse and chandeliers,” pay homage to the home’s gold-green wallpaper and ornate light fixtures. The house has been pivotal throughout the band’s career. Since Shane moved in, it’s acted as a rehearsal space, a storage unit for tour equipment, a home to multiple members, and now a fully functioning recording studio.

On July 3, 2020, they put a four song EP called “The Green House Tapes” on Bandcamp for only 24 hours and only available digitally. They recorded the 2020 versions of those songs, along with accompanying videos, at The Green House during COVID lockdown.

“I remember the first time I ever came to The Green House and saw what was happening here and I thought, ‘I’m never leaving this place,’” says Matt.

The city of New Albany deemed the house a historical landmark and removed the green paint to return the brick to its original red color.

When Shane left the band in July 2023, he took The Green House with him. The Green House is no longer Houndmouth headquarters.