Hoots & Hellmouth add Salt to the Road

Straight from the City of Brotherly Love, Hoots & Hellmouth hit the road in support of the upcoming CD, Salt. The official release date is April 10th 2012; but expect to be able to listen and purchase starting February 8th as the quartet travels the East Coast and Midwest during February and March. And Frontier Ruckus joins the tour in mid-March; we will be at the last show, March 30th at IOTA Club.

The increasingly difficult to categorize Hoots & Hellmouth kick off 2012 with a busy schedule… and a profound shift in focus. The Philly-based foursome, led by Sean Hoots, spent the majority of last year building a huge repertoire of live performances, from booming festival stages to intimate small club affairs. Rigorous, unrelenting touring is their M.O. Of Course, they still managed to find time to record a game-changing full-length, the eclectic Salt (available April 10, 2012 on sonaBLAST!). Their latest is a type of work that showcases a band at a crossroads. Throughout, Hoots & Hellmouth retain shades of their earthy, bucolic-tinged rapid-fire folk while profoundly exploring the sonic experimentation of inventive indie rock and the malleable, tuneful accessibility of classic American songwriting.

For those of you unfamiliar with Hoots & Hellmouth, the four-piece have spent their musical career exploring the dirges of North America and excelling at the DIY attitude appreciated by punks and new grassers alike. They've shared the bills with the likes of Grace Potter, Dr. Dog, and Ha Ha Tonka and graced the stages of Wakarusa, Philadelphia Folk Festival, and DelFest.

Members Sean Hoots, Robert Berliner, Mike Reilly, and Todd Erk will certainly be passing near you at some point in 2012. You will positively thank us when you get on the bandwagon.

Hoots & Hellmouth - Higher Ground South Burlington, VT: Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth - Iron Horse Music Hall Northampton, MA: Thursday, February 09, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth - Stone Mountain Arts Center Brownfield, ME: Friday, February 10, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth - Middle East Cambridge, MA: Saturday, February 11, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth - Tin Angel Acoustic Cafe Philadelphia, PA: Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth - The Black Oak Tavern Oneonta, NY: Friday, February 17, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth - The Rock Shop Brooklyn, NY: Saturday, February 18, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth - City Winery New York, NY: Sunday, February 19, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth - The Whiskey Annapolis, MD: Friday, March 02, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth - Arden Guild Hall Arden, DE: Saturday, March 03, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth - Club Cafe Pittsburgh, PA: Thursday, March 08, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth - Beachland Ballroom Cleveland, OH: Friday, March 09, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth - The Ark Ann Arbor, MI: Saturday, March 10, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth & Frontier Ruckus - Martyrs Chicago, IL: Friday, March 16, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth & Frontier Ruckus - The Strutt Kalamazoo, MI: Saturday, March 17, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth & Frontier Ruckus - The Mill Restaurant Iowa City, IA: Sunday, March 18, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth & Frontier Ruckus - Headliners Music Hall Louisville, KY: Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth & Frontier Ruckus - Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall Asheville, NC: Friday, March 23, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth & Frontier Ruckus - Soapbox Laundro-Lounge Wilmington, NC: Saturday, March 24, 2012

16th Annual Budweiser Wing Fling - Downtown Carolina Beach Carolina Beach, NC: Saturday, March 24, 2012 @ 12:00 PM

Hoots & Hellmouth & Frontier Ruckus - Local 506 Chapel Hill, NC: Sunday, March 25, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth & Frontier Ruckus - Kirk Avenue Music Roanoke, VA: Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth & Frontier Ruckus - The Southern Café and Music Hall Charlottesville, VA: Thursday, March 29, 2012

Hoots & Hellmouth & Frontier Ruckus - IOTA Club Arlington, VA: Friday, March 30, 2012

Some Diverse New Music - From Jazz to Funky Soul

We've recently received several new CDs and here's the lowdown. 

Its definitely time to get your boogie on when listening to T Bird and the Breaks - Never Get Out of This Funk Alive. This is one I'm dancing in my seat; whether driving, at work, at home; this is just a classic fun CD that exudes 70's soul and funk. Just listen to the title track or "Spread the Love". Plus, this is a 10-piece band - wait until you hear the sounds emanating from deep down in the tracks: percussion, keyboards, horns. And gotta love "Your Nasty Love".  Can't believe this sound comes out of Austin - forget about Americana - give me Funk.


Reed Turner got our attention with his new EP Side One: See How Far I Get. His songwriting immediately reminded me of Joe Pug, but he distinguishes himself through a unique finger picking style. His study at the Berklee College of Music has paid off, because this artist is talented. And this talent is immediately on display on the first track, "Beware the Hand". And "let's Roll" showcases some clever songwriting. And the last track, "Acrobats & Soldiers", is just powerful. I can't wait for Side 2.

At first listen, I didn't care for Big Trouble from The Dang-it Bobbys. But that opinion was a result of sitting in traffic for three hours trying to go 30 miles.  After multiple listens, I really came to appreciate the musicianship of this duo, Kris Bauman and guitarist Luca Benedetti. I think it started at "I Love You"; love the composition. Can't seem to categorize the sound, there's some Pop, some Bluegrass ("Whiskey Strut"), plenty of vocal harmony, and even a Tex-Mex sound in "Big Trouble". My favorites were the two instrumentals ("Roadkill Jerky" & "Whiskey Strut"), maybe because I'm not completely sold on the song writing - although the initial track, "Middle Ground", is clever. Yet, these are two to watch considering how nicely they can play their respective instruments.


Finally, I've been really digging the latest from the Joe Deninzon Trio, Exuberance. I listen to this during the work hours, and I tell you, the day flies by.  The trio consists of violinist Joe Deninzon, bassist Robert Bowen, and guitarist Stephen Benson. On occasion there's some gypsy jazz influence, but with Deninzon switching from electric to acoustic violin, also some classical and at times, americana-ish fiddling. In this CD, Bowen's bass plays a noticeable role whereas Benson's guitar sometimes lingers too silently. The guy can play - turn him up - just like the beginning of "Sun Goes Down". And listen to the end, "The Tourist" could be my favorite track.