July 13, 2008

"Woooo, I feel like I've just been to church!"

There's no better way to describe the live experience of Philadelphia's Hoots & Hellmouth than those words, spoken to me after leaving their show at Johnny Brenda's last November. And make no mistake, it is an experience: anyone who asks you to go to a Hoots & Hellmouth "show" is missing the meat of the thing. This is a traveling Tent Show Revival disguised as a band -- frantic, frenzied and absolutely determined to save your soul, or at least your faith in music, come hell or high water. They're the space and symbiosis between Saturday night at the Jukehouse and Sunday morning at the Church house. You can find salvation in either one or both, and the trail of sweaty believers they leave behind each time they play their "rambunctuous Americana for Old Souls" is a testament to their abilities and commitments.

Yes, I refer to them as some kind of larger institution or archetype because while they may take center stage, they're still a part of the congregation, and any band that truly becomes a "band of the people" without trying to is a band of heft and startling significance. Take a listen above and a look below.

Me: Since we're still so close to the start of the year, what were your favorite 3 albums from 2007? Feel free to plug lesser-known locals or tour mates.

Andrew "Hellmouth" Grey: birdie busch- penny arcade
dr. dog- we all belong
the teeth- you are my lover now
isn't philly wonderful?

Me: If you and yours (yours being the "& Hellmouth" segment of the band, of course) could be in any other band or make a record backing another musician, who would it be? I'm thinking more of someone whose music you could make an interesting contribution to rather than just a dream gig (although the two can obviously be one and the same).

AG: after a not-so-secret, eleven year love affair with his music, i would be honored to lend my services to mark kozelek of red house painters and sun kil moon fame. as far as my ears are concerned, his music speaks a certain pure and rare honesty, which ignited a flame in my once 18 year old heart to create music and not abide by the expectations of any particular genre or scene. unfortunately, i don't know what i could offer him musically... maybe some backing vocals or a cymbal swell here or there. although i fashion myself as one who plays guitar, my chops don't touch those of the KOZ.

Me: If you had to change the band's name for any reason -- perhaps there's a cockney British "'Oots & 'ellmouth" -- what would you change it to?

AG: that's a tough question given that we never thought about a band name in the first place. sean's last name is "hoots" and my nickname/solo moniker was "hellmouth." at the onset our musical relationship, sean and i would frequent an open mic in west chester run by our good friend max speigel, and when our turn came around, he would yell out, "hoots and hellmouth." after that, we breathed a sigh a relief because we would never have to think of a band name...until now (albeit a fake one). a list of "just in case" names:
the free willies
lad zepplon
the iron maidens
bang bang
the rob berliner experience
2001: a hellmouth odyssey
incahoots

as you can see, we benifited from a serendipitous branding.

Check back in the next 48 hours for the second part of this interview, with my own video from their gig at The Fire tonight!

My Other Centaur...is a LADY Centaur

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Hoots & Hellmouth Interview Pt. 1