The Hooten Hallers

The Hooten Hallers
The Hooten Hallers performing in Great Falls, Montana, in 2019
The Hooten Hallers performing in Great Falls, Montana, in 2019
Background information
OriginColumbia, Missouri, U.S.
GenresBlues rock, Roots music
Years active2007–present
LabelsBig Muddy Records
MembersJohn Randall (Guitar, slide guitar, vocals, 2007-present)
Andy Rehm (Drums, vocals, 2007-present)
Kellie Everett (Baritone saxophone, bass saxophone, vocals, 2014-present)
Past membersPaul Weber (Harmonica, tuba, 2013-2014)
Websitehttp://www.thehootenhallers.com

The Hooten Hallers are an American blues and rock and roll band that formed in Columbia, Missouri, in 2007.

History

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The band was founded by guitarist/lead vocalist John Randall and drummer/falsetto vocalist Andy Rehm, who performed as a duo and were known for their raucous and often improvised live performances. Paul Weber briefly joined the band in 2013–14 on harmonica and tuba, and wrote several of the group's songs, such as "She Used to Love My Music" and "Trouble Is".[1] Baritone and bass saxophonist Kellie Everett joined in 2014 and solidified the group's line-up as a trio. The Hooten Hallers are a "high-energy blues, soul and rock and roll band known for their gritty Americana roots music".[2]

After a number of self-released albums, the Hooten Hallers signed with Big Muddy Records in 2012, releasing their album Greetings From Welp City!, which featured harmonica work by Ryan Koenig of Pokey LaFarge. The follow-up album Chillicothe Fireball, was released in 2014 on Big Muddy Records, and featured performances by Paul Weber and Kellie Everett. The group embarked on their first European tour in 2015 with Joe Buck and Viva Le Vox, performing in Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, France, and Spain. The acoustic EP, "Mountain of Pain", was released on Big Muddy Records in 2016, and was an intentional departure from the band's sound, adding acoustic guitar, upright bass, fiddle, and piano to the mix.

The band's self-titled studio album, The Hooten Hallers, came out on April 21, 2017 on Big Muddy Records. Vice's Noisey called it "an exciting mix of blues, punk, and folk".[3] The self-titled album was co-produced by Johnny Walker (Dr. John Wirick) of the Soledad Brothers and Kristo Baricevic. No Depression wrote that the music "evokes images of Tom Waits tending to a trotline at Lake of the Ozarks".[4] The album charted at number 24 on The Roots Music Report's Top 50 Americana Country Album Chart for the week of May 27, 2017.[5]

In December 2018, The Hooten Hallers released a live album, Live in Missouri, recorded at The Blue Note in Columbia, Missouri, on May 12, 2018.[6]

On September 9, 2022, the band's next studio album, Back in Business Again was released, along with two accompanying music videos for "Back in Business Again"[7] and "Cat Scrap".[8] It was recorded in St Louis, Missouri, at the Native Sound Studios in December 2019 and produced by Dominic Davis.[9] Aarik Danielsen of the Columbia Daily Tribune wrote, "The band's gleefully gritty sound never misses the mark, and their clear willingness to explore its every dimension ensures The Hooten Hallers' continued sway over anyone within earshot".[10]

The band released their fifth commercially available studio album, 'The Devil's Egg', on Aug 9, 2024. [11] Of this rock opera concept album, Aarik Danielsen wrote, "The story follows 'three disillusioned teenaged punks' who encounter the album's mysterious namesake object, then are whisked into an alien world". He further described the album: "Crafting this world in song, The Hooten Hallers only further amplify their union of the material and mystical and, chasing this story, craft one of their best and wildest albums yet".

Tours

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The band has toured or performed with acts such as The Dead South, Blues Traveler,[12] Reverend Horton Heat, Pokey LaFarge,[13] Legendary Shack Shakers,[14] Possessed by Paul James, JD Wilkes & the Dirt Daubers, T Model Ford, The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, Scott H. Biram, Split Lip Rayfield, Left Lane Cruiser,[15] Black Diamond Heavies, Larry and His Flask, Unknown Hinson, and many others.

They have performed at a number of festivals in North America and Europe, including Winnipeg Folk Festival,[16] Muddy Roots Music Festival, 80/35 Music Festival, the Roots N Blues Festival,[17][18] SXSW,[19] Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival, Festival International de Louisiane, Deep Blues Festival, Long Beach Folk Revival Festival, Wildwood Music Festival, Muddy Roots Europe, Mile of Music Festival, and Champaign-Urbana Folk and Roots Festival.

Discography

[edit]
Year Title Label
2007 We Have Friends self-released
2009 The Epic Battle of Good and Evil [20] self-released
2009 Meld Minds self-released
2010 Live At Widows Peak self-released
2012 Live in Austin at the Legendary White Swan self-released
2012 Greetings From Welp City! Big Muddy Records
2012 War With Hell/ Missouri Boy b/w Holy Moses [21] Big Muddy Records
2014 Chillicothe Fireball [22][23][24] Big Muddy Records
2016 Mountain of Pain Big Muddy Records
2017 The Hooten Hallers [25] Big Muddy Records
2018 Live in Missouri Garlic Press
2022 Back In Business Again[9] Garlic Press
2024 The Devil's Egg[26] Garlic Press

References

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  1. ^ "The Hooten Hallers Into The Deep". BostonBlues.org.
  2. ^ "Q & A With Andy Rehm of The Hooten Hallers". Vox Magazine. 3 September 2016.
  3. ^ "Let the Hooten Hallers Get You on Your Feet With Their New Self-Titled Album". Noisey.vice.com. 17 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Time With a Hippy River Queen on 'Charla' (Premiere)". Nodepression.com.
  5. ^ "Top 50 Americana Country Album Chart for the Week of May 27, 2017". Roots Music Report.
  6. ^ Danielsen, Aarik. "Living large: The Hooten Hallers' ragged concert charms shine on new record". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  7. ^ "The Hooten Hallers 'Back in Business Again' official music video". YouTube.
  8. ^ "The Hooten Hallers - 'Cat Scrap' Official Music Video". YouTube.
  9. ^ a b "Exclusive Premiere: - "Back in Business Again" the Hooten Hallers". Folknrock.com. 7 September 2022.
  10. ^ "How the Hooten Hallers' new album upholds their place as one of Missouri's best bands". Columbia Daily Tribune.
  11. ^ Danielsen, Aarik. "Take a sci-fi trip with Columbia rockers The Hooten Hallers on 'The Devil's Egg'". Columbia Daily Tribune.
  12. ^ "Tickets on Sale for Blues Traveler, the Hooten Hallers April 25th at the Fox". Adastraradio.com. 17 February 2023.
  13. ^ "Relive New Year's Eve: River Kittens, The Hooten Hallers And Pokey LaFarge At The Pageant". Alive Magazine.
  14. ^ "The Legendary Shack Shakers, The Hooten Hallers". Carbondale Music Coalition.
  15. ^ "The Basement Welcomes The Hooten Hallers". Gary Hayes Country. 7 April 2017.
  16. ^ "Folk Finale". Winnipeg Free Press. 11 July 2016.
  17. ^ Danielsen, Aarik. "Rounding up this year's Roots N Blues". Columbia Daily Tribune.
  18. ^ "The Hooten Hallers come home for Roots 'N' Blues performance". Vox Magazine. 27 September 2014.
  19. ^ "SXSW Announces Full 2018 Artist Lineup, Conference Details & More". Billboard.
  20. ^ "ALBUM REVIEW: THE HOOTEN HALLERS, "THE EPIC BATTLE OF GOOD AND EVIL" BY SPEISER". KWUR 90.3FM.
  21. ^ "The Hooten Hallers - Welp City 45". Discogs.
  22. ^ "Rosanne Cash tops this week's CD reviews". Winnipeg Sun.
  23. ^ "MUSIC REVIEW: THE HOOTEN HALLERS". New Territory Magazine.
  24. ^ "Our Featured Bloggers' Favorite Albums of 2013". No Depression.
  25. ^ "Hooten Hallers self-titled album out 4/21". Grateful Web.
  26. ^ Danielsen, Aarik. "Take a sci-fi trip with Columbia rockers The Hooten Hallers on 'The Devil's Egg'". Columbia Daily Tribune.