|
You'll be please to hear that this month's feature marks #125 in the series of interviews OhioOnline started doing with bands around the state since 1996 (the majority are still in the archive, if you'd like to explore the Music Archive link on this page). And, although many of them have been memorable for a variety of reasons, Ashland guitarist Roger Hoover seems to be marching to the sound of a different drum from many we've talked to. OhioOnline music correspondent Peanuts managed to start a dialogue about "Jukebox Manifesto," the third disc from Hoover and his band of merry men, and that just started the conversation stone rolling up the hill at an ever quickening pace. . |
| OO: |
Are you a native of Ohio? |
| RH: |
"I was born in Florida, grew up in various parts of Ohio and reside now on a farm outside of Ashland." |
| OO: |
Who was your first musical influence? |
| RH: |
"I ran across a record by Tom Waits down by the railroad tracks behind my house. My Dad listened to a lot of Waits, Bob Dylan and Neil Young. Mickey Mouse always had some killer tunes in his cartoons." |
| OO: |
Were you in any famed bands in the state before this? |
| RH: |
"Pontius Pilate & The Nail Driving Five." |
| OO: |
A household name, for sure. What national acts have influenced your songwriting? |
| RH: |
"Tom Waits, Charlie Patton, Virgil Shaw and Hugo Morningword." |
| OO: |
In that case, describe your music. |
| RH: |
"I wouldn't answer this question even if my mother wanted to know." |
| OO: |
How did the band get its name? |
| RH: |
"I was born in St. Petersburg, Florida and conceived in the Jolly Roger Motel there. The rest of the band changes their name regularly. The Whiskeyhounds, Harvest, The Recliners among them. It all depends on what mood they're in and what drugs we're on." |
| OO: |
Now that explains the conversation so far. What national acts have you played with? |
| RH: |
"Deadstring Brothers, Lucero, Cory Branan, Duran Duran. We'd match up with Tom Waits, but we've never played with him in concert." |
| OO: |
How about bands from around the state? |
| RH: |
"The Dreadful Yawns are great. Henry James is someone that's writing great songs out of Cleveland. Rambler 454 always puts on a great show. I don't spend much time in Ohio these days, so I'm a little out of the loop." |
| OO: |
Favorite Ohio venue to play? |
| RH: |
"Happy Dog in Cleveland, Carabar in Columbus, Trollystop in Dayton, Royal Oaks in Youngstown." |
| OO: |
Where was "Jukebox Manifesto" recorded? |
| RH: |
"On a private ranch, south of Canton. Some songs were cut in the library and the rest were done in the jungle room. It was engineered by Ryan Foltz of Dropkick Murphys fame." |
| OO: |
How did you like the studio? |
| RH: |
"It was nice except for the circling wolves and shotguns." |
| OO: |
Ah, booking agent trouble. Long term plans? |
| RH: |
"I'm a little short on long term plans. I'll be playing music until the sun burns out." |
| OO: |
Any final thoughts for the fans reading along? |
| RH: |
"Anybody know a good dentist that works cheap? I'm also having trouble sleeping. Valium and sleeping pills aren't helping anymore." |
