Blog posts

• 

  Jul 16, 07:55 AM

  Chicago

  So last nights show in Cincinnati was damned good. And it was a Wednesday so that made it even better. I love that room and it was good to finally see it starting to fill up. Special thanks to our cohort Jon for helping Siggi and Blade get their new chores on track. Started selling vinyl at the live shows and we were all thrilled how well they seemed to go over. No other real tales from there except the normal stop for graters ice cream beforehand. Yes, it IS that damned good. 
  
  Headed into Chicago today but the show was outside and was cancelled due to rain. I’d have been pretty upset about that, but we’re rocking here tomorrow as well, so it’ll be fine. Siggi’s mama was nice enough to let us bed down at her place and make us homemade pasta with meatballs. Thanks mama Birkis! We love you. Spent the night working on songs/guitar parts with Dan as we prepare for the next few shows to be just the three piece. Putting the final plans together on which studio we’ll be recording the new album in. Its starting to really feel like that process is coming on quick and we’re all very excited about it. 
  
  Alright, so I’m off for some sleep now. 
• 

  Jul 16, 07:55 AM

  Happy July 8th

  Sorry I guess four days does make a difference. Anyhow. Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekend. We started off on the 4th in St Louis at a new club. Lots to NOT like about this situation. 1. 4th of July shows usually suck balls (not in a good way). Either nobody shows up, or you’re playing in front of 10,000 people while fireworks explode during your tender love ballads. Neither are conducive to a positive rock and roll experience. 2. NEW club always makes me nervous. Why have I never even HEARD of this place. Plus the other club we’ve been playing is fine. SOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I was worried. Luckily I was proven wrong on both accounts. People actually did show up, and had a pretty damned good time as a matter of fact. Further bonus, the new venue was killer. Very much like a smaller version of Headliner’s in Louisville. So between those factors and the added benefit of our nation’s birth and I was quite the happy fellow. We did have a lovely moment during ‘Someone Else’s Baby’ where a guy in the very front wanted to sing along with me and Blade. Usually we enjoy this, and that’s a fine opportunity for anyone to chime in, however, his freestyle/screamo stylings were a bit out of place. We’d sing softly, ‘….and I know just what you’d say…’ and then in the pause he’d growl, kinda like cookie monster, ‘….I KNOW JUST WHAT YOU’D SAY!!!’ It took everything we had to not completely breakdown in laughter. The same chap was later seen buying a new Will Hoge t-shirt, and then roaming the bar shirtless for a while until he could find the time to put it on. Damn good times. Special thanks to our friend/promoter John Henry for all the hospitality. He was kind enough to have his mom and pops come down and bring a grill to cook for us. Burgers, wings, baked been, tater salad, cupcakes. It really did make us all feel better about missing the holiday at home. Many thanks y’all.
  
  Next night was Indianapolis and the same ‘new venue’ blues were making me nervous. I love the Music Mill and wasn’t sure this ‘beergarden’ gig would be worthwhile. Again, was I wrong. The joint was fabulous! Really more like a mini outdoor theater. The weather was absolutely perfect. The place was packed. People old and new were receptive. The steaks were wonderful, the drinks were cold. Hell I couldn’t ask for much more. So the Rathskeller is now gonna be a yearly summer stop for us. Yes, it was that much fun.
  Siggi left to celebrate his mama’s birthday after the show. Happy belated birthday Mama Birkis!! Sean headed back to Cincy. Which left only me and Dan and Blade to transgress the highway to get back home. Talked a lot of rock and roll and how it is and should be. Solved the problems of the world AND bought a dozen day old Krispy Kreme donuts for one American dollar! And I thought it couldn’t get better? aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
  
  See you all in Cincy on Wednesday right? 
• 

  Jul 16, 07:54 AM

  Good Evening

  Back in Nashville for a bit. Preparing to head out this weekend for holiday shows in St. Louis and Indianapolis. Should be a good time. Been busy as hell here. Writing a TON. Finishing stuff for the new album, plus some songs for other folks as well. Should have a rough idea in the next two weeks of songs that we’ll be cutting for the album. I’m really excited about them.
  
  I can’t begin to tell y’all how much fun this past week on the road was. Raleigh on Thursday was great. The Pourhouse is such a fun club. Great people. The show was good. We debuted our new ‘less musicians/more amps’ line up and boy oh boy, let there be damn rock! It was fun as hell. Afterwards Mr. Magic showed up and wowed us all with more card tricks. We’re trying to figure out how to get him on the road as our opening act because it will blow your damn mind. Rolled into Charleston for Friday and Saturday. Both nights were a blast. Totally pleased with both performances. I missed the Enemy Lovers both nights due to nap issues, but heard good things. I really dug BoxBomb who was also on the Raleigh show. I didn’t see much of them in Raleigh, but Friday in Charleston I thought they were very good. Heavy but chilled out. I enjoyed it.
  Saturday we added Crowfield who I really love. The music is good and they seem like really good dudes. New rule: only cool folks on the road. ‘No More Douche Bags Tour’, maybe that’s the rest of 08, hell and all of 09! Yep, I like that.
  
  I want to say how much it meant to us to have such a great response at these shows. The last year has been tough at times and we’re finally getting all of our collective shit back together. Surrounding ourselves with the right folks and the right situations. Funny to still be learning 10 years into all this. This was the most fun I’ve had onstage in years. I really feel like we’re getting back to where this whole thing needs to be. Y’all are a HUGE part of that. Thanks so much for taking this journey with us. I guess we COULD do it without you, but it just wouldn’t be as much fun.
  ps……this beach thing is gonna happen every year, so if you’ve not done it yet, make plans for next year.
  Special thanks to Bobby Ross and all at the Windjammer for always taking such great care of us. Bobby even loaned me and Blade a golf cart which we spent all day cruising around on on Saturday. We couldn’t tell if the funny looks were because we were driving the cart in places we weren’t supposed to, or if it was just cause we looked like two burned out hippies trying to score something on a golf cart. Either way, funny as hell and equally as hilarious. We laughed like 10 year olds the whole time. Plus Blade got a one armed sunburn from holding his ‘cruising position’ for too long.
  
  We’ve also got our new touring vehicle in order. It’s quite nice not renting a van every week like we did for a while. We’re working on a video blog to give you each a nice tour of it but we’ve gotta come up with a name for it first. Some sort of superstitious thing. So if you’ve got any name suggestions, do let us know.
  
  Well, I’m off to try and finish writing a couple things. Y’all be well and we will see you soon. 
• 

  Jun 15, 10:03 PM

  Birmingham

   

  Birmingham.....

  
  

  I was gonna title this one, "I Hate The Lakers" but I'm trying not to start a feud between me and my dear friend and manager the Doug Buttleman. Ok, enough venting.
  Made our way down to Birmingham on Saturday afternoon to play at City Stages. Really great festival. It wasn't the tightest show I've ever done but it was certainly the most fun I've had on stage in quite some time. I'd forgotten how much I love playing with Dan. Hell, I'd forgotten how much I liked playing with Blade and Siggi too for that matter. We decided last minute to bring our pal Michael Webb along to play keys. He played on our last session when we recorded 'Just Like Me(Without You)'. He's a helluva player. We always joke that with each new member they get less and less rehearsal. Staying true to that Michael now wins as we basically just 'discussed' the songs on the drive down. Pretty damn funny. So we're hoping he's gonna be making some periodic appearances with us over the next couple months.
  We got to see Grace Potter and her band play. I really like them. Then we got to all have dinner and discuss interesting and various ways and places to pack for modern day air travel. Quite informative if I do say so myself. If I only had pictures.
  Caught part of the show and got to have a great chat with Dave Barnes as well. He's another Nashville musician and truly one of the nicest people I know. Wishing him all the best with his newest album and hoping to see him again soon.
  Got to spend some time with the Broussards too. Had dinner with Marc. Chad saved our ass with a ride cymbal. Thanks brother. Unfortunately I couldn't hang to see them as my kid brother was doing a show Saturday night back in Nashville. So we loaded up and headed back to catch that. It was fun. I've not gotten to see him play alot with our busy schedules so it was nice to be able to see him at home.
  Excluding Europe, I think I saw more live music on Saturday than I saw last year. Kinda funny. Or sad. Or both. Yes, probably both.
  Ok, off to finish some songs. Gotta get this new album together to start recording soon. Y'all be well.
  Go Celtics!
• 

  Jun 10, 02:30 PM

  Will Hoge Update - June 10, 2008

  New Shows And Old Friends: Will has returned from a very successful solo tour of Europe, which took him to nine countries over three weeks. It has been an inspiring time for Will and has introduced him to many who now share your passion for the music. True to Will’s relentless spirit, it’s time to hit the American highway. A new round of US dates has been announced. The June shows will see Will reunited with his old friend and Carousel guitarist Dan Baird . See this e-mail's "Live In Concert" section for dates and ticket links.

  
  

  Legends & Lyrics: This Thursday, June 12 at the Grand Masonic Lodge in Nashville, Will joins John Hiatt, Shawn Colvin and Jessi Colter to perform live for PBS' Legends & Lyrics, a new TV series debuting this fall. You can attend this taping for free. Taping begins at 9:30 a.m.. To attend, RSVP to: tamberli@audiencecompany.com

  
  

  
  

  Two Night Stand At The Windjammer: Will returns to the Windjammer for two nights, June 27 and 28. The Windjammer is a great venue, and each show is unique. For ticket info, including a special discounted two-night ticket package visit http://www.the-windjammer.comco

  
  

  
  

  Sex, Lies and Prime Time: Tune in to the season finale of ABC's Men In Trees starring Anne Heche to hear the song "Sex, Lies and Money" from the album Draw the Curtains this Wednesdsay, June 11 at 10:00 ET/9:00 CT.

  
  

  
  

  Upcoming Live Shows:
  06/14 • City Stages Birmingham, AL
  06/19 • Gravity Lounge Charlottesville, VA
  06/20 • Downtown Sundown Concerts Wilmington NC (Free Show)
  06/21 • Shoreline Ballroom, Hilton Head SC
  06/26 • Pour House Music Hall Raleigh, NC
  06/27 & 06/28 • The Windjammer Isle of Palms, SC
• 

  Jun 03, 09:04 AM

  Mr. Bo Diddley

  So I just read the news that the legendary Bo Diddley has passed away at 79. My thoughts and prayers to his family in their time of loss. I feel safe in saying that I would not be a musician if it were not for Bo Diddley. All musicians owe him a debt of gratitide for his groundbreaking songwriting and guitar work. Hell, name another guitarist with a drum beat named after him? And what a mighty beat it was. Turn on 'Who Do You Love' tonight and you can hear the sound of teenage girls all over America losing their virginity in the backseat of a borrowed Cadillac. It IS rock and roll.

  My debt to the gentleman is a bit more personal. My father took me to see Bo Diddley when I was a kid. My uncle got him tickets. They were supposed to take their wives and have a double date. Maybe it was too late or too smokey or too loud, but for whatever reason the ladies backed out. Short of buying me a guitar, that may be the biggest musical gift my mama ever gave me. Not showing up. Thanks ma. So my pops decides that its a good father/son moment to share a little rock and roll. He'd introduced me to the Beatles, the Stones, Dylan, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, etc via his record collection. It was probably 1987. Bo Diddley was an afterthought. I knew him as the guy in the Bo Jackson commercials. "Bo, you don't know Diddley" he'd quip as Bo Jackson held his screeching guitar. I'd probably heard a song, maybe two, but I was just a baby. Learning to fall in love with rock and roll and all that is good and holy about it. A babe trying to be led out of the dark and evil forrest of hair metal and into something, ANYTHING more.

  My father called ahead to make sure me and my other underage cousin good get in. The club acquiesced to the old man's request. This wasn't a club, this was a bar. A roadhouse type atmosphere. Especially for those still shy of puberty. That night would change my life forever. I can still remember the smoke and the smell of the smoke from all the years before. Like my Grandma and 100 of her best friends had been chain smoking and playing kanasta in a small dingy basement for years. I remember the smell of alcohol. Lots and lots of. The dark kind. Not that clear stuff people lightly sip at the holidays. I remember the incredibly bad service. I remember its the only meal in my life my father refused to pay for. I remember the opening band the Kingsnakes. But all this together pales when I think of what came next. The show starts with this beat. This primal, tribal, groove that I instantly start to FEEL. Not hear but FEEL. I know this instinctually. Then the announcer starts his pitch, "ladies and gentlemen, from McComb Mississippi. His songs have bee recorded by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones(cue my further interest)One of the founding fathers of rock and roll, Mr Bo Diddley.". This was followed by some applause but then nothing, still that beat. Where is this guy. I want to see him!! Then in the front row this little aging black man finishes his last bite of dinner. Pushes back from the table, licks his figers, steps onstage, grabs a guitar and changes my life! I can't tell you now what songs he played. I do know on the ride home my father and uncle spoke of being disappointed in the performance. Hell, maybe to more mature listening ears it was sub par. But for me it was like seeing the future, present and past all at once. In a lot of ways I realize now that I was reborn as a musician that very night. It would be years later that I'd get a guitar. Years after that before I'd start my own band, but it all goes back to that night. Playing music for the sake of the music. Always. Through the success, through the failures. From the basement, to the club, to the theater, to the arena and all the way back again. Play it because you can. Play it because you should. Play it becuase you have to. Play it because IT MATTERS! This rock and roll music maters.

  I think of that night often. I've smelled those familiar smells thousands of times over my last 10 years on the road. I've seen that same opening band with a thousand different names a thousand different times. I've been that opening band. I'll be a part of each and every one of those things again at some point in my musical career. But tonight on this long lonely train ride from Rimini, Italy to Madrid, Spain, in the middle of a four week tour, alone, in eight countries I've never been to, to play my own brand of rock and roll for people, I'd like to say thank you Bo Diddley for getting me here.
• 

  Jun 01, 10:02 AM

  Italy

  italy......

  So after Berlin I caught the train to Copenhagen. Met a couple nice fellas on the way and had a chat about rock and roll and global politics. Really the only two things that matter in a free and just world. I was amazed when as we approached a stop they told me this is where we get out and the ferry will take us over into Denmark. I told them it wasn't on my itenerary to have to swap trains. They laughed and said we don't. THE WHOLE DAMN TRAIN goes into the bowels of the huuuuuge boat. You get out, go aboard, have a meal, shop and then get back on the train and go again on the other side. I thought it was cool when we put the bus on a ferry once, well take that bitches! A whole damned train!
  I loved Copenhagen. Stopped at the Hard Rock Cafe because they were advertising 'Tennessee bbq'. I figured that'd be about as close to home as I could get for a while. I ordered and they came back to tell me they were out of the chicken, the brisket and the ribs. Heartbreaking. Lesson: don't eat at Hard Rock. Anyhow, the show was one of the best of the tour. Really cool venue. Met some nice folks that were kind enough to let me tag along afterwards and keep me entertained. Thanks yall for that. See you in October!
  Then flew to Milan. I'm enamored by Italy as a whole. Gracious and kind people. Unrivaled landscapes and don't even get me started on the damned food. The truck stops on the inerstates here have better Italian food than a lot of the fine 'Italian' joints in the states. They're learning to make sweet tea away from yalls ass having to fly across an ocean to see me play. I can't say enough good things about my new pal Max that put this whole thing together. He's showed me around, fed me, introduced me to amazing people and food in every city. I appreciate it sir.
  The show tonight is in this little village called Forli. One of the most simple and beautiful places I've ever been.
  All the Italian shows have been great. The album got good reviews here and it shows. I picked up cd's from the label to get me through the tour. They were gone in 2 shows. Good problem to have I guess.
  Anyways, I just wanted to keep you updated. Ill check back in from Spain later in the week.
  Looking forward to getting back home. Yall be well!
• 

  May 18, 10:16 AM

  Glasgow

  

  ....And NO not the one in Kentucky. Things are still going well over here. At my pad in Glasgow about to go wander about the city. The shows and cities keep getting better and better. I hope that's a trend that continues. I was really impressed with Belfast. Great city with wonderfully kind and warm people. Thanks in particular to the nice folks at the Premier Inn in Carrickfergus for making sure I was well taken care of. Did a nice interview with George, not the country singer, Jones. Sweet guy. Told me some stories and showed me photos of when he and Van Morrison were in a band together. Then visited with the kind folks over at the BBC. It's great to see how warm the folks are and how they want you to see how that city has really changed and embraced that change since all the 'troubles' from years past. The club that night was cool. It was sort of a strange gig being right in the middle of happy hour with people getting off work and drinking. But I think the impression was made to come back with the band and do it again next time. Thanks also to Karen and Chris for taking me out for quite the nice Italian meal afterwards. And for being the only two people there actually requesting MY songs. Unlike the douche that came up and wanted to know if his friend who is a "brilliant musician" could do a few songs on my guitar before I finished. NO! Tell Mr. Brilliant to book his own damn gig!
  Flew to Edinburgh the next day. Far and away my favorite city so far. Just stunning in its beauty. I felt like I could live there. I really love Scotland as a whole. The club was killer. The show was fun. I was thrilled with both the turnout and response. Saw my ol' friend Ric Brown from my Atlantic days. Threw him under the bus with a story or two. Good seeing him. Met a couple of cool Dan Baird/Scorchers fans who were very kind to miss their big loud sweaty rock show to come see my little coffee house set. I really appreciate it fellas! And no, I ain't holdin' Manchester against y'all. I keep missing Dan and his band by like a day everywhere over here which sucks because I'd love to see them this far from home. Oh well, maybe next week. Well I reckon I'm gonna go look for me a new kilt for the show tonight. Y'all be well and I'll update you again soon.
• 

  May 16, 07:30 AM

  From Another Country

  So things all in all have gone well thus far over here.

  Decent flight over from Nashville to Chicago, Chicago to London. Slept a bit and then hit the club. Neat little venue. I was told it was the first club Bob Dylan played in London but when I called to ask him he didn't answer. I was totally surprised by not only the turnout, but the reception. Great seeing my Ryko family and getting to eat at the mexican/thai/japanese/italian/greek buffet beforehand.

  Caught the train the next morning up to Manchester for the show at Night and Day Cafe. Upon exiting the train I walk into a literal ocean of blue clad football hooligans. Super drunken Scotsmen kilts and all. 100000 of them in town for the championship match. I've never in all my travels seen ANYTHING close to this. It made Talledega(which is like redneck mecca)look like dinner at the white house while the queen is visiting. I guess two of the jumbo-trons that were supposed to show the game broke and so all these thousands of people just lost their shit! It was full on riots with police and then each other. You tube the stuff from Picadilly Square and you'll see whatI mean. So all the clubs damn near shut down. They'd bar the door and only open if you were obviously there for the music. So needless to say the crowd was a little light(as I've always found them to be whilst in the middle of a riot). But the folks that braved it seemed to emjoy themselves. Luckily everyone I dealt with in Manchester that had anything to do with the show as truly a pleaure. They took great care of me and even let me crash on a sofa as it would save me getting through all the hooligans getting out of town. They also introduced me to Vimta?? Some super duper sugary concentrate drink that tastes a bit like a melted icee. It was gooood. Luckily we don't have it in the states or we'd be an even more fat ass country than we are.

  Got up early today and flew to Dublin. Really pretty city as well. Did what every first timer should do on their maiden trip to Ireland. Had the 6' turkey on wheat from Subway. Haha. Luckily I did have some deliciously European chips with my combo. Perhaps a more native dish tomorrow in Belfast.

  Played with the Waifs tonight. Man they are one wonderful band to see. I met them years ago when they were opening for Bob Dylan and they just blew me away. The gals vocals together worked so well, but each was really unique in and of itself. Plus I thought Josh's guitar playing was stunning. Tonight they also had a drummer and keyboard player and it just made the whole thing even more soulful and powerful. If you've not seen them make it a point to do it. Buy a ticket and if you don't enjoy it, hell I'll pay you back. We've definitely got to do some more shows together in the future.

  So that's about it. Roamed the streets back to my hostel/hotel where I'm currently listening to a large Slavic man snore so loudly I can hear him through the wall behind me. Guess I'll drown him out with a little tv and try and get some sleep.

  See y'all soon
• 

  Apr 30, 06:50 AM

  Texas

  

  Had a fun show last week in St. Louis on Friday at Washington University. Weather turned really shitty right after our show but luckily we'd just loaded up and got away just in time. We'd met some cool gals back 6 months or so ago from the womens basketball team there. We gave them a ride to their hotel after the show. Saw them again. Plus some of the guys team too who'd just won the DIII basketball championship. Congrats. Unfortunately we had to depart befor any hardwood action could take place. Maybe next time.

  Went in the studio Sunday and cut a new song, 'me without you'. It turned out great. You may start hearing at some shows. Definitely got us all fired up for getting busy on the new album.

  Played tonight at the House of Blues in Dallas. Always a pleasure playing their clubs. I was totally impressed with the John Butler Trio. Really good musicians. The songs were good. Very nice dudes. I'm anxious to see them again tomorrow night in Austin. We only got to play 30 minutes which was kind of a bummer, but the reaction from lots of new faces helped make up for it.

  So now we're back at the hotel post Whattaburger and I suppose I'll do a little writing and then turn on in.
  Y'all be well and we'll see you soon.