Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
February 15, 2007 issue
Noise Rockers, Americana Roots Band Play Black Cat February 18 to 19
Story by David Brewer
More so than any other local venue, Black Cat Burrito cuts a wide swath of diversity in terms of live music offerings. No two bands can better illustrate the stylistic differences available at the venue than Harrisonburg, Va.’s Buck Gooter and Philadelphia, Pa.’s Hoots & Hellmouth.
Buck Gooter
Returning to Black Cat on Sunday, February 18, Buck Gooter is a noise rock duo that performs an erratic mixture of punk and hardcore with heavy doses of experimental noise thrown in for good measure.
Comprised of friends Terry Turtle on guitar and vocals and multi-instrumentalist Billy Brett, Buck Gooter’s avant-garde rock features the eerie sounds of a Theremin with drum machine beats and distorted guitar for a sound that combines punk energy and psychedelic freak outs.
“We have a lot of fun with our music,” said Brett. “We just work well together. It’s kind of weird.”
During the last two years, Buck Gooter has recorded three CDs with their next effort, Woman President, slated to be released this week. While the band spends lots of time recording and experimenting, Brett says that he and Turtle enjoy playing live the most.
“It’s really awful to not play shows,” said Brett. “There’s something so life-giving about that.”
According to Turtle, playing with Brat has been a wonderful experience and has helped him not only creatively, but also personally.
“Billy’s straight-edge and I respect that so much,” said Turtle. “I’ve never played with any friends that had anything to do with reality.”
Unfortunately, the prolific pair has found considerably more support on the road than in their hometown of Harrisonburg.
“We’re so obscure that we can’t even play shows in our hometown,” said Brett.
Regardless of their lack of support in Harrisonburg, the band has made several fans in Boone and is looking forward to returning to town this weekend.
To preview the band’s music, click to www.buckgooter.tk.
Hoots & Hellmouth
Like many other bands that perform stripped-down, acoustic-based music, the members of Hoots & Hellmouth spent years rocking out before deciding to scale it back. What emerged from the collaboration of Sean Hoots and Andrew Gray (Hellmouth) is a black gospel-tinged Americana with one foot in the blues and another in feel-good folk pop.
When asked for a musical description, Gray likened Hoots & Hellmouth’s sound to “black lung coated with honey.”
“I think our individual goals really met when we decided to play the music that was true to our heart,” said Gray.
The original music of Hoots & Hellmouth jumps out of the speakers with instantly likeable melodies and ambitious vocal arrangements with harmonies straight out of a Sunday morning worship service. According to Gray, the band incorporates elements of mountain, soul and country music, as well as rock and alternative, giving the nod to artists such as Hank Williams, the Red House Painters and Jeff Buckley.
“Those artists inspire us and inspire us to be ourselves,” said Gray.
Meeting at Westchester University, the members of Hoots & Hellmouth have been together for almost two years and are on the verge of releasing their second CD on Mad Dragon records, a label operated by Drexler University. Though this will be the band’s first trip to Boone, Hoots & Hellmouth has gained a loyal following in their home base of Philadelphia and has begun to grow in New York City.
“Pretty much our goals are to keep playing and do what we do,” said Gray. “Having your art connect with people right in front of you is a wonderful feeling.”
Hoots and Hellmouth will play at Black Cat Burrito on Monday, February 19. Opening the show will be local band The Naked Gods. To preview music by Hoots & Hellmouth, click to www.myspace.com/hootshellmouth.
Want To Go?
What: Buck Gooter
Date: Sunday, February 18
Time: 10:30 p.m.
Location: Black Cat Burrito Shows
Cost: $4
Want To Go?
What: Hoots & Hellmouth
Date: Monday, February 19
Time: 10:30 p.m.
Location: Black Cat Burrito
Cost: $4