Live from the Boom Room is a live music video series featuring live performances recorded in the Blip Blap Video HQ bunker in St. Louis, Mo. Learn more about Blip Blap Video at blipblapvideo.com, or follow them on Instagram and YouTube.
This week’s episode features the Hooten Hallers performing their original, “Broke the Spell.”
About this week’s artist:
For the past sixteen years, the Hooten Hallers have been crisscrossing the country as inveterate road warriors, bringing their peculiar vision of Americana: a fiery, bluesy, rock and roll fever dream birthed in Missouri’s fertile musical heartland. They’ve put so many miles into the road that they’ve burned through multiple tour vans and left twisted metal and frayed rubber strewn across the road behind them. The Hooten Hallers are known for their incendiary live shows that must be experienced to be believed, taking the listener on a dynamic journey from explosively raucous blues to expressive three-part vocal harmonies to danceable grooves.
The enduring hope and tinges of madness from this power trio are driven by the infernal vocal growl and swirling electric and lap steel guitars of John Randall, the powerful drumming and falsetto howl of Andy Rehm, and the burning baritone and bass saxophone lines of Kellie Everett. The Hooten Hallers have always been musical colliders, smashing together blues, garage rock, country, punk, and a hint of jazz into a refreshingly unique sound. It’s Morphine meets ZZ Top mixed with a dash of George Thorogood and Tom Waits. But anyone who has seen this band live knows that this group is unlike anything they’ve experienced before. When the Hooten Hallers come to town, you know it’s gonna be a party!
What brought you to this point in your life as a working artist?
A series of irrevocable mistakes. [laughs] John and Andy started the band over 16 years ago and Kellie joined about 10 years ago, and all jokes aside we’re really proud of everything we’ve been able to accomplish together.
What does this song in particular mean to you?
“Broke the Spell” was written as an answer song to “I Put A Spell On You,” and it’s basically about not letting someone have power over you in a relationship.
Who in St. Louis are you inspired by right now?
All of the Big Muddy Records alumni that are still out there killing it, like Ryan Koenig, Mat Wilson, Joey Glynn, and all of their various projects. TJ Muller’s Arcadia Dance Orchestra is out there preserving and performing original St. Louis jazz from the 1920s and ’30s. We’ve been jamming Royce Martin’s new album “Memories on Morgan Street” in the van as well.
What bands are you touring with lately?
We’ve been out on the road with Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band quite a bit this year and we’ll be back out with the Dead South in early 2024!
Where do you hope to be in 5 years?
With any luck, we’ll still be making music and touring the world!
Links:
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music
This season of Live from the Boom Room has been partially funded by a generous grant from the Regional Arts Commission. Help keep Live from the Boom Room an absolutely free service for musical artists by supporting the project with your donation here: https://paypal.me/blipblap
