I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: October 29, 2023] Hooveriii

When this show was announced, I was excited because I found out that it was a Hooveriii show.  I didn’t even realize who the headliners were.  I was a little torn because I thought a Mudhoney show might not be that much fun, but I ‘ve been wanting to see Hooveriii for quite some time and I wasn’t going to miss them again.   I was supposed to see them in February and I didn’t go.  Still regretting that decision.

I’ve really enjoyed Hooveriii psych-rock albums, although their latest veers much more synth heavy (just like spiritual brethren King Gizzard).

But live, they simply rocked the fuck out.

Bert Hoover on lead guitar and vocals was a maniac.  I was in front of Kaz Mirblouk on bass and drummer  Owen Barrett was also pretty close up front.  I’ve really be enjoying seeing drummers closer, and Barrett had a lot of styles in his arsenal.

I was also more aware of James Novak’s contributions on keyboard.  He played some solos and probably had more impact on the newer songs, but it fit in perfectly with the overall vibe. 

There’s was also someone on sax but either his amp was all the way on the other side or his mic was turned off because I literally never heard him.

They started off fast and furious with the older single “Guillotine.”  I didn’t realize that Bert had been releasing music as Hooveriii for almost ten years.  They’ve become more of a full band in the last few years.  So I’m not even sure what those earlier songs sounded like originally.

“The Runner” had a motorik King Gizzard feel and “Control” introduced the synth in a simple but noticeable way.

Then they played three songs off of the new album Pointe.  They’re not exactly slower, so much as they have a lot of room to breathe.  “The Tall Grass” is the first single–grooving and fun with lots of synth.

Things settled down the most for “This Rock,” the most mellow song they’re released.  But things didn’t stay mellow for long as they were quickly back to the rocking with “Reptile” another early song.

I probably know Water for the Frogs best of all of their albums, and they only played one song from it.  But that’s okay, because I enjoyed the whole set–their live sound was excellent and the whole band was clearly into it.  As was the audience.

The songs from A Round of Applause have a very warm and friendly sound–almost like a 60s folk vibe but with all kinds of rocking guitars on top.  “See” fits perfectly in this era.  And after three minutes when it switches gears to a different guitar riff and bass line, it is just incredibly catchy.

The Ship That I sail is a long song from the new album.  It’s almost ten minutes on the record.  They jammed it out although not for that long.  And they ended with an old one, “Destroya.”

I’m really looking forward to seeing them headline a show.  I feel like they have the KGLW vibe without the audience to keep you from the stage.

1. Guillotine §
2. The Runner ⊗
3. Control €
4. Can’t You Hear Me Calling? ⇑
5. The Tall Grass ⇑
6. This Rock ⇑
7. Reptile ≡
8. See ⊗
9. Out of My Time ⊗
10. Melody
11. The Ship That I Sail ⇑
12. Destroya ≡

⇑ Pointe (2023)
⊗ A Round of Applause (2022)
€ Water for the Frogs (2021)
≡ Hooveriii (2018)
§ 2018 single