Biography
ABOUT HOTCHA!...
Born in the swamp. Raised on the mountain. Worked in the mines. Play on the porch. Well, that's only true metaphorically. We don't actually have a porch. HOTCHA! (Beverly Kreller and Howard Druckman) nonetheless feel as though their music fits the description: Rustic, rural songs of work and faith, delivered with a vintage vibe and the energy of a runaway train. HOTCHA! creates a distinctive musical blend of old-time western, bluegrass, early swing and country gospel. If you could take a picture of HOTCHA!'s music, it would be a grainy, sepia-toned portrait of depression-era musicians with nothing but an old Sears-Roebuck guitar and a nickel in hand for the jitney dance. If you listen to HOTCHA!'s music, you'll hear a unique combination of accordion and bodhran (Celtic drum) alongside gritty guitar, wailing harmonica and soaring vocal harmonies.
WHAT THE PRESS HAS TO SAY...
"This debut is sure to bring a smile to your face and a rumble and shake to your legs that'll make you want to dance around the parlour with a properly chilled mint julep."
~ Chris Burland (ChartAttack.com)
"...genuine enthusiasm and infectious energy. They’re having fun — just listen to Kreller’s clucking on 'Ol Man Mose,' or the free-spirited kazoo solo that follows, and try not to smile …! Or take 'Foie Gras (Dance Of The Fatted Ducks),' a romping ditty that sounds as though it’s been plucked straight from the farm... if time’s all you’ve got to spend, listening to HOTCHA! is a fine way to spend it …!
~ John Taylor (thelivemusicreport.com)
"...the mix, for those who feel like venturing down the rails with HOTCHA!, is wonderful. Kreller's voice together with Druckman's rough and tumble harmonies mingle perfectly with their well-honed musicianship."
~Ted Francis (sceneandheard.ca)
"Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist BEVERLY KRELLER has a strong and versatile voice, while partner HOWARD DRUCKMAN added spirited vocal and guitar support. HOTCHA!’s repertoire comprises HOTCHA-fied (i.e. speeded up) versions of classic tunes from the likes of IRVING BERLIN and LOUIS ARMSTRONG alongside such impressive originals as 'Mines Went Down' and 'Harlan’s Porch.'"
~ Kerry Doole (Tandem "On the Beat")
"HOTCHA! does a really fine job of evoking the music of the Great Depression by combining period pieces like Louis Armstrong’s “Ol’ Man Mose” with very cool in-the-tradition originals like 'Mines Went Down,' a lament for the devastation wrecked on miners’ lives when the mines close down that’s very effectively set to a Gene Krupa-like drum pattern. HOTCHA!’s original songs are very well crafted. You can almost feel the dry, dusty heat in 'Hey Little Waterboy,' the slow, small town pace-of-life in 'Harlan’s Porch,' and the desperation that leads to evil deeds in 'Sweet Miss Sally.'"
~ Mike Regenstreif (Folk Roots/Folk Branches)
"HOTCHA! bring something new to the table -- namely, original songs that actually stand up to the likes of Irving Berlin and Louis Armstrong, both of whom they cover here...[they] jump between hot jazz and bluegrass... they sound vivid and fresh..."
~ Michael Barclay (Guelph Mercury)
"Sounds great!"
~ Tom Power (Host of CBC Radio "Deep Roots")
Instrumentation
Beverly Kreller- vocals, accordion, bodhran, kazoo, mouth trumpet, guitar
Howard Druckman- vocals, guitar, slide, harmonica
Discography
HOTCHA! HAS A NEW DEBUT CD!!
"DUST BOWL ROOTS: Songs for the New Depression"
Released TUESDAY, MAY 12 , 2009 at Hugh's Room in Toronto!
Produced by: Don Kerr & HOTCHA!
Recorded and mixed at Rooster Studios
Other Musicians on the album include:
Don Kerr (drums, percussion) Rachel Melas (downright upright bass) Chris Quinn (banjo) Andrew Collins (mandolin), Heinz Von Schpittmachen (tuba)
CHARTS:
Debuted at #1 on the CFBU Top 30 charts (St. Catharines)
Debuted at #10 on the CIUT Top 30 charts (Toronto)
RADIO AIRPLAY:
Toronto: CBC Radio, Radio-Canada, JAZZ FM 91.1, CFRB, CIUT,
Ontario: CFMU Hamilton, C101.5 FM Hamilton, CFBU St. Catharines, CKWR-FM Kitchener, CKPC 92.1 Brantford, CFRU Guelph, 100.3 Sound FM Waterloo, CHRW FM London, CHUO-FM Ottawa, CJAM 91.5 Windsor
Quebec: CFLX 95.5 Sherbrooke, CKUT Montreal, CISM 89.3 FM Montreal
Saskatchwan: CJTR Regina
Alberta: CKXU-FM 88.3 Lethbridge
BC: CFBX the X 92.5 FM Kamloops, AM 1470, CJVB Vancouver, CFUV 101.9FM Victoria
STREAMING AIRPLAY:
* ThatChannel.com "Liquid Lunch"
* Erin Radio “Acoustic Planet”
* INDIECAN Radio (Episode 132) and airs on XM Satellite Radio, Channel 87 THE VERGE, FM affiliates across Canada, XStream Radio, ErrorFM.com, and is podcasted to 120 Canadian indie fan countries at: http://www.indiecan.com/radio.htm
* BRAVO! NEWS: http://watch.bravo.ca/bravonews/#clip175234
YOUTUBE:
CD release concert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcKz5A43N-Q&feature=related
www.youtube.com/HOTCHA7
Links
| http://www.myspace.com/hotcha7 |