Will Hoge
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Will Hoge is an American musician from Nashville, Tennessee.
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[edit] Early life
Will grew up in Franklin, Tennessee, a rural suburb south of Nashville. His sound was heavily influenced by his musician father and uncles and the extensive record collection that his father kept.
Will went to college at Western Kentucky University looking to study history and with the plan to becoming a high school history teacher and basketball coach. He decided that he wanted to try his hand at rock and roll and began writing music. Will left the university after realizing he wanted to be a career musician.
[edit] Early Band
Will released an early EP of original music with his band Spoonful in the mid 1990’s; however, the band was not picked up and eventually broke up. Some of these early songs are still hits with his loyal followers.
[edit] Solo Artist
With former The Georgia Satellites guitarist Dan Baird in tow as a guitarist, Hoge began touring the American south. He independently released his first CD, Live At The Exit/In, a live set recorded at the Nashville club. His original sound drew much attention and, through constant touring, he was able to release his first studio album, Carousel.
Hoge caught the attention of Atlantic Records music executives and he was signed to a record deal in early 2002. Atlantic then re-released Carousel to a wider market. His 2003 major label debut, Blackbird On A Lonely Wire was a cleaner sounding effort and very radio friendly; however, was poorly promoted by Atlantic. Eventually, Hoge asked for and received a release from the contract, re-obtaining the rights to Carousel.
The grass roots effort and support of his loyal fans has given Hoge the ability to tour incessantly, and self release a couple live albums (2004's Almost Alone: Live At Smith's Olde Bar and 2005's During the Before and After), a politically charged album called The America EP (which included a cover of Bob Dylan's The Times They Are A-Changin'), as well as his bluesy rock & roll sounding record The Man Who Killed Love.
Over the years, Hoge has toured with many artists, including Marc Broussard, ZZ Top, The Cat Empire, Squeeze, Jason Isbell, and Edwin McCain. Bands that have opened for him include Steel Train, The Trews, The Elms, Rose Hill Drive, Moses Mayfield, The Alternate Routes, Aslyn, Missy Higgins and Southern Bitch.
Will performed the opening theme from the cancelled CBS sitcom Still Standing.
On February 20, 2007, Hoge released a live album, Again Somewhere Tomorrow, from recordings made during the band's two-night stint at the Exit/In in Nashville, on September 29 and 30, 2006.
The band's fourth studio album, Draw the Curtains, was released nationwide on October 9, 2007 by Rykodisc Records. The album was initially released as a Compact Disc, with a limited edition 180-Gram Vinyl Record version slated for release in early November.
Will announced in a May 11, 2008 blog that both Adam Fluhrer, guitarist, and Jefferson Crowe, keyboards, will no longer be part of the band. Crowe had been a member since 2003, while Fluhrer joined the band in 2006.
[edit] Discography
| Title | Album Information | Track List |
| Spoonful - Tales Begin To Spin |
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| Hear And Now |
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| All Night Long: Live At The Exit/In |
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| Carousel |
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| Aware Compilation, Vol. 8 |
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| Live In The X Lounge IV |
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| Almost Alone (Live At Smith's Olde Bar) |
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| Blackbird On A Lonely Wire |
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| The America EP |
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| During The Before And After |
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| Kid Pan Alley |
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| The Man Who Killed Love |
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| Live In Charleston |
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| Again Somewhere Tomorrow |
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| Draw The Curtains |
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[edit] Current Band Members
- Sigurdur Birkis - drums
- Adam Beard - bass
[edit] Former Band Members
- Dan Baird - guitar
- Greg Everett - guitar (Spring 2005 Selected Dates)
- John W. Lancaster - keyboards
- Kirk Yoquelet - drums
- Tres Sasser - bass
- Doy Gardner - drums
- Brian Layson - guitar
- Jason (Slim) Gambill - guitar (Winter 2005/2006 tour only)
- Dean Tomasek - bass
- Adam Fluhrer - guitar
- Jefferson Crow - keyboards
