ABOUT HOE

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Modern Old Time String Band Music

HOE began as the first solo recording by the veteran side-man/session player DICK NEAL. He is also the producer of acclaimed cd's by such artists as LARRY DEMING (Journey to the East), JUDD FULLER (Grocery Store Roses), CHRIS BERARDO (Ignoring All the Warning Signs, Pure Faith, American Dust), THE MOCKING BIRDS (Still Here), and MARC DOUGLAS BERARDO (As You Make Your Way, Harbor).

Soon after the sessions the musicians on the project (LIAM BAILEY, STEVE COMBS, CHRIS TESKEY) decided to begin playing live as the band called HOE. When Liam and Steve relocated to points west in '05 new members BOB CSUGIE (Upright Bass, voice), STEPHEN K. MILLER (mandolin), and DAN TRESSLER (voice, fiddle) joined. With the recent addition of super-picker guitarist DAN CARLUCCI, HOE continues to work as a 6-member band. A live performance consists of selections from the cd plus a variety of material sung by Chris, Dan, and Dick. Among the highlights of the show are Dan's firey fiddle tune instrumentals and tight 3-part vocal harmony.

In addition to playing a variety of corporate events, weddings and parties, HOE regularly appears as featured artists at the NORWALK OYSTER FESTIVAL, the SONO ARTS FESTIVAL, the prestigious COOPERSTOWN and LYRICS COFFEEHOUSE CONCERT SERIES, the MERIDEN DAFFODIL FESTIVAL, the NORWALK HARBOR SPLASH FESTIVAL, WESTPORT FIRST NIGHT CELEBRATION, the GATHERING OF THE VIBES FESTIVAL, and for the last 4 years has hosted the wildly popular monthly Bluegrass & Beer jam at the ACOUSTIC CAFE in Bridgeport, CT. HOE has also opened for the likes of RALPH STANLEY, the MAMMALS, STACEY EARLE, and many others.

Dick wrote or co-wrote the tunes on the HOE cd, produced the sessions, and played banjo, mandolin, and dobro. He also makes his debut as a lead vocalist.

The recording project was an outgrowth of jams involving members of STUMP JUMPERS, who played bluegrass and acoustic music in the Connecticut (Fairfield County/New Haven County) & New York City region. The HOE CD documents performances recorded live--vocals and solos--in the studio. The band members sat in a circle face-to-face in the same room--no isolation or headphones--and played the songs. Studio "tricks" were kept to a minimum on this production, the intention being to capture the feel of an after hours picking session at a hotel or living room.

Sessions were recorded by PETE SZYMANSKI using the mobile facility of SMAN RECORDING. Pete also co-produced and supplied upright bass on the tunes "When These Hard Times Are Over", "The Taste of Love", and "In This World".

LIAM BAILEY played fiddle, resonator guitar, and mandolin. Liam is an in-demand side man, session player and recording artist who has released 2 CD's, "Liam Bailey" and "Flesh and Armor". He currently tours with hit country singer Rodney Atkins.

STEVE COMBS handled the majority of upright bass duties on HOE. He has been a fixture with STUMP JUMPERS, blues act RYAN HART & the BLUE HEARTS and singer-songwriter ANNE MARIE MENTA, to name a notable few.

CHRIS "SMOKIN' OPEY" D'AMATO added National Resophonic slide to "When These Hard Times Are Over" and guitar to the tracks "The Taste of Love" and "In This World". Opey is a renowned blues artist who appears throughout New England fronting his own band. He is also a guitar slinger for several other artists.

CHRIS TESKEY picked Martin flat top guitar on most tracks of HOE. Chris hosts the popular and long-running Wednesday night bluegrass show on WPKN radio, 89.5 on the FM dial.