MASCOT LABEL GROUP AND GARY HOEY ANNOUNCE MARCH 15, 2019
GLOBAL RELEASE OF NEON HIGHWAY BLUES ON PROVOGUE RECORDS
The ferocious guitarist fuses his blues and rock influences in eleven original songs
with special guest appearanes from Eric Gales, Lance Lopez, Josh Smith and Hoey’s son Ian
Hear “Under The Rug” Featuring Eric Gales Here
Mascot Label Group and Gary Hoey have announced a March 15 global release date for NEON HIGHWAY BLUES via Provogue Records. The album’s eleven tracks display Hoey’s confidence and assuredness alongside the freshness of someone who's still in the process of discovery and refinement. Hoey self-produced the album at his New Hampshire based home studio, while also enlisting friends Eric Gales, Lance Lopez. Josh Smith and his 17-year-old son Ian for guest appearances. He shares, “I really wanted to make sure this album had a lot of Blues on it. I kept sticking to the Blues and listening to the classic players, all the Kings, Albert King, Freddie King, BB King, and finish with some Burger King (laughing)…tried to get that to be a focus of this record -- and still put some songs for that my long-time, die-hard fans expect; instrumentals and some rockin' Zeppelin type stuff. There's definitely a variety here."
Hoey’s 21stalbum NEON HIGHWAY BLUES kicks off with "Under the Rug," a funky, Jeff Beck style workout with Eric Gales. Up next is the dynamic 6:29 slow blues "Mercy of Love," with Josh Smith, with biting guitar solos, Hoey gets his Texas swing on for "Still Believe in Love" and settles into some roadhouse shuffles on "Your Kind of Love," and "Damned If I Do," is a big, stomping Blues rocker with Lance Lopez trading licks. And those majestic instrumentals he mentioned? Check out "Almost Heaven," "Waiting on the Sun" and the cinematic title track, all showcases of virtuosity that complement the grittier fare around them.
A very personal highlight for Hoey is "Don't Come Crying," an aching blues track that features his son Ian Hoey, then only 16, planting his flag in the family business. "I'm so blown away my son is actually on the record," Hoey says. "He loves the blues. I said, 'If it turns out good enough, I'll have you on the record, and he did a great job. After it was mixed and I listened to it. I totally forgot where he was playing and where I was playing. It brought tears to my eyes."
NEON HIGHWAY BLUES "wasn't a quick record to make," nor was it easy, according to Hoey, and displays the care that came with the time spent on it. "I always say that's why they call it the blues, because it ain't easy," he notes. The album took about a year and a half, he estimates, much of it done during gaps in his heavy touring schedule. "I just kept going in and trying to come up with the right licks or the right lyrics, and some days it just wouldn't come," Hoey recalls. "It was really about staying in there and trying things, abandoning some ideas, going on to new ideas. There was a lot of that on this record. I'm kind of a stickler for making sure I'm happy with it -- even though I had people breathing down my neck to get it done."
NEON HIGHWAY BLUES will, of course, take Hoey back on the highways and byways for plenty of touring and playing, well, the blues -- and more. He can't yet predict where the next road will take him, but Hoey is confident it will be an adventure. "My son and I were talking about new music, some new technique I just found on guitar, and he said dad, 'You've been playing 44 years and still get excited.' I was like, 'Yeah, man, that's the amazing thing about music -- you never really get there. If you think you're there, that's when you’re in trouble because it’s all about the journey."
The complete track listing is “Under The Rug” (featuring Eric Gales), “Mercy Of Love” (featuring Josh Smith), “Your Kind Of Love,” “Don’t Come Crying” (featuring Ian Hoey), “Still Believe In Love,” “Almost Heaven,” “I Felt Alive,” “Waiting On The Sun,” “Damned If I Do” (featuring Lance Lopez), “Living The Highlife,” and “Neon Highway Blues.”
Hoey will appear on both the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise (February 3-10) and the Rock Legends Cruise VII (February 14-18), after which he’ll visit Nashville to participate in Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp (February 28 – March 3). Additional confirmed appearances include Bull Run in Shirley, MA (March 8) and Tupelo Music Hall in Derry, NH (May 3). A complete itinerary for Spring, Summer and Fall will be announced shortly.
GARY HO-HO HOEY'S ROCKIN HOLIDAY TOUR AND 6TH ANNUAL HO HO HOEY GUITAR GIVE-AWAY
Gary Hoey brings his Rockin Holiday Tour to town.
It's also that time again for Gary Hoey's 6th Annual Ho Ho Hoey Guitar Give-Away! One lucky winner will be picked on Christmas day to win a Squire Strat by Fender.
In 1995 the first Gary Ho Ho Hoey album was released. Hoey's idea to put a rock edge on Christmas classics was inspired by his mother's love for Christmas and growing up in Lowell MA with his 4 sisters. 'With the last name, Hoey, I decided one day to record an album called Ho Ho Hoey and re-do some of my favorite Christmas classics with a rock guitar." It was an instant hit at radio and sold over 350,000 copies and has been a staple at most rock stations around the country ever since. "I love doing the Ho Ho Hoey Rockin Holiday Tour every year because I get to give back and help folks with various charities and toy drives. It allows me to help communities and have some fun at the same time. And it's Hoey's loyal fan base and his connection with them that keeps him going. 'I come out after every show to meet the fans,' says Hoey. 'I enjoy the feedback and interaction.'
Gary will also be performing songs from his latest release, 'Deja Blues,' available now on Wazoo Music Group. 'This is an album of original blues songs I've wanted to record for a long time. The Blues has always been near and dear to my heart. I have so much respect for it. When I'm recording a blues song, it's a 5 minute journey and you can't take a breath, you can't keep punching in the recording button to fix stuff or it loses the vibe.'
At sixteen, Hoey often lingered outside Boston's renowned Berklee College of Music making friends and offering to pay for lessons. To devote more of his time to music, the prodigy would cut high school classes so that he could hone his guitar playing skills all the while playing Boston's local clubs and teaching guitar to avoid a day job and keep the guitar in his hand.
Hoey's first break came in 1987 when Ozzy Osbourne showed up in Boston looking for a guitarist. Osborne liked Hoey's tape enough to fly him to LA for an audition. The gig went to Zakk Wylde but Ozzy suggested Hoey move to LA seeing his talent. He took Ozzy's advice and with $17,000 he saved from teaching Hoey loaded the U-Haul and drove across country to LA. In 1992 Hoey released "Heavy Bones" on Waner Bros. a rock vocal album with Frankie Banali on drums from Quiet Riot. Heavy Bones got caught in the grunge backlash and the album went unnoticed with a million dollar debt after album cost, promotion and video the band got dropped. 1993 Hoey asked Warner Bros. if he could record a low budget album for fun of instrumental rock. He recorded the successful "Animal Instinct" album ($15,000 budget) which included a cover of the Focus hit, "Hocus Pocus". Not only did the hit rocket into the Billboard Top 5, outpacing all other singles as the most frequently played rock song of the year, but the album went on to reach classic rock notoriety. With a collection of 19 albums it's no wonder Gary Hoey is listed as one of the top 100 guitarists of all time.
1994 Hoey scored the successful 'Endless Summer II' soundtrack and had another radio hit with War's "Low Rider." Other film clients have included Walt Disney films, ESPN, New Line Cinema, scoring the music to "California Screaming" (Disney Roller Coaster), as well as songs placed in movies such as "Office
Space," "Deck the Halls' (Danny Devito), and Beethoven III.
Recently, Hoey produced and co-wrote The Queen Of Metal Lita Ford's latest release 'Living Like Runaway' for SPV records to rave reviews. 'It was a thrill to work with Lita' She is a true rocker and a pioneer for woman in rock. And lastly, she's a kick ass guitar player'. To this day the guitar aficionado continues to tour extensively, endorsing Fender guitars and Amp, Monster cable, GHS Strings, Rocktron to name a few. He has been involved with the Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp as music director to include his stint at 'Campalooza 2013 in NYC jammin' with legends like shred-maestro Yngwie Malmsteen, blues icon Johnny Winter, Robben Ford, the time-honored rocker Leslie West of Mountain and co-founding member of KISS Peter Criss. Hoey has toured and traded licks with the likes of Jeff Beck, Brian May of Queen, Joe Bonamassa, Ted Nugent, Joe Satriani, The Doobie Brothers, Foreigner, Styx, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Peter Frampton, and Dick Dale.
Hoey is raising awareness for our homeless vets with 2 clothing drives
12/13/14
Salisbury MA; Blue Ocean Music Hall
Ho Ho Hoey fans can help veterans at stay warm this year. Show your support and bring by your donated items to the venue. They will benefit the New England Center for Homeless Veterans. Our vets are in need of coats, gloves, scarves, hats, sweaters, long johns, socks, boots, blankets and more.
11/30/14 Sellersville PA; Sellersville Theater
12/05/14 Lincoln, RI; Twin River Casino
12/06/14 Detroit MI; City Theater (Clothing Drive for Vets)
12/07/14 Detroit MI; City Theater (Clothing Drive for Vets)
12/11/14 St. Charles IL; Arcada Theater
12/13/14 Salisbury MA; Blue Ocean Music Hall (Clothing Drive for Vets)
12/14/14 Norfolk CT; Infinity Hall
12/18/14 San Jose CA; RockBar
12/19/14 San Juan Capistrano CA; The Coach House
12/20/14 Ramona CA; Ramona MainStage
OTHER TOUR DATES
01/15/15 Mashantucket, CT; Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp - feat. Joe Perry
01/22/15 Anaheim, CA; The NAMM Show
03/20/15 Newton NJ; Newton Theatre
In episode 22 of One On One With Mitch Lafon. Mitch sits down with guitarist BUMBLEFOOT, the two discuss his current GUITAR GODS tour with Yngwie Malmsteen and Gary Hoey, the tour funding KICKSTARTER campaign, his future plans, playing with Duff McKagan in Guns N' Roses and much more.
This week's episode of One On One with Mitch Lafon was co-hosted by Talking Metal's Mark Strigl.
This Episode of One On One With Mitch Lafon is brought to you by the Heavy Montreal Festival taking place August 9th and 10th at Parc Jean Drapeau in beautiful downtown Montreal (Quebec) Canada and this year Features performances by Metallica, Slayer, The Offspring, Lamb of God, Anthrax, Twisted Sister, Exodus and many more!
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