From Portland Magazine, October, 2009:

Wait a second. The driving force behind your rock band is an oboe? Portland-based Hoboe insists they're a new 21st century paradigm. With their debut single, "I'm Your Man" out now and a full-length CD to follow later this year, they don't just dare to be different, they rock it out.

When band members Zen Ben and Tom Metz sit down to chat, the discussion is apt to unravel immediately, digressing from Duran Duran, Spinal Tap, non sequiturs lost and found, and the flashy charisma of "Zennifer," their crossdressing sometime-bandmate.

Congrats on your new single! I was going to compliment you guys on the guitar shredding until I realized it was an oboe that was tearing it up. That's wild.

ZEN BEN: Thanks, although there's definitely guitar shredding it up, too. You'd better not mess with Tom!

TOM: I think all players in our band, including drummer/trumpeter Jon Bangs and our new bassist Ben Holt, are quite talented. Don't discount us as a gimmick. If Ben played what he played on oboe on guitar, it would be just as good. Once you get past the initial jarring image of an oboe in a rock band, you realize there's some really cool music here besides the oboe.

Tell us about the genesis of this rock-oboe sound...

ZEN BEN: When I was around 12 or 13, my friend had a garage rock band that played in his basement. I liked rock, but I played oboe--it was just the instrument that I played. So I brought it down one day, plugged it in, and covered the woman's moans on "Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran. The rest is history. I've been addicted to amplified oboe ever since.

Often, wind instruments are used as window-dressing for rock music, afterthoughts. How does it feel to have turned the tables and have your instrument center stage?

ZEN BEN: It feels pretty natural, because I'm just being myself. It was never like "I want to try and be different, so I'm gonna learn oboe and play rock."

Have you ever played oboe in more conventional settings?

ZEN BEN: I've played with symphonies, concert bands, and jazz ensembles, but truthfully nothing tickles my fancy more than playing in the rock band--it's just so much fun.

TOM: I always thought I was playing in an experimental jazz band. Weird.

ZEN BEN: Well, we did play a jazz cafe in Philly. That was an experiment!

This whole thing with the rotating drummers seems very Spinal Tap. Did any of them explode "in a flash of green light"? Does your current drummer have any concerns about this phenomenon?

ZEN BEN: Yeah, Hoboe has had a constantly rotating lineup for years, but Jon Bangs is the first drummer to join us as a permanent member. Thankfully, we haven't scared him off yet. He's been with us for almost a year. Like his name, he's explosive.

How are crowds reacting to you?

ZEN BEN: (Hoboe is) a breath of fresh air, unlike anything they've ever seen. People seem very open to us even though we're not your "traditional" rock lineup.

You were just touring in Jersey. Any chance you made a pilgrimage to Hoboe-ken?

ZEN BEN: No. Not yet. We'll put it on our list. We want to go back to Jersey, anyway.

Everyone talks about your live show, and how it's not to be missed. What could we expect from a typical Hoboe live experience?

ZEN BEN: Expect?

TOM: I came into this band without ever having heard Ben play. It's always been highly improvisational. It's still a very jazz-based experience for me because I know Ben isn't going to play his songs the same way twice.

Which brings us to "Zennifer," your guest oboist.

ZEN BEN: Zennifer shows up to play some oboe once in a while. Her influences are musicians like David Bowie, Alice Cooper, New York Dolls, Marilyn Manson, The Cure--you know, guys who dress like girls. She's a good oboist, but she picks and chooses her shows.

TOM: I thought you broke up with Zennifer.

ZEN BEN: Yeah, I don't know what's up with her. She comes and goes, like hoboes.

Article by Todd M. Richard

Okay we know, we know... what the blog subscribers are going to say---"Hoboe is a slacker," "We thought you were dead.... on the side of the railroad tracks," or "Amateur!".  Sure, so it's been forever since Hoboe touched base with its fans in the intimate manner of "blogging" our affairs.  Okay, Hoboe IS a slacker, but not without cause.  As do-it-yourselfers, we HAVE been putting the wheels in motion, so to speak, to advance our unique sounds in the world to an even greater audience!

Okay... yeah, yeah, yeah....

"so what have you done there, Mr. Hoboe?".... "since your... er... last blog... seven months ago?"

Okay, this could take forever, but instead... here's the summary (from February to current--Hoboe has been working on recording, mixing and mastering its debut CD--soon to be released!):

February:  After Portsmouth, Hoboe plays a last-minute fill-in slot at Geno's.

March:  Hoboe plays three shows in New Jersey: Mexicali Live in Teaneck, Brighton Bar in Long Branch, and Barrington Coffee House in Barrington; Bob's basses get stolen in downtown Portland, Maine, and are later recovered; Hoboe plays Big Easy.

April: Hoboe plays another fill-in slot at Geno's, and a memorial benefit at Spring Point Tavern in loving memory of friend Erik Doughty.

May:  Hoboe plays Genos for a benefit for Prime Artists Rehearsal Studio, where Hoboe rehearses.  Hoboe plays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Chris's Jazz Cafe.  Hoboe plays Genos again.

June:  Hoboe plays Providence, Rhode Island at AS220.

July:  Bob resigns from Hoboe to pursue other interests.  Hoboe picks up Ben Holt on bass.

August:  Holt plays first gig with Hoboe at Flask.  Bob plays last farewell show with Hoboe at Genos.  Hoboe releases its first single--"I'm Your Man / Charlie" on MySpace!

September:  Hoboe rehearsed a lot, and got preparations in order for the production of its first single CD copies.

October:  Hoboe kicked off Harvest Fest at Freedom Field in Harmony, Maine; Hoboe played a party at it's producer, Sean Slaughter's place.  Hoboe played Slainte Wine Bar.

Okay, all current.  For more specific details, leave us a comment.

Was this useful?  We hope so...

October:

Posted by Hoboe bassist Bob Bergeron, (please copy and share/post):
 
   some scumbag stole my '77 Ric and my Blonde J bass from my car last night (SAT). The Ric (Black w/ White pick guard) has a bartolini pickup in the neck position, and the J Bass has a distinctive burn mark in the bottom cutaway. Please be on the look-out for these guitars. The Ric is very valuable, but it was also a father's day gift from my family. If you have any information about this, please contact me here....

Posted by Zen Ben:

Hoboe had a great Portland - Portsmouth run this past weekend.

First on Friday, we played Slainte, a small wine bar and lounge on Preble Street in Portland, Maine (our hometown).  We played there a year ago among some difficulty because our brand of rock tends to be on the loud side for these small places.  At the time, a year ago, we maybe had a dozen people in the audience through the course of the entire night and the Celtics were playing a playoff game, so must of them were more interested in that than the music.  We felt some trepidation going back for a gig there a year later, especially after having frolicked around in most of Portland's major rock clubs and perfecting an even grander, louder brand of our sound.

Needless to say, we took the gig as a challenge to listen to ourselves.  We do like to play loud, but we conquered the room the best we could and didn't blow the roof off or scare the audience away.  We probably had three or four times the audience we did last year, including friends from out of town.  We gave a performance that Slainte said was refreshing to see, and although we might have toned down a little, we still treated the performance as if it was a big stage.  We do like to put on a show!

We walked away feeling like we had made up for our performance the year before, satisfied and victorious!  Thanks to our fans Tyler, Bob, Colleen, Heather, Chuck, Gina, Sean, Shannon, Missy, Jessica, Holly, anybody else I'm forgetting, and to Ian for booking us.

The following night, Saturday, we went to the Blue Mermaid for a Valentine's Day performance.  Blue Mermaid is similiar to Slainte in that it is a small and intimate bar.  The first thing I have to say about our experience debuting in Portsmouth, is that the hospitality in that town is incredible and the people amazingly friendly!

First off, Bob and I went down there early to distribute hand leaflets about our show, to generate interest.  We met Chris, from the New Hampshire band Soak and chatted with him for awhile about the Portsmouth music scene, and he later came out to check us out (thanks Chris!).

After we leafletted for a good while, we went to the Blue Mermaid to cash in on our free meal.  Can you say "delicious"?  I ordered the graized spare ribs and Bob ordered the medallion steak, and we of course traded bites.  It was among the most delicious food I've ever eaten.  Portsmouthers--go eat there, please.

While we were eating our dinner, of course wearing our usual performance attire, standing out like a sore thumb as "the band", we had the flattering experience of person after person coming up to us, tapping on our shoulders saying "excuse me, are you in the band?" "Why yes," we replied, "we're from Portland, Maine."

The Blue Mermaid had done some publicity about us (quite the treat for us as most Portland venues don't do much promotion and rely entirely on the band to do it!), and people were intrigued by the oboe in a rock band and came out specifically to see us.  Among them--two women celebrating their 50th birthdays, each with their own entourages of a dozen or so folks (one whose nine-year old daughter plays oboe:  I told her to keep encouraging her because eventually I'll need a successor), and a couple celebrating their 14th anniversary (on the 14th!).  The most special treat of all?  My friends Trish and Nick drove all the way up from Rhode Island to see us!  How flattering, indeed!

We had just a wonderful time there, and I can't wait to return to Portsmouth!  The scene, the attitude, the vibe.... it is all so refreshing and hopeful--a wonderful escape from the sometimes clicky snobbery that comes along with the Portland music scene (oboe in a rock band?  hmmppph!).

We are excited to get out of Maine and go play New Jersey in a few weeks, and Philadelphia in May.  We couldn't have asked for a better gateway experience fo us from Portland to the rest of the world, than Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  Stay tuned, because we WILL be back there!

--Zen Ben

Posted by Zen Ben:

We have got to say that Bubbas was one of the most successful and enjoyable gigs we ever played in Portland.  Hoboe has been sledging along for a year now playing every joint possible in this town, and for the first time, we felt like we were part of a buzz, something that people were coming out of the woodwork to see.

When we first all rolled up around 10:30, after having rendezvouzed at Bob's to get our attire and makeup on, what a heartwarming sight to behold a packed parking lot with cars lined up along all the entrances and surrounding streets, a line out the door, and people welcoming us saying they were excited to see us.

Sarah's family even drove down all the way from Bangor to see us!  WOW!  Thank you so much everybody for making Hoboe's headlining performance at Bubba's such a special and unique experience for us all!

It finally feels like we're making some ground here in our beloved town of Portland, Maine!

--Zen Ben

Hosted By: Hoboe
When: Saturday Jan 17, 2009
at 9:00 PM
Where Bubbas Sulky Lounge
92 Portland Street
Portland, ME 04101
United States
Description:
Hoboe

Click Here To View Event

Posted by Zen Ben:

This show is the one that put Hoboe over the top with its theatrical stage performance!  And what a fun time it was!

It was the "Scorpio Shakedown", put on by Nancy Chalmers of Bottom of the East booking (Happy Birthday Nancy!).  We decided to buy a self-inflating scorpion which I then proceeded to do lewd and lascivious things to with my oboe! 

And we also invited Portland's Greatest Hip Monster Hula Girls to add some flare to our show!

Somebody, we don't know who, actually recorded it on their camera and put it on YouTube.  Check it out!

Yes he does.... he bangs the drums. Jon Bangs bangs drums.

We are proud to introduce to you, after all these years of rotating the drummer seat among the various Portland skin-bangers, Mr. Jon Bangs, the newest member of Hoboe and the first to take on the slot of drummer in a permanent and long-term manner (at least we hope!).

Jon played his first show with Hoboe at Sean's Attic Shack Attack party last week, contributing to what could be one of Hoboe's best rockin' performances yet, and certainly one of the most spirited.

We are SO happy to complete our band lineup with this talented and creative individual, to have regular rehearsals with the same four individuals. Please welcome this cat and let him know you're glad he's adding his flavor to our project!

On a personal note, I'd like to throw a bone of acknowledgment out there to Bob Bergeron on bass and Tom Metz on guitar, who have helped build Hoboe's sound and performance to a caliber of uniqueness that I have not seen in the number of years that I have been booking and playing Hoboe shows with various temp musicians.

These cats are helping to make Hoboe an experience that you will not want to miss!

--Zen Ben

Posted by oboist Zen Ben:

The other day, I found a sign like a hitchiker's discarded destination advertisement, outside my apartment door inscribed with the following note in dull black pen ink upon the back of a waxy card stock of a disassembled box for a Brookstone Micro CD System:

I THiNK
YouR PlAN
MAY HAVE
BACK-fiRED
...
SO NOW
INStEAD:
A.) TEN timES A DAY I
HAVE to ExplAiN
How mucH YouR
BAND SUCKS

DoNt BothER
with MySPACE
KiDS

Interestingly, I'm not sure that Hoboe has articulated any plan to which an outsider could assess its forward progress or backward firing, but my guess is that our band-appointed roadie may have been upset that we didn't get him a ride to Hempstock. Sorry about that, Devlin.

Hempstock was a lovely morning set to a setting full moon in front of us and a rising sun behind us. Josh had met a melodica player whom we invited on stage with us. We performed from 4-5 a.m. (originally scheduled at midnight:15) because a lightning bolt striking the stage the day before had set the whole festival behind by several hours. It is really interesting performing while hallucinating from fatigue and lack of sleep (I had not slept much that week), with the swirly colors and lights of the night changing to day mixing with the flashy showy stage lights (Hempstock puts on a good stage light show).

We played Forfeit, I Need a New Song, I'm Your Man, Maineac and Althea Adelina Greene.

My oboe's octave keys were broken. The thick fog and the cold air made playing my double-reeded bitch a challenge. We got it all on video thanks to Bob's nephew/godson and friend. Tom drove me home and we didn't get lost (we made up a joke after Bob, Lex, Scott and I got lost coming back from our last booked hemp festival gig a month ago: What is the most challenging thing about going to a hemp festival? Finding your way home).

We perform Saturday at the Bridge Street Tavern, our third appearance there, a place we seem to always perform well and get received well at. After that, with no gigs scheduled until late September, Hoboe intends to record its first CD, possibly as early as next week.

Hopefully the plan to get CD's into the stores, on the radio and at our gigs will not backfire and cause more people to think we suck. Stay tuned for more Hoboe Adventures!

Including... video from our legendary Clam-a-palooza II performance a month ago, soon to appear on YouTube.

posted by Hoboe bassist Bob Bergeron:

This weekend marked an important anniversary for me. A year ago a band I was in played at Geno's. Big deal, right? Well for me, it was the culmination of many years of hard work...getting my life back together, getting my chops up and in the meanwhile playing every shitty spot/open mic night I could. The reason the Geno's gig was special was that I haven't stopped working the bass onstage since. It's been a whirlwind experience, with gigs all over Maine and even one in Boston! And it's important for me to say that while I do play in three bands, and have done some pick-up work even outside those, the majority of my gigs have been with Hoboe.

Here's what you need to know about Hoboe. It's a rock band with an oboe. That never practices. And never has the same line-up. And has a leader with a penchant for drag.

whew.

Admittedly, when I first joined I was hired gun. I was pretty sure the rock band with an oboe idea was the stupidest thing that I ever heard (and if you play music long enough you hear a lot of stupid ideas!) but Ben was the first person I'd ever met in Portland (Rodney Nason was the 2nd....big shout out!) and I figured I needed to make some friends etc. etc. and why not it's a gig and he was paying me so.....

Well, our first gig at the Spring Point Tavern with Sam Applegate and Chris Martin on guitar and drums respectively, was horrible. We stank up the place. I went home and said, "Honey, I'll play with them as long as they pay me but......"

Strangely, Spring Point booked us again, (which was an even worse gig-thanks Drunken Joe....you are forever immortalized in Hoboe lore - geez for such a rippin' guitar player funny you never got the call again, eh?!) and we haven't stopped playing since.

Ben can book a nun into a satanist's convention.

It's been a struggle. We had trouble getting people to take us seriously, inconsistant performances due to apathetic fill-in musicians, and bookings that weren't quite the right fit.

Despite all this, things, as they often do when they're left to their own course, change and develop of their own accord. We did a couple with Phatty Pat Sietz and realized Hoboe could rock instead of being some half-baked hippy band. Titanic Tom Metz came on board and has been a regular guitar wizard for us since. And thank God, because this has lead to a co-hesiveness that allows us to plug musicians in when regulars like Tom can't make it.

Hoboe is a great spot for me. Not only do I have the on-stage musical director job, (I love when every too-cool-for-school guitar player passes me that 'what the fuck is going on' during the first number. It happens every time....my look always sez, 'play for that money, boy!' ) but Ben et al let the bass be what I want it to be....which is bold and in your face. I have the band's complete permision to fall on my face.

Okay, so this weekend we did 3 gigs in less than 24 hours, traveling about 500 miles in the process, carted a paper mache-chicken wire clam to Geno's complete with dancing beauty inside (thanks Lex), smoked the joint here and represented strongly up North and got paid for it all too.

Geno's this weekend, like Bridge Street Tavern in Augusta and Obrien's in Allston was one of those nights where you just feel like you have something to prove. People sometimes ask, "what do you think about before yo go on?" Well, I think about George what's his face form Cool Hand Luke yelling at Paul Newman to "Get mad at them eggs!"

Saturday was the day that Hoboe, for me, became a real band. And a good one, judging by the reaction of the folks at Geno's. We're doing something nobody has ever seen before.

Granted, it's often by accident, and my effusiveness about it is not a result of some boastful musical arrogance but more a statement about the rewards of persistance. Ben didn't listen when the little old Grandma drunk at Spring Point hollered in her froggy Lucky Strike-clogged voice "You guys fucking suck!" all night.

It was a great weekend. I'm having fun, and I'm very proud of Hoboe right now.

Seeing Hoboe has gigs on these dates, bandleader and Gemini Zen Ben’s horoscopes for those days is promising (from myspace.com/clubmojan -- t he BEST!):

March ends like a little lamb. One outstanding day will be March 27, when Mercury, your ruling planet, will walk arm-in-arm with generous Jupiter and surprise-a-minute Uranus in your house of fame and honors. March 27 will be a terrific day - put a star on your calendar!

The next day, Friday, March 28, will be equally dazzling. Jupiter will make a monumental beam to Uranus, bringing you excellent financial news. On the same day, Venus and Uranus will conjoin, so you can expect career surprises will be in store - all of them quite delicious. You’re on a roll, and honestly, nothing can stop you now.