Meet The Hoots: The “Y’allternative” Solution

By: Sheryl Bryant

Crowds flocked to the Got To Be NC Festival at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Saturday, May 22nd despite the scorching heat that reached temps of 96 and a heat index of 100 plus degrees! Not to be outdone by the grueling heat, The Hoots played a sizzling premiere set for the bustling crowd gathered around the Festival Music Stage at Dorton Arena.

Raleigh based band The Hoots formed only three months ago in February, 2022. The band boasts five “journeyman”, dedicated musicians with many years of experience in multiple genres. Their Sun is in the alt-country House, their Moon resides in indie-folk with their rock rising.

The Hoots are:

Steve Msarsa

Bass, acoustic guitar, vocals

Earl Schreyer:
Slide, lead and rhythm guitar, vocals

Will Marin:
Keyboards, rhythm guitar, bass, vocals

Howard Longino

Lead and rhythm guitar, vocals

Roland Stader

Drums and percussion

The show began boldly with Steve Msarsa taking the helm on vocals on a breakout tune entitled “Til the End of Time”. The energy level was high; a plus for us on the receiving end.

Earl Schreyer followed suit on lead vocals on the second of the band’s compilations with a deeply introspective tune aptly called “Soul Searching.” Schreyer was exceptional with the slide guitar on this jewel.

Coveringalt-indieLAband Dawes’’hitfromtheirselftitledfourthalbum “All Your Favorite Bands”, Will Marin’s vocals were sensational as the band expounded on the power of this song’s message of the undying passion for and special connection to the music we love.

Onlookers and listeners alike had a lot of fun with the country rock romp of The Hoots’ original “Late to the Party.” The song, one of the best in their repertoire, offered up a cool, SoCal vibe, one delightfully reminiscent of a John Fogerty/CCR rocker.

I’ll wager that serious music fans appreciate a band putting its own customized twists on a cover rather than an attempted replication or imitation of the song. If this concept appeals to you, you will love the way The Hoots splash their own distinctive colors on the canvas.

Vocals were exceptionally emo on The Hoots rendition of Dr. Hook’s “Sylvia’s Mother”. This was clearly one of the crowd’s favorite sing-alongs, as Msarsa didn’t just ask Sylvia’s Mom, he pleaded with anguish.

Later in the show, the same could be said about The Hoots’ version of the stirring “Cry Lonely” by the Americana Red Dirt band Cross Canadian Ragweed.

Additional crowd favorites came with sing-alongs like the band’s cover of America’s “Sister Golden Hair” and later in the set list with the
Neil Young-penned classic anthem “Ohio.” Another highlight of the show was Earl Schreyer’s ardent delivery of Chris Robinson’s lyrically loaded “Sunday Sound.”

Standout covers included The Band’s incredibly iconic hit “The Weight”. Longino and multi-instrumental Marin delivered solidly on vocals and remained true to the heart and soul of this Southern folk/gospel gem. Listeners were loving Will Marin’s contributions on the Hammond XK-1C for sure. Guitars, drums and keyboards were spot on with this and every song

I love the fresh approach of how this band manages its cover songs, but the band’s strengths don’t end there. Their original tunes are genuinely and authentically their own.

Whether it be the lyrically beautiful and melancholic “I’m Not Me” or the vulnerable and surreal “Cool Wind”; or maybe it’s the burning intensity of “Hide Away the Pain”, all of the band’s original songs are well written and emphatically delivered. Howard Longino’s lead guitar was powerful on “Cool Wind.”

The final song of the show was a Hoots original dubbed “Taken For a Ride”, Once again, Longino delivered impressively: his lead guitar breaks were outstanding. I liked the way the band drove us down that treacherous road called Deceit.Drummer Roland Stader’s pulse was right on time on this and every song.

The Hoots’ first live showcase of songs was definitely an overall success. Plan your next outing around one of their future shows and you will be well entertained. As always, support your local musicians.