the hoa hoa's

Richie Volume Lee Femke Shane Kurenoff

“Like any other band you have influences, but you’re just trying to sound like yourself,” laughs Lee Brochu over the telephone lines.The Hoa Hoa’s (pronouced whaa-whaa’s) are a psychadelic– rock band based in Toronto with some connections to the Niagara Region. The band’s debut record, Flower Flower, was recorded and produced in St. Catharines by Yummy Recordings’ main–man, and local rock captain, Joe Lapinski. “I knew Joe in high school, and we would sometimes go see Palooka. Then the first time we played at the Merchant Ale House, Joe told us he wanted to record us,” explains Brochu. “When we were ready we called him and went to record it, it went really well and Joe’s great at what he does.”

Hoa is the Vietnamese word for flower, and despite numerous faux–pas’ from fans and friends, the band has no intention of changing it; in fact, the seem to enjoy the humour in it. “We decided it was a fun thing and with the apostrophe it gives it ownership over it, it’s sorta funny. We get the Ho Ho’s a lot and our one friend just released a CD and thanked us as the Hoi Hoi’s, we have fun with it.”says Brochu.

If you were to translate the band’s name, it would mean ‘the flower flowers’; exactly the kind of simplistic humour that rock and roll needs. What’s the point of having a heavily coded band name that no one will get? Everyone likes flowers, right?

According to Brochu, the Hoa Hoa’s are influenced by flowers and life; however, the band is musically influenced by Dinosaur Jr, the Brian Jonestown Massacre, Stereolab, the Make Up and much more. Three of the four band members exist like a rotating musical triangle, switching up their duties on the bass guitar, keyboard, vocals and guitars. Brochu, Richard Gibson, and Femke Berkout crank out the triangular rhythms, while drummer Shane Kurneoff sits behind the kit. “None of us have an iron fist and try to get a specific sound out, we’re basically four people playing off of each other.”
[JORDY YACK]

Pulse Niagara: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Online Version

To CONTACT The Hoa Hoa's, email: thehoahoas@yahoo.com

Discography = Flower Flowers (2005)

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