Musikfest Cafe Hosts Folk Rock Band Hoots and Hellmouth

I first heard Hoots and Hellmouth last year at Strand-Capitol theater in York, Pennsylvania and I was thoroughly impressed with their harmonizing and toe stomping passion. Having never heard their music before, I was taken aback at their soulful folksy songs. When deciding where to spend the 3rd anniversary of my husband's passing, I knew I wanted to do something that would bring me joy. Fortunately for me, Hoots and Hellmouth was playing at the Musikfest Cafe in Bethlehem, Pa which I was excited to tour. With views overlooking the Bethlehem Steel smokestacks, the backdrop to a great concert was spectacular.

After their opening band, Holy Ghost Tent Revival (also some great tunes), Hoots and Hellmouth took the stage and previewed their new album, Salt . Beforehand, I spoke with Sean Hoots about the creation of their third album which was funded by Kickstarter . Hoots and Hellmouth has such great fans, that Kickstarter helped them raise $23,882 to produce their new album. $6000 was their minimum goal.

Prior to the concert, I had heard their latest single "Apple Like a Wrecking Ball" and wondered about the symbolism behind the song. Hoots shared that he had grown up on an Apple Orchard. I shared with him that I had lost my husband 3 years prior to that very day, and we spoke about the loss of his father, also 3 years ago. While he admitted that the loss definitely influenced his creative process, it did not change his writing style.

Hoots began writing music when he was 13 years old and is happy to be in a very "thoughtful and focused" place with this new album. Despite bandmate Andrew "Hellmouth" Gray stepping out to return to teaching last Fall, he feels the band is continuing forward in a committed way. Hoots admits that while Gray's shoes can never be filled, he is enjoying the focus and drive of being the band's songwriter.

I had seen pictures of Hoots and Hellmouth playing at the Winnipeg Folk Festival that caught my eye. My late husband once visited the folk fest in his hometown with some friends in a cow-painted bus. Hoots shared that it is by far the "best grunge fest ever" but that the best crowd is still at home in Philadelphia. I was honored to spend the third "sadversary" with Hoots and Hellmouth in such a unique setting as the Musikfest Cafe.