Hey – Nice Hooters! Philly Band Back With First New Album In Over 15 Years
The Hooters came out of the Philadelphia bar and club scene in the early ’80s, rising to national prominence with hits like “And We Danced,” “All You Zombies,” and “Day By Day.” Eric Bazilian and Rob Hyman of the Hooters were also key contributors to Cyndi Lauper’s debut She’s So Unusual.
Interestingly, before they had big pop success, The Hooters were actually a ska band. Now they are returning to their roots with a new ska record called Rocking & Swing.
According to the album description on the band’s website:
“Rocking & Swing is a throwback to The Hooters’ early 80s roots with their unique blend of ska, reggae and rock. It is an upbeat, party record with 8 new tracks (plus a bonus live track on the CD, recorded at The Keswick Theatre in November 2022).
The album features its first single, “Why Won’t You Call Me Back,” as well as several new takes on previously released recordings. A few of the songs may also sound familiar to the band’s first fans as they were originally played live back in the early 80s club scene where the group got its start. The addition of a three-piece horn section, aptly named ‘Men In The Street’ (after the Skatalites’ classic track) adds another dimension of Roots Rock Hooterization.
“We’ve been talking about this kind of project for years. But it just sort of happened last winter, organically and quickly, always a good sign,” explains co-founder and keyboardist Rob Hyman. “After we had played some new material with the horns at the Keswick Theatre last fall, it was finally the right time and place for us to revisit the feel of those pivotal gigs and vintage sounds.”
In fact, some of the new album’s tracks were directly transferred from 4-track PortaStudio cassette demos from the 80s into ProTools, constructing the 2023 band around these vintage elements. The result is a bold musical leap into the future with a loving nod to the past!
Check out the first single:
The Hooters will be on the road with Rick Springfield, Tommy Tutone, and Paul Young this summer, including a stop in Atlantic City August 12 at the Hard Rock Casino & Hotel.
