This is the second of three posts highlighting a series of upcoming shows at Gravity Lounge this week.  Be looking for the final installment on Virginia’s own Scott Miller tomorrow. 

Hard drivin’.  Two words that seem like a fittingly place to start when talking about Nashville-based singer/songwriter Will Hoge.  Hard drivin’ is just one way to describe Hoge’s no-nonsense straight ahead brand of American rock that has drawn comparisons to rock luminaries like Tom Petty and Bruce Springteen.   Hard drivin’ would also be an apt description for Will Hoge’s road warrior approach to touring as well, as he regularly plays some 200 concert stops a year.  One of those tour stops just happens to be here in Charlottesville as the Gravity Lounge welcomes Will Hoge to town tonight (Thursday, June 19).

As it turns out, this will be Will Hoge’s second visit to Charlottesville this year.  Back in February, he was on the bill as an opener for Jason Isbell at Satellite Ballroom.  (If anyone saw the show at Satellite, I’d love to hear your thoughts).  And just as a heads up if you do plan on checking out his show tonight at Gravity, Hoge will be the second of three acts scheduled to perform as New Orleans-based singer/songwriter Theresa Andersson opens and local rockers Sweetbriar close out the evening.  Show starts at 8pm and the cost is $10.

[Will Hoge photo by Jason Williamson]

———–

In case you’re not familiar with Will Hoge’s music (and you really should be), a couple of great places to begin your journey would have to include one, if not both, of the following records:  The 2003 release Blackbird on a Lonely Wire on Atlantic Records or his most recent album, Draw the Curtains on Rykodisc, which was co-produced by former Wilco drummer Ken Coomer.

A quick scan of listener reviews turns up phrases like “a must have” and “my favorite album this year” when discussing both albums, and as I see it you really can’t go wrong either way.  Personally I’d go for Draw the Curtains, which was produced by former Wilco drummer Ken Coomer and features a reunion between Hoge and his good buddy and guitarist Dan Baird (of the Georgia Satellites).  The two first appeared together on Will Hoge’s debut album back in 2001.  There’s a country-meets-soul feel to Draw the Curtains I really dig, and the album in many ways touches on the whole range of Hoge’s musical influences from Steve Earle all the way to Otis Redding.

 But if you really want the goods, I’d suggest you see him live, because in the end, Will Hoge is a hard drivin’ performer through and through.  Below is a live solo performance of “Washed by the Water” from Draw the Curtains recorded live in the studios of KCUV in Denver.

Washed by the Water by Will Hoge

Popularity: 27% [?]