Jesse & The Hogg Brothers

Jesse and his cousin Neil Hogg wrote a bunch of songs together when they were growing up in Bosque County TX. When Jesse was 16, he moved up north with his mom while Neil stayed in Texas. Jesse eventually teamed up with cousin Buzz Hogg, playing all over New England as a country cover band. “Jesse & The Hogg Brothers” played every country bar they could. The band even played The Woodstock Fair and they were so good, they were asked back. Their live performances attracted attention, and the band added this guy named Dirk, a talented guitarist/vocalist, who had a 2-man act that ended. He and Buzz left the band 6 months later to do the same. From there, the band's history reads like a page-turning novel. There's ex-wives, new daughters via DNA testing, members joining and leaving, and it's all a fantastic read, so be sure to visit the band's website (listed below) to read more! Below is our interview with the wildly, entertaining band.

Was there something (an experience) or someone in your life that was the "catalyst" for you to start writing music? Tell us about it.

Kash Hogg: For me one word Jesse. I stopped by his place one afternoon and he was like we need a Christmas song, as you know every EP or full Album we have a Christmas song. So he made me write 3 with him that day and now I'm a songwriter!

Jesse Braintree: Everything he said is true except me forcing him, he has been itching to write songs with me and now he has.

JoeBob Hogg: I had nothing to do in prison except time so I starting writing music.

Kenny Hogg: Thelma Lou one of my ex-girlfriends had me write my 1st song for her.

Pappy Hogg: What was the question?

Let's get this out of the way. What is the CRAZIEST thing that has ever happened to you in your music career?

Bloomer Hogg: You call this a career?

Pappy Hogg: I resemble that, but to answer your question Room 314

All: (laughter)

Bloomer Hogg: OK so we played St Louis and stayed in a hotel and Jolene our fiddle player brought her daughter along the tour and they were in 314. Next day we travel to our next gig way down in Clinton Arkansas and the place we played these 4 guys in a back room after the show were doing shots of shine.

Pappy Hogg: That's moonshine if'n you didn't know

Jesse Braintree: Jolene did a shot maybe more and let's say she was hammered so I'm like driving the van and Jolene keeps calling me on her phone from back seat and it was like an endless loop on the entire drive to our hotel. Finally we arrived and Bloomer and me went to get a bite.

Pappy: I'm out getting ice in the corridor and I hear screaming and sounds like Jolene

Kash Hogg: I never heard this

Pappy: Ok so I get up the stairs and it's Jolene yelling at the hotel person "I'm in 314" and this hotel only had 2 floors so thee is no 314. I can tell that it was a call the cops situation brewing so I rushed over and walked her into her room.

Bloomer Hogg: meanwhile me and Jesse go through a taco drive through and the van has NY plates I'm wearing panties like I always do .

Jesse Braintree: So we pull up and I can tell the kid waiting on us thought we were something as he steps away then we see the whole employee crew take turns peeking at us.

Bloomer Hogg: With NY plates they must of been thinking crazy NY people

Jesse Braintree: Something like that.

Pappy Hogg: So the next morning Jolene was

Everybody: Hung Over!!

Pappy Hogg: So next morning Buzz Hogg decides to bust on Jolene

Jesse Braintree: Jolene asked what happened last night I don't remember nothing after the show. So Buzz tells her you should ask Pappy. And So I said the same thing in a tone inferring perhaps sex.

Pappy Hogg: I saw Jolene at breakfast not knowing this and she was acting strange not just hung over I finally got to talk and then she was more focused on Buzz and Jesse.

Jesse Braintree: And thats the legend of Room 314.

Kash Hogg: Sounds like a song?

Kenny Hogg: We tried it just didn't work

What has been the high point of your music path?

Jesse Braintree: I don't really know, I think the best is yet to come

Kash Hogg: Playing Vegas!

Pappy Hogg: NY City at The Shrine is always a great time.

JoeBob Hogg: thats where our Live CD was recorded

Kenny Hogg: How about the over 29 Thousand views of our Wife Swapping Party song on youtube.

Bloomer Hogg: That many, it was 23 Thousand a few months ago.

So, how do you approach songwriting or what is your creative process like?

Kenny Hogg: 3 ways. Jesse has lyrics and a melody and just follow that, or Jesse and Neil or me or Merle

JoeBob Hogg: or me.

Kash Hogg: or me

Kenny Hogg: Whatever guys, so we bring an idea to Jesse or Jesse has lyrics or a idea for a song and we collaborate, and the last way and we only did it once was a

Jesse Braintree: You can stop right there.

Kash Hogg: My mom may read this.

Kenny Hogg: Sorry

JoeBob Hogg: Nothing to be sorry for I had a blast

Pappy Hogg: next question?

What do you see as the biggest challenge facing Indie Artists today? Or, if you could ask the music industry to change one thing, what would it be?

Pappy Hogg: The biggest thing is probably themselves I mean do you have a plan and ways to measure success? Are you willing to take risks?

Kash Hogg: Wish I played Fiddle

JoeBob Hogg: Don't talk to Pappy like that

Kenny Hogg: Pappy is right, a lot of artist think just because they have decided to play music, or act or paint, dance whatever it is and that other people need to pay attention. It ain't that easy.

Jesse Braintree: The industry is changing and keeping up as technology and social media become essential are challenging.

If you could share the stage with one other artist or band, who would it be and why?

Kash Hogg: Johnny Cash because I was named for him.

Bloomer Hogg: KISS because......

JoeBob Hogg: Bill Kirchen the titan of the telecaster.

Kenny Hogg: Somebody like Cassadee Pope because I want to meet her, she's pretty.

Pappy Hogg: I'm with Kenny on this one

Kash Hogg: Can I change my pick?

Jesse Braintree: next question

What are your rehearsals generally like? Or, how do you prepare for a live show?

Bloomer Hogg: They are a luxury with this band

Jesse Braintree: C'mon we practice

Pappy Hogg: We practice at every show

Kash Hogg: If Jesse buys Pizza we are more likely to practice

JoeBob Hogg: We run through our current set

Kenny Hogg: How we prepare for a show is a different conversation

Pick one song that was your greatest challenge to write. Tell us about it!

Jesse Braintree: We recorded a few songs in Spanish and that's not easy since nobody but Kenny speaks it with any . I asked a few friends to coach us vocally and we got er dun. I was told by my friends the bloopers takes were priceless to hear me butcher the language. Should be an EP out in 2020.

What's coming up in the future? Jesse Braintree: Our new album is also going to be our 1st vinyl release and it is set for January 2020 and our 2019 Christmas single is on it. We are part of the 35 year 2 CD compilation for Black & Blue Records titled 35 Years of Music To Make Your Ears Hurt. We are in Genoveva Rossi's 2020 film - Attack Of The Killer Chickens and will be releasing our 1st CD where we sing in Spanish and Lisa Mari & The Baconettes CD is coming out and a lot of us perform on it.

Kenny Hogg: A New Kenny's girl! Hit me up on Facebook ladies!

Kash Hogg: Me too

JoeBob Hogg: In the future people will live in space colonies in fact..

Pappy Hogg: I think it's time to plan on seeing us on tour in 2020

Tell us where fans can access your music?

Start at our website or Amazon