HOBOE CELEBRATES DECADE OF ROCK OBOE

Portland, ME, USA February 17, 2010 -- Hoboe, Portland's, America's, and perhaps the world's premier rock band with an oboe, celebrates rtheir ten-year milestone this year.

Hoboe have quietly been working behind the scenes with little fanfare, subtly making their own humble mark in the Portland music scene for a full decade; their history divided into two distinguishable periods: Hoboe, the experiment and Hoboe, the band.

The story starts with Zen Ben, a rock oboist who longed to play his oboe in a rock band.

"I woke up one day and realized that nobody was looking for an oboe in a rock band, and if I waited around to find rockers that were eager to back up an oboe in a rock band, I'd probably wait my whole life," says Zen Ben, "so I just started booking gigs, drawing on my vast network of musician friends to sit in and play the shows."

In the years that ensued, nearly 50 local musicians had appeared with Hoboe, including many of Portland's most successful talent. Among the musicians who have played with Hoboe are Bob Bergeron, Doug Emery, Chris Dow, Glenn Gaudin, Jeff Glidden, Brian Higgins, Chris Keenan, Tanya Kelly, Keith Mann, Mike Taylor and more.

"Sometimes I wonder to myself, who in Portland HASN'T played with Hoboe at one point or another?" says Zen Ben.

By 2008, Hoboe began to solidify as a permanent band with steady members Bob Bergeron (bass), Thom Metz (guitar) and Jon Bangs (drums) contributing their talent to help develop a distinctive oboe-rock sound fronted by oboist Zen Ben. In 2009, Hoboe began working on their debut CD which will be released later this year, and when Bergeron resigned in 2009, 19-year old Ben Holt was reigned in as Hoboe's new bassist.

In their 10-year history, Hoboe have played nearly 100 gigs (50 of them within the last two years), played almost every venue in Portland, and since solidifying themselves into a formidable rock force in recent years, have toured five states and played as far as Philadelphia.

"I thought I was joining an experimental jazz group," says Metz.

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Portland, Maine, USA, February 22, 2010 -- Hoboe has dug into their archives and are releasing the following facts and statistics about Portland, Maine's rock band with an oboe.

Thom Metz debuted with Hoboe on 2/28/2008 at 51 Wharf. "When I first joined Hoboe," says Metz, "I had no idea what I was getting into."

"I am so lucky that he stuck around," says Zen Ben, "there couldn't be a more fitting guitarist/shredder to exemplify Hoboe's far-ranging influences."

Zen Ben has played every Hoboe gig since the outfit's debut on Feb. 19, 2000, backed by Chris Dow (drums), Doug Emery (guitar) and Keith Mann (bass). For 7 years, with a constantly rotating lineup of musicians, Hoboe had never actually performed as the same exact band twice until 2007. By 2008, Hoboe had finally formed into a steady band.

"After years of wandering and searching, Hoboe is now a true band proper," says Zen Ben.

GIGS:

According to the archives, Hoboe has played a total of at least 71 gigs since its debut in 2000, most of those performances being within the last three years. Hoboe played 23 gigs in 2008, and 20 gigs in 2009.

PERFORMERS:

Hoboe has had 5 permanent members since 2008: Zen Ben, Thom Metz, Jon Bangs, Bob Bergeron (until 8/2009) and Ben Holt (since 8/2009).

Hoboe has had at least 42 people perform with it over the past decade, including some of Portland's finest musicians!

John Alphonse (drums)
Sam Applegate (guitar--The Milk Brothers)
Steve Best (drums)
Darryl Blease (drums)
Harris Cooley (bass)
Richard Corson (guitar--Strange Pleasure, Band Beyond Description)
Angelo DeRosa (bass-Lazy Lightning)
Chris Dow (drums--Band Beyond Description, Elderberry Jam, Gypsy Tailwind)
Doug Emery (guitar--Lazy Lightning, Ukiah)
Josh Frances (drums, effects--Dreamosaic)
Shortwave Dave Gagne (percussion)
Glenn Gaudin (bass--Bora, Welfare Mafia, Brotherhood Dogs, General Motors!, Jessica Rose and the Dirty Secrets)
Jeff Glidden (drums--Lazy Lightning, Jenny Paquette)
Brian Higgins (drums--Lost Cause Desperados, Hi-fivin' White Guys, Colepitz, The Horror, Rocktopus)
Ken Johns (keyboard)
Phil Kaelin (bass)
Chris Keenan (guitar)
Tanya Kelly (flute)
Rob Lane (banjo)
Cat Lynch (violin)
Keith Mann (bass--Strange Pleasure)
Chris Martin (drums)
Patrick McClane (bass)
Bruce Mercer (drums)
Scott Mohler (guitar--Montroller)
Rodney Nason (keyboards)
Jon O'Donnell (bass)
David Peck (guitar)
Bruce Peel (bass)
Fernando Perez (drums)
John Pickett (drums)
Brendan Reilly (bass)
Matt Rousseau (drums)
Mike Taylor (drums--Royal Hammer)

Hoboe, a new 21st century rock paradigm featuring amplified oboe, trumpet, innovative form and flashy theatrics daringly brings diverse influences and creativities together onto the train of a truly unique sound and live experience. Toot, toot--all aboard!

Hoboe is:
Zen Ben, oboe, guitar, vocals
Tom Metz, guitar, vocals
Jon Bangs, drums, trumpet, vocals
Ben Holt, bass, vocals