Posted on: October 4, 2008 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The foot-stomping, bass-thumping live performances of progressive “Newgrass” string band Hot Day at the Zoo are a far cry from that of your typical bluegrass band. As the best musicians do, HDATZ fuels their energy night in and night out from the growing number of fans at their shows. Although the instrumentation suggests a country vibe, HDATZ blends their diverse musical tastes into organic, honest and catchy tunes worthy of their widespread appeal. After 5 years together, HDATZ prepares to release their sophomore EP Long Way Home on November 18th on the band’s own independent label, INTA Records. Already fan friendly on the festival scene (Snoe.down Winter Music Festival, Lowell Folk Festival, Empire Brew Fest, Sterling Stage Folk Fest, Good Omens, A Bear’s Picnic) and after appearing as special guest support for artists including The Band’s Levon Helm, moe. and the Ryan Montbleau Band, HDATZ are now on the road in support of Long Way Home, spreading their ZooGrass sound.

Catch Hot Day at the Zoo as they tour in support of Long Way Home:

HOT DAY AT THE ZOO
Saturday, November 1st
Gorry At The Quarry #12
Nelson Ledges Quarry Park
12001 Nelson Ledge Road, Garrettsville OH
Show 8pm / All Ages
weekend passes: $45 adv / $50 gate
Saturday only: $35

with Devon Allman’s Honeytribe, DJ Harry, The Pussy Pirates, Sweetwater Meltdown, Moser Woods, ekoostik hookah, Zach Deputy, Charlie Wheeler Band, and Lovewhip

www.myspace.com/hotdayatthezoo
www.hotdayatthezoo.com

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Jon Cumming – banjo, dobro, vocals
Michael Dion – guitar, harmonica, vocals
Jed Rosen – upright bass, vocals
David Cleaves – mandolin, vocals (special guest)

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“When we think of a hot day at the zoo, we picture lethargic animals and sweating visitors. But this Hot Day at the Zoo is very cool, and anything but lethargic. The frenetic foursome from Lowell peels off a gritty urban-bluegrass sound laced with folk, blues, ragtime, and jazz – a mix their fans call ‘ZooGrass.’” – Boston Globe

“HDATZ sprawls and folds in plenty of flavors without making ‘polyglot’ a necessary adjective. And the three-set show is their specialty: build momentum in the first, slay in the second, exhaust in the third. Everyone goes home tired and satisfied, and each song makes the beer taste a little bit better.” – Jambands.com

“HDATZ brings a contemporary sensibility to its sound that makes it likeable to even the most bluegrass-phobic listener.” – Hippo Press


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Hot Day at the Zoo, a fiercely progressive “Newgrass” string band grown from Lowell, MA, are spreading their eclectic roots up and down the eastern seaboard and as far west as Colorado. Celebrating their 5th year together as a band, David Cleaves (mandolin, vocals), Jon Cumming (banjo, dobro, vocals), Michael Dion (guitar, harmonica, vocals,) and Jed Rosen (upright bass, vocals) will release their sophomore EP, Long Way Home on November 18th. Darker and edgier than their last album, the wildly popular Cool As Tuesday, the new CD features five gritty, emotionally charged songs. Long Way Home is the first release on the band’s own independent record label INTA Records.

Perhaps it’s easier to coin a word to describe them than it is to pigeonhole their music. HDATZ mixes their high-energy, gritty-urban-bluegrass with strong elements of folk, blues, ragtime and jazz. Fans describe the band’s pioneering sound as ”ZooGrass.” Their tunes are layered with intricacies and depth reminiscent of Robert Hunter, the Grateful Dead, and Yonder Mountain String Band.

Many great musicians spanning a broad spectrum inspired their grassy, jazzy, old-timey, Americana infused rock and roll. With influences ranging from Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, John Prine, Bob Marley, Sam Bush, Bruce Cockburn, Charles Mingus, Elvis, to bands like the Beatles, Steely Dan, Nirvana and Pink Floyd, it is easy to see and hear what makes them attract a very diverse fan base. Sights and sounds from the everyday to the exotic are infused in their craft. Tight musicianship, skillful songwriting and amazing personalities introduce us to places they have traveled, people they have loved, those they have lost, and those they surround themselves with.  Hot Day at the Zoo is skillful at drawing in a crowd, amusing the audience and leaving roots music fans begging for more.


TOUR DATES

10.03 Utica, NY @ Electric Co.
10.04 Syracuse, NY @ Empire Brew Co.
10.18 North Adams, MA @ Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
10.31 Williamsport, PA @ Bullfrog
11.01 Garrettsville, OH @ Nelson Ledges Quarry Park
11.06 Hartford, CT @ NACA
11.07 Hartford, CT @ Sully’s
11.08 Saranac Lake, NY @ The Waterhole
11.14 Cambridge, MA @ TT The Bear’s (CD-release show)
11.15 Narragansett, RI @ Wheelhouse
12.05 Northampton, MA @ WWII Club
12.06 Manchester, CT @ Main Pub
12.12 Peterborough, NH @ Harlow’s Pub
12.13 Newburyport, MA @ Grog
12.20 Portsmouth, NH @ Press Room

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