THE HOA HOA’S with REVOLVERS, the AURAS and OSTRICH TUNING at the Boat (158 Augusta), tonight (Thursday, August 25), and with YOUR 33 BLACK ANGELS, ACTION MAKES and PICTURESOUND, Friday (August 26), doors 9 pm. $20 with vinyl and drop card, $12 with CD. 416-593-9218. See listing.
After seven years together, the Hoa Hoa’s are going on hiatus. The interruption comes as bassist Femke Berkhout returns to her native Holland to finish her photography degree, and its duration is indefinite. However, the band refuses to call it the end.
“It’s more of a ‘see you later,'” says singer/guitarist Lee Brochu. “We’ll still write songs and play music together. We’re just not sure when or how often.”
That doesn’t stop them from getting nostalgic. Over pints at Ronnie’s, their Kensington Market local, the four members reminisce about the years they spent at the heart of the psychedelic micro-scene that orbits their label, Optical Sounds.
“Me, Lee and [guitarist] Richie [Gibson] lived together in a one-bedroom apartment for about a year and a half,” remembers Berkhout, starting from the beginning. “And we rehearsed there, too.”
“There’d always be a guitar right next to your pillow,” adds Gibson. “It was pretty tight quarters.”
“We also worked together in a bar, the Last Temptation,” continues Berkhout. “That’s where our name came from. The woman who cooks there is named Hoa, which means “flower” in Vietnamese.”
Brochu picks up the thread. “Our first gig was there. They don’t really do shows, but we played anyway with three guitars and no drums.”
“I used to work next door, and I’d come over and party at the guys’ house every week,” adds drummer Calvin Brown. “When they needed a drummer, I said, ‘I know how to play.’ I was lying, but whatever.”
They managed to expand beyond their Brian Jonestown Massacre-influenced sound to include pop, Kraut, British Invasion, new wave and techno, a mix of modern and throwback psych that comes together on their new The Hoa Hoa’s EP.
They’ll celebrate with a record release that doubles as Berkhout’s going-away party. Over two nights at the Boat (and another at a friend’s private loft), the fete will play like a mini-festival and includes support from their closest friends. They’re promising long sets of songs from the course of their history.
“We couldn’t fit it all into one night, so we decided to do three,” jokes Berkhout. “This will be our Last Waltz.”
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