Interview: Hooby and the Yabbit – Tristan Zelden

1. How did your band get started? I was jamming with some guys in Wakefield, doing all sorts like Steely Dan, ZZ Top, Johnny Guitar Watson, Robben Ford, like a little rehearsal band, but then I started writing these songs, and it changed into a recording project, which it still is really. 2. What inspired you to go into this genre? I’ve always loved the blues, and sleazy kind of music, making love in the middle of the night kind of music, but with a rock edge. My wife and I listen all the time to Free, Janis, The Doors, ACDC, and I played for years in a Wakefield blues trio, like Hendrix/ Rory Gallagher noise, I think it just all started coming back out. 3. Who are your inspirations that have shaped the sound of the band and how so? All the classics, like those mentioned above, but in my mind, I was thinking Aerosmith/ZZ Top rolled up with ole time blues. When a young fellow I played a lot of Blues Brothers as well, and I still do, with the band when I have one, and in my solo set. My favorite is B Movie Box Car Blues, a Delbert McClinton song. ALSO actually when I was 16 I saw one of the best bands that ever walked the earth- Atco recording artistes Blackfoot. They were one of those ‘you were either there or you missed it ‘kind of bands. 4. What is the creative process your band takes when making an album? Well, these songs on ‘out of time ‘ (available RIGHT NOW on BANDCAMP, CD or download, ahem) started out as guitar jams for three of them, but Movietown I wrote in my head and then recorded it solo. 5. Lyrically speaking, what inspires the themes that are written about in your music? My life as I’ve lived it and continue to live it really. I watch the world and the people in it and themes sort of suggest themselves. Also the making love in the middle of the night thing…or in the morning…preferably Monday morning, which always gets way too much respect from everyone I think. The song Tea and Toast is that. 6. Competition in any music scene is high, so how does your band stand out compared to Umm, we are way older and uglier than everyone else, yep that’s our plan. And think- it’s a plan that can only improve! 7. What is your dream tour? Name however many bands you want to create the perfect tour. I think mine actually happened a few times, back in the days of Floyd, Zappa, Fleetwood Mac and Hawkwind all on the same bill you know, but let’s see, ZZ Top circa 1980 ish, Rush same period, John Lennon and the Plastic Ono band with Herself unfortunately detained elsewhere and then the Original line up of Motorhead come back to life and kick the shit out of the place. 8. If you went into a completely different style of music, what would it be? 9. If you can collaborate with anyone, who would it be and why? Will I Am because he’s totally of at a tangent to me so that’s interesting, 10. Where would you like to travel to that you have never been? States I think, only set foot in once, and would love to tour there. 11. What is a goal that you would like to see happen in your career? Recording the live album at some famous venue somewhere, then we all go out get wrecked. Thank you to Rogue PR and Hooby and the Yabbit for the interview.