Kelly Hogan

Kelly Hogan
Background information
Born January 11, 1965
Origin Atlanta, Georgia
United States
Genres Singer-songwriter
Alternative country
Torch singer
Jazz pop[1]
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1990present
Labels Bloodshot Records
Anti- Records
Associated acts Neko Case
Rock*A*Teens
Pine Valley Cosmonauts
Andrew Bird
Minus 5

Kelly Hogan (born January 11, 1965) is an American singer-songwriter, often known for her work as a member of Neko Case's backing band, as well as for her solo work.[2]

Early life

Hogan was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the daughter of a Vietnam War Army veteran helicopter pilot who went on to become a policeman.[3] Hogan's parents divorced, with her mother later remarrying and relocating to Rutledge, Georgia[4] while her dad still lives in Douglasville, Georgia.[5]

Hogan is the oldest sister in her family. She has younger brothers.[6]

Because both her parents worked, Hogan and her siblings spent most of their time with her grandmother in her apartment in midtown/downtown Atlanta growing up, where they listened to country music station WPLO.[7] Hogan said that although none of her family are musicians, music was always on in her house somewhere.[8]

She went to high school in Douglasville, Georgia.[5] Although painfully shy, Hogan eventually auditioned for chorus, going to All State Chorus every year.[8] In addition to being active in chorus and drama, Hogan said she started singing in bars when she was in high school.[7]

Hogan often goes by the moniker "Hogan." She is an avid dog lover,[7] and used to tend bar and tour accompanied by her late dog Augie.[9]

Hogan has a Jim Stacy[10] lower-back tattoo that says "singers get all the pussy."[11]

She lives in Evansville, Wisconsin.[4]

Hogan was a backing singer on the Decemberists "What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World" album, and also sang on the tour to support the album's release.

Musical career

The Jody Grind

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Hogan sang with the cabaret, country, jazz, and punk band The Jody Grind (a Cabbagetown, Atlanta band originated by Bill Taft), singing on their full-lengths One Man's Trash Is Another Man's Treasure (1990) and Lefty's Deceiver (1992). The Jody Grind toured with singer Robyn Hitchcock.[7] The group disbanded after two of its members were killed in a car crash.[1][12]

Rock*A*Teens

In the mid-1990s, Hogan joined the indie rock band Rock*A*Teens, another Cabbagetown area band,[13][14] appearing on their 1996 EP and the 1997 full-length Cry. Kelly Hogan played guitar and sang backing vocals in the band from 1994 to 1997. After the release of Cry, Hogan left the Rock*A*Teens and relocated from Atlanta to Chicago.

Solo career

Her debut solo record, The Whistle Only Dogs Can Hear was released in 1996, and featured covers of songs by Will Oldham and Vic Chesnutt.

Hogan released her first record for Bloodshot Records entitled Beneath the Country Underdog in 2000. The record, "brilliantly intuitive readings of other people's songs," was produced by Jon Langford (Mekons, Waco Brothers).[15][16] The Pine Valley Cosmonauts were her backing band.[17]

Her second solo Bloodshot release, Because It Feel Good, was released in 2001 and was produced by Hogan and former Sugar bassist David Barbe.[15] At the time of this record's release, rock critic Peter Margasak described Hogan as "principally an interpreter, capable of wringing more from a cover than most people can find in their own material," even though with this release she wrote two songs (with guitarist Andy Hopkins) on the record.[15]

Hogan released her most recent solo record—and first record in 11 years, I Like To Keep Myself In Pain, on ANTI- in 2013. She said that she sent emails to "her songwriter friends, many of whom she’d sung with, asking them if they would send her a song, either one written specifically for her or one that 'you think I could do right by.'" Vic Chesnutt, Stephin Merritt, Andrew Bird, Jon Langford, Janet Bean, M. Ward, and others gave her songs.[7][18] The title track was written by Robyn Hitchcock.[7][19] For the recording of this record, "a dream-team band" was assembled: organist Booker T. Jones, drummer James Gadson (Bill Withers, Beck), bassist Gabe Roth (Dap-Kings), guitarist Scott Ligon (NRBQ). They recorded at EastWest Studios (Pet Sounds) in Hollywood, California.[17]

Collaborations

Hogan appears on records by Mavis Staples, the Mekons, Will Oldham, Matt Pond PA,[20] Amy Ray, Giant Sand, Archer Prewitt, Alejandro Escovedo, Drive-By Truckers, Jakob Dylan,[21] Tortoise, among others.[18]

On other artists' records:

Projects:

Neko Case

In 1998, Hogan joined singer-songwriter Neko Case's band, recording and touring with the band as a vocalist. Hogan continues to tour with Case. On her ongoing relationship with Neko Case: "We hit it off immediately when we met. We just spoke the same language."[8]

Discography

A select discography:[29]

There was a comprehensive fan club page and mailing list[30] focused on Kelly Hogan until 2006.[31]

Acting career

Other work

From 1998 to 2008 Hogan worked as a bartender at The Hideout, a music venue in Chicago known for putting on an annual block party in September.[9]

She also worked publicity for Bloodshot Records.[35]

Hogan has worked as an assistant for American cartoonist and author, Lynda Barry,[36] "scheduling the comic-book author’s classes on how to unlock the creative spirit."[5][37]

See also

Notes and references

  1. 1.0 1.1 Phares, Heather. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
  2. Kot, Greg (May 18, 2012). "Kelly Hogan gets to show them what she's made of". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  3. Hogan, Kelly (April 20, 2013). "Okay, the first thing you need to know about me". Hogan Here. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Eldredge, Richard L. (July 1, 2012). "Daily Agenda > Q&A with Kelly Hogan". Atlanta Magazine.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Kaufman, Al (June 4, 2012). "Q & A with Kelly Hogan; Playing With Neko Case @ Atlanta Botanical Garden, July 20th". Atlanta Music Guide. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Downing, Andy (June 4, 2012). "Local Q&A: Kelly Hogan". RedEye Chicago. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Simon, Scott (June 1, 2012). "Kelly Hogan: Cashing In An Album's Worth Of Favors". Weekend Edition Saturday. National Public Radio (NPR). Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Loerzel, Robert. "Kelly Hogan interview". RobertLoerzel.com. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Borrelli, Christopher (September 22, 2011). "Kelly Hogan looks back on Hideout memories". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  10. Emerson, Bo (November 14, 2009). "Jim Stacy gets 'Delicious' new gig". AccessAtlanta.com. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  11. LaBate, Steve (May 29, 2012). "'Singers get all the pussy': the triumphant return of Kelly Hogan (The former Southern belle of Cabbagetown reveals the story behind her testimonial tramp stamp)". Creative Loafing Atlanta. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  12. Hogan, Kelly (September 12, 2011). "This is my favorite picture of my first real band". Hogan Here. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  13. Freeman, Scott (June 24, 2010). "The triumph and tragedy of the Cabbagetown sound (Part 1 of 2: Have you heard death singing? An oral history)". Creative Loafing Atlanta. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  14. Freeman, Scott (June 30, 2010). "The triumph and tragedy of the Cabbagetown sound (Part 2 of 2: Heaven on a Popsicle Stick)". Creative Loafing Atlanta. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 Margasak, Peter (February 14, 2002). "Music > Critic's Choice > Kelly Hogan". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  16. Margasak, Peter (May 28, 2012). "Kelly Hogan, Scott Lucas & the Married Men". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  17. 17.0 17.1 "Kelly Hogan: Sing 'Em If You Got 'Em". Magnet Magazine. MAGNET Magazine Inc. January 14, 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  18. 18.0 18.1 "From The Desk Of Kelly Hogan: Noticing (By The Ghost Of Andy Rooney)". Magnet Magazine. MAGNET Magazine Inc. January 19, 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  19. "Kelly Hogan: Tiny Desk Concert" (VIDEO MUSIC PERFORMANCE). Tiny Desk Concerts. NPR Music. June 4, 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  20. Ayers, Michael D. (July 10, 2007). "Matt Pond PA Looks Into The 'Light'". Billboard. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  21. Prince, David J. (January 28, 2010). "Jakob Dylan Joins Neko Case, T-Bone Burnett For 'Women And Country'". Billboard. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  22. 22.0 22.1 Loerzel, Robert (December 13, 2009). "Flat Five at the Hideout". Underground Bee. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  23. Kot, Greg (December 10, 2010). "Rare show by Flat Five tops concerts". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  24. Pendarvis, Jack (November 9, 2005). "Home > Music > Features: John Wesley Harding's Love Hall Tryst". Paste Magazine. Paste Media Group. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  25. Edelman, Judith. "Misfortune: A Novel - Wesley Stace / Songs of Misfortune - The Love Hall Tryst". Pure Music. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  26. Melzer, Ashley (June 5, 2012). "Interview: Kelly Hogan". eMusic.com. eMusic.com Inc. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  27. Shapiro, Gregg (September 6, 2012). "The GoPride.com Interview: Kelly Hogan". ChicagoPride.com. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  28. , Paste Magazine, Song Premiere: Neko Case, Kelly Hogan - "These Aren't The Droids",Dacey Orr, June 2, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  29. "Kelly Hogan Complete Discography" (PDF). KellyHogan.com. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  30. "The khfc-news Archives". Kelly Hogan Fan Club News. Archived from the original (MAILING LIST) on October 1, 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  31. "Kelly Hogan Fan Club". Kelly Hogan Fan Club. Archived from the original (PRIOR ITERATION OF KELLYHOGAN.COM) on August 10, 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  32. "Discography and Lyrics: Other Recordings: Jesus Christ Superstar - A Resurrection". IndigoGirls.com. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  33. Danton, Eric R. (January 30, 2008). "Neko Case collaborates with John Kruk" (BLOG). The Hartford Courant (Sound Check: All The Rock You Need). Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  34. "Episode 26" (LIVE PUBLIC RADIO SHOW). Wits APM. Fitzgerald Theater (Chicago). May 17, 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  35. Weiss, Neal. "Weird Tales: MoMZine Friends Wax Poetic about Their Favorite Moments of the Year". MoMZine. Miles of Music. Archived from the original on February 19, 2001. Retrieved 11 November 2013. Kelly Hogan, Bloodshot Press Mule, Bloodshot Records, Chicago, IL
  36. Hogan, Kelly (January 18, 2013). "From The Desk Of Kelly Hogan: Lynda Barry". Magnet Magazine. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  37. Loerzel, Robert (May 25, 2012). "Interview: Kelly Hogan". A.V. Club. Retrieved 11 November 2013.

External links