Until a few weeks ago Hoops seemed to exist solely on YouTube, where copies of their tapes were uploaded by someone called Drew without much fanfare at all.
The music – a shimmering and playful mix incorporating the best bits of acts like Felt and Ariel Pink – instantly stood out to me, sounding about as lo-fi as you can get but mightily ambitious, and with super strong melodies all over the place. A few days ago they put out another track, ‘Feelin Fine’ which got significantly more pick-up and which we’re writing about here. Drew, it turns out, is singer/guitarist Drew Auscherman, who plays in the band alongside bassist Kevin Krauter, drummer James Allen, and guitarist Keagan Beresford. They all come from Bloomington, Indiana and on March 4 release a tape through a great label there called Warm Radio.
“The song is based on a melody Kevin wrote last year,” they told Fader. “We’re all really into The Clientele, so that influenced a lot of the guitar.”
The best thing about it is how it all builds, with those lilting, gorgeous melodies piled high before it all ends with a La’s-like crescendo.
Hoops play the following shows:
3/3 Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
3/9 Athens, OH – The RBG
3/12 Columbus, OH – Ace of Cups
4/1 Chicago, IL – The Observatory
4/2 Indianapolis, IN – State Street Pub
4/9 Bloomington, IN – WIUX Culture Shock
4/16 Indianapolis, IN – Luna Music RSD