Howie and the Hillcats, based in Springfield, Missouri, play their own brand of Ozarks music that has earned them a loyal following in the Midwest. Howie refers to their organization as "not as much a band as an institution", as they occasionally incorporate other area musicians into the group. You never know who might leap up onstage during a show!
Trying to describe the music of Howie and the Hillcats usually has one making up a string of adjectives not usually heard in musical circles. The easiest pigeonhole the media uses to characterize them with is "rockabilly," but the band likes to call their music "psycho-hickabilly goober rock." With influences from bluegrass, swing, R&B, the Beatles and the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, their sound covers many musical styles.
Their humorous, irreverent take on life is evident in their original songs such as "Yuppie Blues," "Talk Show Survivors," and "My Shit's in Shambles." "Dial 1-800" was featured on the Dr. Demento Show, a national radio program featuring weird and funny music. Also look for one of Howie's songs on Chet Atkins recently released "The Day Fingerpickers Took Over The World." Anybody who has ever wanted to play a musical instrument will recognize the title, "Ode to Mel Bay," a fun story about the master of musical how-to-play books. The Hillcats have also released their first video on HDTV format, keep an eye out for "Willie Went to Amsterdam." Great music and impious humor make a night with Howie and the Hillcats a very memorable experience, indeed!
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