The Face, May 2004
"…Hooker, you see, feature a lead vocalist with the most amazing voice… a voice that covers every dynamic, every emotion, every volume…we honestly can't rave about it enough. On top of that the songs, quite simply, are wonderful. This is one band that has to be seen to believed - do it!"
Fake DIY Review
"…With minimum fuss and maximum impact, the power trio take the stage, then the audience, by storm. Armed with a voice even more banshee-like than Corin Sleater-Kinney, singer/guitarist Zoe McVeigh belts out songs that grind and ache with the sharpest of edges…"
Drowned In Sound review, May 2004
From early beginnings in 1998 - when a chance meeting in a Manchester club with a guitarist led Zoe to form the band with Danny behind the drumkit - Hooker began working up songs and quickly debuted on the Manchester circuit; the name was culled from the song 'Beauty School Dropout' from the classic flick "Grease". Mat joined on bass in 2000, and the formula was complete. Hooker are, to paraphrase Mark E. Smith, "…a working band…" regularly playing the length and breadth of these isles, establishing a dedicated, growing fanbase.
They are dynamic and focused. Their eponymous, self-released mini album has sold nigh on a thousand copies. In the past two years they have secured support slots with many of the current cream of the indie scene; Le Tigre, The Donnas, Interpol, 50 Foot Wave, Brassy and The Gossip. Last year they undertook a UK tour with Kat Bjelland's Katastrophy Wife.
Hooker's line-up comprises: Zoe (25; the voice, the riffs!) Mat (29; the eyes, the bass!) and Danny (25; the hair, the beats!). Together they are a power trio gang in the grand tradition of The Jam and Le Tigre. They purvey short, sharp, arresting punk bursts. To put it simply, Hooker fuckin' rock.
For bookings, interviews, an mp3 download and other Hooker sexiness, the band can be contacted through their website www.hookerstuff.com or at zoe@hookerstuff.com.