Folk Yeah!
Hang Dog Expression, who play the Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo Saturday night.
Hangdog (haNGdôg). Adjective. Having a dejected or guilty appearance; shamefaced: the boys wore hangdog looks as the police marched them down the steps.
Hang Dog Expression (haNGdôg Ik-spr-sh-?n). Noun. South Bay folk band blending Americana roots music with mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar, standup bass; excellent music: Hang Dog Expression played a lovely performance at South Bay Customs last Saturday night.
Yes, hangdog is an actual expression; and Hang Dog Expression is one of the South Bay’s only folk outfits, blending country and all things Americana. They’re one of the scarce few who take the stage with acoustic instruments, heel tappin’ boots, hand slappin’ hoots, plaid collared shirts, and cowboy hats. And to that, I say, “Folk yeah!”
Hang Dog, an El Segundo-based band, features Nichlaus Von Hulsebus on guitar and vocals; Neal Von Flue on banjo, musical saw, and tenor guitar; Brett Hall on guitar; Tony Goodreau on upright bass fiddle; and Robert Ford on mandolin, harmonica, and banjo.
“We started this whole band because we enjoyed each other’s company,” says Von Hulsebus. “It’s not everyone who knows someone that plays a mandolin, banjo, guitar, or a stand up bass…and who wants to sit around the BBQ and play music.”
Hang Dog is known for their backyard get-togethers, where the coals burn bright, the horseshoes fly crooked, and the music jams endlessly; but they’ve performed various smaller venues throughout the area, including The Comic Bug in Manhattan Beach and Brennan’s in Marina Del Rey. Their live gigs aim (and succeed) to deliver the vibrant, personable backyard experience.
“We don’t play out much like regular bands do,” says Von Flue. “We prefer to be invited to barbecues and birthday parties, anywhere there’s a cooler and some finger foods. A regular gig would be awesome…we have vague notions of doing a small West Coast tour on our own, just for fun.”
Von Hulsebus adds that they’ve played, “Too many backyards to count…a bunch of shows for various charities…even some kids’ birthdays, and a somber funeral.”
Hang Dog Expression may not perform at a lot of formal venues, but they’re down to get down wherever the good times seem to be; even if they have to bring it with them. Just last week, after performing Tyler Surfboard’s Christmas party, they found themselves sitting in an El Segundo tavern with their instruments and noticed an empty stage with no band in sight. A few minutes later Hang Dog Expression was playing for beers.
Basically, these guys are just a band of friends who share a natural affinity for playing their music to evoke a good time. In fact, they’ve often referred to themselves as “a drinking club with a music problem.”
“Hang Dog is definitely a club,” says Hall. “We’re like the Sons Of Anarchy, but without the gun running and machismo. I’d do anything for these guys.”
For a brotherhood of beer-drinking buddies with acoustic instruments and a penchant for jamming, it’s actually quite surprising how remarkably good their music is. Their organic sound manipulates emotion and pierces the ramparts of the soul almost as effectively as their lyrics: “You can die all you want, and never wind up dead/ You’re much better off to live your life instead… (from the song “2027”).
“Nich’s songs cut very deep,” Goodreau suggests. “I consider myself somewhat of a music nut, and his songs move me as much as anything I have ever heard. I mean that sincerely. He is consistently writing songs that totally stone me.”
Von Flue adds, “The songs are almost entirely written by Nich. We do have some other stuff, but he’s too good of a songwriter, and too prolific…We’ll probably never be found playing “Mustang Sally”.
It wasn’t always folk music and story telling for the members of Hang Dog Expression though. Each man’s musical journey has been different – from playing in punk and rock bands, to no bands at all; their lead songwriter even came directly from heavy metal! But permeating most of their varied backgrounds is an upbringing on country and bluegrass.
For Von Hulsebus, it was, “Hank Williams playing on the turntables at family gatherings. Something about the story telling and the accessible nature of country music has always stuck with me.”
Von Flue says, “I’ve long been a fan of country since my grandma used to play records while she babysat me…i was fed a steady diet of Hank WIlliams, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson…”
Goodreau adds, “I kind of grew up with a heavy folk and bluegrass presence around me – I just never realized that I could find such fulfillment playing all acoustic…I have never been this happy in a band.”
A cornerstone of Hang Dog’s sound comes from Ford’s mandolin. He’d developed a keen interest in traditional Irish music, Appalachia, and the delta blues.
“The mystique of some of these older forms of music somehow seemed accessible with the mandolin,” Ford says. “The guitar has so many conventions that for one reason or another limited my creativity….mandolin has no precedents where I grew up…and just seemed wide open…I could teach myself and develop my own style.”
Of the various characters coming together, Von Hulsebus recounts, “I went from playing in a metal band to laying down bass in Hank Williams covers with Neal [Von Flue]. I came across Robbie [Ford] at El Camino College and he told me he was playing mandolin. Neal brought around Tony [Goodreau], who was starting to play stand-up bass…it started to fit together – it just seemed like everyone, left to there own devices, gravitated to this kind of music. Brett [Hall] came on a bit later and it suddenly went from a fun thing to do to a much more sublime and enjoyable experience.” He continues, “We really started as a sort of anti-band…we’ve never really wanted to become a proper one, but we’re sort of becoming one despite our best efforts.”
Von Flue adds, “It really evolved out of a friendship, and we do our best to keep it that way…we try to hold onto the mission statement that we’re “a drinking club with a music problem,” and that means we have to meet once a week in the basement of a church and talk it out.”
Transpiring through love and the foundation of their friendship, the band grew organically. Their respective artistic fires found natural expression through melding this type of music together, and the Hang Dog sound was born.
“It is an interpretation of country and bluegrass, but there is a little bit of punk rock thrown in there that you can’t deny,” says Von Hulsebus.
They embody that American roots image of tender badasses who smile and play down-home acoustic music to an archetype audience of jovial bikers, greaser, artists, children, and Johnny Cash’s ghost. It is a universally accessible expression of music.
“Being as how we have played songs for people in their diapers and in their graves, I am guessing our music is for anyone who loves good music and a good time,” Von Hulsebus sums it up.
Hang Dog Expression has an album of demo cuts unofficially titled “Turpentine”, and an EP referred to as “The Black Album” (though sometimes titled “It’s Getting Late”).
“It was recorded here in El Segundo by our friend Dave Copp,” says Hall. “It was a really amazing experience, as it was not only my first real professional recording, but Dave was my best friend growing up. 16 years ago we were playing Little League, and all of a sudden we were making an EP.”
“The Black Album” is currently available for donation-based download at www.DirtyHippieRadio.com – where both albums can also be streamed.
Hang Dog is performing with the Grit Dogs and Goodfellas this Saturday Dec. 18 at the Automoblie Driving Museum in El Segundo. Doors at 7, music starts at 8PM.