Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal is a six-piece American soul/funk/R&B band, based out of Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. The band is led by Josh Hoyer on keyboards/vocals, with Myles Jasnowkis, Blake DeForest on Trumpet, James Cuato on Saxophone, Harrison ElDorado on drums, and Mike Keeling on bass. Benjamin Kushner, the guitarist, died in 2024 of cancer. The band has played 125+ shows a year in the United States since 2015, along with two headlining European tours in 2017 and 2018 and a Spanish Tour in 2021.[1][2]
Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Lincoln, Nebraska, United States |
| Genres | Soul/funk/R&B |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Labels | Silver Street |
| Members | Josh Hoyer Blake DeForest Mike Keeling Benjamin Kushner Harrison ElDorado |
| Website | joshhoyer |
History
editHoyer formed Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal in 2012 Lincoln, Nebraska. Hoyer, DeForest, Kushner, Cantarero, Cuato, and ElDorado are all native Nebraskans. Before Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, Hoyer had fronted the band Son of 76 & The Watchmen, and Electric Soul Method. Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal were named 2018 Artist of the Year by the Omaha Entertainment and Arts awards.[3]
Studio albums
editJosh Hoyer and Soul Colossal (2014)
editThe self-titled debut album was released on January 17, 2014.[4] Tracks 1-3 produced by BZZZ at Studio F and Tracks 4-8 produced by Charlie Johnson at Fuse Studio in Lincoln, NE.
Living by the Minute (2015)
editReleased on January 13, 2015 on Silver Street Records. The record was produced by Hoyer, engineered by Ben Brodin, mastered by Doug Van Sloun at Focus Mastering and recorded at ARC Studios in Omaha, Nebraska.[5][6] The song "The First One" was featured in the TV One movie "For The Love of Ruth."[7]
Running from Love (2016)
editReleased on April 8, 2016 on Silver Street Records. The record was produced by Ken Coomer (Wilco/Uncle Tupelo) and recorded at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. Glide magazine premiered the music video for the record's first single, "Parts of A Man", on February 8, 2016.[8] The Vinyl District premiered a music video for "Natural" on June 9, 2016. The video features a remixed version of the studio cut, and was produced by James Fleege.[9]
Do It Now (2018/2019)
editThe album was globally released on January 18, 2019, following a European release on August 16, 2018. The record was produced by Hoyer and recorded at Silver Street Studio in Ashland, NE and Make Believe Studios in Omaha, NE. The record was mixed by James Fleege and mastered by Eric Conn in Nashville, TN. It is available on vinyl, CD, and digital formats.[10]
Natural Born Hustler (2021)
editThe album was released on March 26, 2021, on Color Red Records. Natural Born Hustler was produced by Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds. [11]
Green Light (2022)
editThe album was released independently on October 21, 2022. Recorded LIVE at Mighty Fine Productions in Denver by John Macy and produced by Josh Hoyer.
Live albums
editCooked Raw (2015)
editReleased on November 6, 2015 on Silver Street Records.[12] Cooked Raw was recorded live, direct to disc at Welcome To 1979 in Nashville, Tennessee. The recording engineer was Chris Mara and the mastering engineer was Cameron Henry.[13] Welcome to 1979 is one of the few studios in the world that can record a performance directly to a vinyl master.[14] Released exclusively on 180g vinyl, the album contains select cuts from the band's first two studio releases. Each side of the record contains 3 songs, which were played straight through, without stopping.[15] Glide Magazine gave the record 9/10 stars.[16]
Live! Ancienne Belgique (2017)
editReleased on June 2, 2017 on Silver Street Records.[17] Live! Ancienne Belgique is a live record from the final night of the band's 2017 European tour at Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Belgium. Live! Ancienne Belgique features 7 songs from the band's previous three studio releases. It was recorded by Stef Van Alsenoy, mixed by James Fleege, and mastered by Doug Van Sloun.
EPs
editThe End of the Night (2018)
editReleased on January 26, 2018 on Silver Street Records.[18] The three song EP is a solo side project from Hoyer, and the result of a writing collaboration between Hoyer, veteran Nashville songwriter Jay Knowles (Harry Connick Jr, Blake Shelton), and Jon Coleman, Trace Adkins' band leader and producer. The record was recorded and mixed in Nashville, Tennessee by Engineer Teddy Morgan, and mastered by Richard Dodd.[19]
NBC's The Voice
editHoyer was a contestant on Season 12 of NBC's The Voice. He earned a spot on Team Blake Shelton by singing a version of The Chi-Lites hit "Oh Girl" for his blind audition which aired on March 6, 2017.[20] Hoyer sang "In the Midnight Hour" by Wilson Pickett during the battle rounds against fellow soul singer TSoul and was eliminated from the show on March 27, 2017 when Shelton declared TSoul the winner and neither of the remaining coaches with steals, Adam Levine and Gwen Stefani, opted to steal Hoyer.
References
edit- ^ "Bio - Josh Hoyer Official Website". JoshHoyer.com. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ "European Tour 2017". Joshhoyer.com. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
- ^ "Congratulations to the 12th Annual Award Winners!". Oea-awards.org. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ "Josh Hoyer & The Shadowboxers Self-Titles Debut". Hear Nebraska. 15 January 2014.
- ^ "Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal release new album". SilverStreet.us. Archived from the original on 2016-05-06. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- ^ "Josh Hoyer releasing album, hitting the road". Lincoln Journal Star. 5 November 2014.
- ^ "On The Beat". Lincoln Journal Star. 8 May 2015. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- ^ "Video Premiere: Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal fight for love on "Parts of A Man"". Glide Magazine. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ "Video Premiere: Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, "Natural". The Vinyl District. 8 June 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- ^ "Do It Now! 2018 European Tour!". Joshhoyer.com. 15 May 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ^ "Natural Born Hustler - Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal". Bandcamp. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ^ "Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal Serve Up Some Horn-Heavy Funk". Elmore Magazine. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ "Josh Hoyer's 'Cooked Raw'". Mix Online. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ "Direct To Disc Recording". Welcometo1979.com.
- ^ "Josh Hoyer Hands Us His Heart". No Depression. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ "Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal - Cooked Raw (Album Review)". Glide Magazine. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ Wolgamott, L. Kent (June 2017). "Review: Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, 'Live at Ancienne Belgique". Journalstar.com. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ "Lazy-i » High Up drops new single, announces tour; Josh Hoyer drops EP and hits the road…". Lazy-i.com. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ "New EP! 'The End of the Night'". Joshhoyer.com. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ Blumberg, Perri O. (8 March 2017). "See Blake Shelton's First 'Voice' Team Member Ace Chi-Lites' 'Oh Girl'". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 18 April 2021.