"Engel plays Hanmer before heading to TO" from Up to Speed by Kennedy Gordon, The Sudbury Star, page A11, Thursday, May 31, 2001

Hank Engel and the Hoosier Daddies, who are heading off for a showcase performance at Toronto's North by Northeast music conference/festival shortly, play a weekend gig at Buddies in Hanmer Friday and Saturday.

Known as the North's finest purveyors of twisted rockabilly country-fried boogie, Engel and his Daddies have been on Sudbury stages since Engel relocated them from Edmonton in the mid 1990s.

Feel free to check out their 1999 CD, Barrel of Fun, for a taste--but the live show is really the key to enjoying these guys.

"Towne House hosts mini-reunion of Idyl Tea" from Up to Speed by Kennedy Gordon, The Sudbury Star, page A12, Thursday, October 19, 2000

Band to share a stage for the first time in nearly a decade

Back in the glory days of Canadian pop, the late '80s and early '90s (before Alanis, Amanda, Celine and Sarah softened everything up), there was this band from Edmonton that came oh-this-close to big-time success.

Idyl Tea was a jangly roots-rock band in the vein of REM, 10,000 Maniacs and the thankfully unknown Let's Active. Combining rock, country and lots of energy, Idyl Tea landed a major-label record deal, toured the world and other places outside Edmonton, had videos on MuchMusic and generally made themselves known without quite making it to household name status.

When things fell apart, as tends to happen in Alberta, singer-guitarist Ev LaRoi stayed on the prairies to keep making music, while bassist-singer Hank Engel, for some unknown reason, moved to Sudbury.

Regular readers know Hank is a longtime friend of this column--I've known him since the days when he wore a three-gallon Stetson. You'll also know he's a popular rockabilly-country player whose band, the Hoosier Daddies, gets people up and dancing in the most unlikely of places, like Garson.

He's also an actor (the plays Sound of Music, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Hair) a dad and an all-round nice guy, despite what you may have heard.

He and LaRoi, childhood buddies that they are, have always kept in touch. And now they're about to share a stage for the first time in nearly a decade.

The Ev LaRoi Band is coming through town Friday, playing the Towne House stage--the same stage Idyl Tea used to occupy back when they'd come through town.

So Hank and Ev cooked up a double-bill idea; the Hoosier Daddies and Ev's band will each play part of the night, with an Idyl Tea mini-reunion closing things off.

Hank says it best, in his Indiana-by-way-of-Alberta twang: "It's gone be excitin', man! Ah haven't played with Ev in a long time, but we sure do have that ol'chemistry!

Get the full Hank store online at listen.to/hank_engel, where you'll also find a link to the LaRoi site.

"Hank's A Barrel of Fun" by Keith Lacey, WOW!, pages 17-18, December, 1999 (vol. 1, #3)

When asked to describe the music he writes and sings, Hank Engel says if you took a time machine back to the Grand Ole Opry 40 years ago, slipped something sinister into Ernest Tubbs' drink and played his music "800 miles an hour," you'd be getting close.

The transplanted Sudburian is confident a lot of people are going to hear a lot of his music over the next little while.

Engel has been playing guitar and writing his own tunes since age 14 in Indiana and joined his first band when he was 16 and has spent the past 17 years playing in "various honky tonks and bars" for as long as he can remember.

He's always written tunes in the various bands he's played in, but he's never been more excited about his music now that he's released Barrel of Fun, a compact disc featuring 12 Engel originals and a cover of Stompin' Tom Connors' Sudbury Saturday Night and a cover of Bruce Springsteen's unheard gem Red Headed Woman.

Engel and his band The Hoosier Daddies hosted a successful CD release party in late November at the Townhouse Tavern and they're planning for an extensive tour of Ontario and Canada and perhaps even Europe if things go as planned.

Engel was born and raised in Indiana and lived in Wisconsin and other places in the United States, before his father got a teaching job at the University of Alberta several years ago.

It was while in Alberta that he met his future wife, who four years ago returned to her hometown here in Sudbury, realized she was very homesick and decided it was time for her and Engel to make Sudbury home.

Engel has been playing different rock and country clubs in and around Sudbury and large parts of Northern Ontario for the past three years and hopes to expand his audience and popularity with the release of Barrel of Fun.

Standing well over six-feet-tall and almost always wearing his trademark Stetson--a cheap one he picked up for a dollar--Engel always stands out in a crowd.

With the release of Barrel of Fun, Engel hopes to get attention for his music more than his distinct look over the next few months.

Barrel of Fun features Engel's distinct brand of "countrybilly" or "cowpunk," two terms he affectionately believes capture the spirit of his music.

Engel says his tunes are often labelled "country" and he does have an admiration for country music, but his music doesn't have any twang or hurtin' tunes about lost love or pickup trucks.

His music appeals much more to young people and rock and roll fans than any traditional country music fan, he said.

"It's all high-energy, high-spirited, hard-driving music almost always played fast and hard. . . there's a lot of energy and I try and make sure people can dance and have a good time," said the personable transplanted American.

Because Sudbury has become his adopted home and he's become a big fan of Stompin' Tom, adding Sudbury Saturday Night was a must and he gets requests for the tune almost every time he plays a Sudbury and area bar, said Engel.

The entire album was recorded at Easter Island Studios in Sudbury and the result is "way better than I ever expected. . . I'm very happy and proud with how things have turned out."

As for the trademark Stetson, Engel said he picked it up for a buck at the local Salvation Army many moons ago and hasn't taken it off much in public ever since.

"You wouldn't believe the offers I've had to buy this thing," he said smiling. "Every performer needs a gimmick and this is mine, even though it keeps the lights on stage out of my eyes and the rain off my face when I'm outside.

Engel has a great story about getting the rights to record Springsteen's tune.

After doing the legal and paperwork asking permission to record the song, Engel was expecting a phone call or letter from Springsteen's lawyer.

Instead, "The Boss" actually phoned him here in Sudbury, but no one was home.

Devastated he "didn't get to talk to my original musical hero," Engel did get the written contract signed not by a lawyer, but Springsteen himself.

"I didn't get to talk to him, but I did get his autograph."

Other musicians he admires most include Lucinda Williams and John Hiatt, two of the most talented, inspired, but unappreciated artists working today, he said.

If I could spend one afternoon talking to Lucinda Williams and have her help me write a song, that would be just O.K. with me," he said. "As for John Hiatt, I've had the fortune of meeting him and talking about music and I must say I've worked with a lot of talented musicians, but I was shaking in my boots talking to him because I happen to feel he's one of the best songwriters who ever lived."

Barrel of Fun is now available in all Sudbury and area music stores.

Anyone wanting more information on Engel can contact his website at http://listen.to/hank_engel.

"Engel releases Barrel of Fun CD Saturday" by Keith Lacey, Northern Life, page 14, Friday, November 19, 1999

Standing well over six-feet-tall and almost always wearing his trademark Stetson--a cheap one he picked up for a dollar--Hank Engel always stands out in a crowd.

With the release of his new compact disc Barrel of Fun, Engel hopes to get attention for his music more than his distinct look over the next few months.

Engel and his band The Hoosier Daddies are very excited about Saturday night at the Townehouse Tavern, when they are the special hosts at an official release party.

Barrel of Fun features Engel's distinct brand of "countrybilly" or "cow-punk", two terms he affectionately believes capture the spirit of his music. There are 12 original tunes, as well as a "speeded-up version" of Canadian legend Stompin' Tom Connors' Sudbury Saturday Night and a version of Bruce Springsteen's unheard gem Red Headed Woman.

Engel's band is called The Hoosier Daddies because he was born and raised in Indiana.

His professor father got a teaching job at the University of Alberta several years ago, he lived there for many years, met his actress wife, who hails from Sudbury, she got homesick, they moved here almost four years ago and Sudbury will remain home for many years to come, said Engel.

Engel, 33, has been a member of at least a half-dozen rock bands "playing more honky-tonks and bars than I could ever remember" since lying about his age (at 16 he was too young to get into bars) half a lifetime ago.

He's always contributed tunes to the various bands he's played in, but this is the first project where he's the boss in charge of writing and arranging a recording of his own stuff.

Engel says his tunes are often labelled "country" and he does have an admiration for country music, but his music doesn't have any twang or hurtin' tunes about lost love or pickup trucks.

His music appeals much more to young people and rock and roll fans than any traditional country music fan, he said.

"It's all high-energy, high-spirited, hard-driving music almost always played fast and hard. . . there's a lot of energy and I try and make sure people can dance and have a good time," said the personable transplanted American.

Because Sudbury has become his adopted home and he's become a big fan of Stompin' Tom, adding Sudbury Saturday Night was a must and he gets requests for the tune almost every time he plays a Sudbury and area bar, said Engel.

The entire album was recorded at Easter Island Studios in Sudbury and the result is "way better than I ever expected. . . I'm very happy and proud with how things have turned out."

Engel and his band are in the process of planning an extensive tour of Ontario and many parts of Canada if the right offer is there, a trip overseas to Europe won't be far off, he said.

Engel promises his music will have the dance floor filled from the first song to the last and invites all music fans to the Townhouse Saturday night, where hundreds of copies of Barrel of Fun will be available.

The compact disc will also be available in Sudbury and area music stores within the next few days or so.

Anyone wanting more information on Engel can contact his web site at http://listen.to/hank_engel.

"Country artist is having Barrel of Fun," from Up to Speed by Kennedy Gordon, The Sudbury Star, page A9, Thursday, November 18, 1999

Hank Engel's in hillbilly heaven these days.

Almost a year after beginning work on his latest disc, Engel's ready to launch Barrel of Fun--the finished product. He and his band, the Hoosier Daddies, are unleashing it on the world Saturday night at the Towne House.

Now, you may be one of those people who's just too cool to listen to country music. I know how you feel; there was a time when I turned up my nose at twang and shrugged my shoulders at Shania.

But then I slipped on a pair of cowboy boots. Man, they're comfortable. Next was a stack of Louis L'Amour paperbacks, then the urge to tie a bandana around my neck.

Next thing I knew, I was shopping for a horse.

I've recovered somewhat from that early flirtation with the cowboy lifestyle.

But one thing I'm stuck with is Hank, whose take on country is a little more. . . off kilter.

He once described his version of Sudbury Saturday Night as sounding like something Stompin' Tom would do if he had the Sex Pistols as a backing band, which sums up his rockabilly sound perfectly.

After all, would the Towne House book an old-style country act? Nope.

Hank--I should mention that we're great friends, so I'm somewhat biased--originally hails from Indiana and grew up in Edmonton. He was part of bands like Idyl Tea, the Greyhound Tragedy and the Silver Bishops before relocating to scenic Garson to polish his boots, tune his geetar and start fresh.

For the complete rundown (and a selection of fabulous photographs), hit the web at listen.to/hank_engel.

"Stompin' Tom classic gets raucous cover"

SUDBURY, Ont. (CP) - When Stompin' Tom Connors wrote his famous Sudbury Saturday Night back in 1967, he essentially penned a raunchy drinking song. More than three decades later, it's still played in bars around the Sudbury region. Hank Engel, a Sudbury rocker and country singer, has just come out with a new, raucous version of the song on his CD Barrel of Fun.

"Every time we play that song, it doesn't matter how sedate or reserved the audience is, they get up on their feet," said Engel, whose CD will be released Nov. 20 (yes, it's a Sudbury Saturday night) at the city's Townhouse Tavern.

"The song is a classic," Engel added. "Most people agree (Connors) was playing at the Townhouse when he wrote it. He was inspired by the debauchery he saw around him."

Engel's version is true to Connors lyrics, tune and arrangement - "but it's a lot faster and raunchier," he says.

"Imagine Stompin' Tom on speed. Or imagine that Stompin' Tom's band didn't show up for a gig, so he had to hire the Sex Pistols as a backup band. That's our version."

(Sudbury Star)

© The Canadian Press, 1999

From "Jamboree is one of the biggest country shows of the year" by Kennedy Gordon, The Sudbury Star, Friday, July 30, 1999:

Engel, originally from Indiana, now lives in Garson, which is, he says, a lot like Indiana, only with a mine shaft.

The lanky cowboy, whose influences include Dwight Yoakam, Tom Petty and classic rockabilly of the '50s, launched his musical career in Edmonton, playing with bands like Idyl Tea (a mid-'80s pop outfit that made a bit of a splash nationwide) and the Silver Bishops.

After relocating to the Sudbury area a couple of years back, Engel re-ignited his career as a country troubadour. His first band, the Blue Northerners, evolved into his current backing combo, the Hoosier Daddies.

Engel and the Daddies have just wrapped post-production on their new CD, which should be available around Labour Day.

Recorded in Sudbury at Easter Island Studios, it features mainly Engel originals—fun, finger- snapping country-billy tunes with a sly wit and infectious melodies.

"There are two cover songs," Engel says.

"One is a Bruce Springsteen song, Red Headed Woman. The other is Stompin' Tom Connors' Sudbury Saturday Night."

Engel's been playing a lot of outdoor shows this summer—the Hanmer Country Fair, this weekend's Haweater Festival on Manitoulin—and says there's something about the jamboree spirit that makes for a better performance from the bands.

Show builds momentum

"It goes all day, all night, and you can really build up momentum," he says.

"It's the sheer number of people that makes the difference."

There's a relationship between the bands and the crowds that becomes all the more apparent in an outdoor environment, Engel points out.

"There's a strong vibe that comes off a crowd that numbers in the thousands, and not a crowd in the hundreds like you'd get in a club," he says.

"People get into it, into the diversity of the bands and the excitement of it."

This feeds back to the performers.

"You're playing for everyone, even the people in the very back, the guy up on the horizon. They can't see you very well, so you make sure they get as much of the experience as the people right up front."

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