The Hop Jam: Years ago exposure to Hanson put The Brothers Moore on musical path
Years ago exposure to the Tulsa band put The Brothers Moore on musical path
The Hop Jam is a craft beer and music festival founded by Tulsa pop rock trio Hanson.
Full circle? The band that will open the fifth annual Hop Jam likely owes its existence to Hanson-provided inspiration.
The Brothers Moore, a Tulsa alternative/indie band, won the Tulsa World’s Awesome Music Opening Band contest and will open the Hop Jam on the Main Stage.
“Man, we’re so humbled about it,” said Bobby Moore, one of two brothers in the band. “We’re completely ecstatic. We have been talking about it. We had a show (last week) in Stillwater and, when we got done, we sat in a hotel room for like three hours just talking and planning for it. We are pretty much elated how many people are talking about us on Facebook and social networks and things like that. We are just completely pumped and humbled about it.”
The Hop Jam is scheduled Sunday, May 20, in the Tulsa Arts District. The music branch of The Hop Jam is free and intended for an all-ages audience. For tickets to the craft beer aspect of the festival, go to thehopjam.com.
Music will take place on two stages. Headliners include Manchester Orchestra, Nada Surf, Ra Ra Riot and Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors. The Hop Jam recently announced the lineup also will include Paul McDonald, a singer-songwriter and former “American Idol” participant. Runners-up in the opening band contest — The Gales, Manta Rays, Weston Horn & The Hush, Sam Westhoff and Cedar House — will perform on the Park Stage.
“We were blown away by the diversity and quality of the artists who participated in this year’s contest,” Taylor Hanson said after the contest results were announced. “We feel like this group of artists will help to make this the best Hop Jam to date.”
The Brothers Moore roster includes Billy Moore (rhythm guitar/vocals), Bobby Moore (bass/vocals), Jake White (drums/vocals) and Troy Smith (lead guitar/vocals).
Bobby Moore said he didn’t start learning how to play guitar until his senior year of college. But he said brother Billy started playing the guitar long ago. Blame the neighbors.
“We actually grew up next door to the Hanson brothers,” Bobby said. “We used to watch them play as little kids, and my older brother started playing because of them. He got a guitar.”
Bobby said it was a hoot to see the neighbors be on TV and “shoot off into the mainstream.” Hanson’s 1997 album, “Middle of Nowhere,” went multiplatinum, and the Grammy-nominated single “MMMBop” topped the charts in 27 countries, catapulting the Tulsans to stardom.
Bobby said it will be cool to link back up with Hanson at The Hop Jam all these years later. He said they kind of lost touch with each other, but because Hanson has a studio (3CG Records) in Tulsa, it has provided opportunities to become reacquainted.
“My brother bartends at The Hunt Club right across the street, so we will occasionally bump into them and, when we do, we kind of talk just shortly,” Bobby said.
“We don’t want to bother them or take their time, but I’m sure they remember us as neighborhood friends.”
Of course, The Brothers Moore want its music to stand on its own merit — and you may agree that it does if you check out a new single (“I Can Relate”) released in April.
The Brothers Moore has been around about two years, according to Bobby. Here’s an excerpt from the band’s bio: “Having just released their debut EP in August of 2017, the band is quickly gaining traction. Thickening the vein of early Kings of Leon and The Strokes, the brothers bring the undeniable charisma that embodies rock ’n’ roll. Their live performances carry every bit of weight you like to see in a show.”
The Brothers Moore played Eskimo Joe’s in Stillwater on May 9. The show came a few hours after the announcement that The Brothers Moore had won The Hop Jam opening band contest.
“Man, it was packed,” Bobby said. “It was so cool. Because of the social network love that we have been getting, we packed out Eskimo Joe’s. A lot of people knew us and were excited to hear our new song that we just released.”
Here’s a brief introduction to headlining bands at The Hop Jam.
Manchester Orchestra: An indie-rock band from Atlanta, Manchester Orchestra has released five studio albums. The four most recent albums reached the top 11 on the U.S. rock and alternative rock charts. “I’ve Got Friends,” “Shake It Out” and “The Gold” were top 40 rock singles.
Nada Surf: An alternative rock band based in New York, Nada Surf scored a major hit (and video airplay) with the song “Popular” in 1996. The band has gone on to craft an eight-album life span. In conjunction with the 15th anniversary of the critically acclaimed album “Let Go,” Nada Surf released “Standing at the Gates: The Songs of Nada Surf’s Let Go.” The album benefits the ACLU and The Pablove Foundation, which helps children with cancer. It features covers by guest artists, including Manchester Orchestra.
Ra Ra Riot: Ra Ra Riot is an indie-rock band from Syracuse, New York. Ra Ra Riot has released four studio albums. The three most recent albums reached the top 20 on the alternative chart.
Paul McDonald: McDonald placed eighth on the 10th season of “American Idol.” His new album, “Modern Hearts,” will be available June 1.
Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors: A Tennessee-born Americana band, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors released the album “Souvenir” in 2017. It’s the band’s fourth consecutive album to reach the top 25 of the U.S. rock chart and the top six of the U.S. folk chart.
Hop Jam breweries
Breweries attending the 2018 Hop Jam festival.
Oklahoma
405 Brewing Co.
American Solera
Angry Scotsman Brewing
Anthem Brewing Co.
Bitter Sisters
Black Mesa Brewing
Bricktown Brewery (3.2)
Cabin Boys Brewery
COOP Ale Works
Dead Armadillo Craft Brewing
Eerie Abbey Ales
Elgin Park
Elk Valley Brewing Co.
Hanson Brothers Beer
Heirloom Rustic Ales
Iron Monk Brewing Co.
Kolibri Ale Works
Marshall Brewing Co.
Mountain Fork Brewery
Nine Band Brewing
Nothing’s Left Brewing Co.
OK Cider Co.
Rapture Brewing
Renaissance Brewing
Roughtail Brewing Co.
Stonecloud Brewing
Twisted Spike Brewing Co
Vanessa House Brewing
Welltown Brewing
Willows Family Ales
U.S.
Abita Brewing Co.
Against the Grain Brewery
Almanac Beer
Anchorage Brewing Co.
Austin EastCiders
Avery Brewing
Ballast Point
Big Sky Brewing Co.
Bold Rock Hard Cider
Boston Beer
Boulevard Brewing Co.
Brewery Ommegang
Brewfist
Clown Shoes Beer
Core Brewing
Crazy Mountain
Crooked Stave
Deep Ellum Brewing
Destihl Brewery
Dogfish Head
Evil Twin Brewing
Flying Dog Brewery
Founders Brewing
Full Sail Brewing
Goodwood Brewing
Great Divide Brewing
Green Bench Brewing Co.
Grimm Artisan Ales
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Knee Deep Brewing
Lagunitas Brewing
Lazy Magnolia Brewing
Left Hand Brewing
Modern Times
Nebraska Brewing
Noble Rey
North Coast Brewing
Oskar Blues Brewery
Paradox Beer
Rahr & Sons Brewing
Rogue Ales
Santa Fe Brewing Co
Schilling
Sierra Nevada Brewing
Sixpoint Brewery
Squatters Pub Brewery
St. Somewhere Brewery
Stone Brewing
Tallgrass Brewing
The Collective
Tupps
Uinta
Uncle Billy’s
Upland Brewing
Voodoo Bewing
Wasatch Brewery
International
8 Wired
Brasserie De Blaugies
Brouwerij Boon
De La Senne
Dieu du Ciel
Gueuzerie Tilquin
Mikkeller
Omnipollo
To Øl