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History

 

The Neighborhoods came out of Boston around 1976-77 while the whole punk scene was going on at the Rathskeller (The Rat) in Kenmore Square.  The Hoods were an excellent rock group playing Mod punk-type music a-la early Who and much like the Jam and Generation X in their early days. From the first time I saw them at Cantones in Boston in 1978 I was immediately struck by the energy of the band and their memorable melodies.  David Minehan was the lead singer and guitar player who from the very beginning had a great stage presence and played guitar like it was his last night on earth.  In the back was Mike Quaglia keeping the rock steady beat and Jim Bowman keeping the bass lines strong so Dave could weave in and out. 

 

By 1979 the band changed bass players and John Hartcorn was there to add more bass rhythm and energy to the mix. The band was now on fire and easily won the WBCN Rock N Roll Rumble held at the Rat. The Hoods power-rock was infectious with songs like “Monday Morning”, “Teachers Pet”, “Flavors”, “She’s So Good” and “Think It Over.”  In 1980 they released a single on Ace of Hearts label called “Prettiest Girl” & “No Place like Home” which got a lot of airplay in the local New England area. Soon the Hoods were a favorite local attraction in RI and especially at the Living Room with sell-out crowds.  We all knew that the Hoods were on the verge of going nationally but based on stories we later learned, mismanagement caused the band to split for a brief moment in July 1981 but as it turned out, it was the end of an era in the early Hood history. It’s a shame they never got to release an album from that time frame to capture that great raw power era. 

 

After the Hoods regrouped they decided to go in a different direction. Gone was John Hartcorn on bass and he was replaced with Tim Green who added a more funky style playing to the new music. The band material now was based more on higher energy and less on bright melodies.

 

In 1984 they finally released their first mini-LP "Fire Is Coming" with another new bass player named Lee Harrington who had joined the year before. That was followed by a full record for Restless record label in 1986, "...the high hard one...." and "Reptile Men," in

 

1987. The band also did a national tour with The Ramones in 1988.

 

1990 saw the release of "Hoodwinked" with the help of Brad Whitford from Aerosmith. The band was now being primed for the big push but like before it ended the second era of the band..

 

1991 saw a major change when “Careful” Mike Quaglia left the group and was replaced by Carl Coletti on drums.  The Hoods also added a lead guitar player for a brief moment named Dan Batel. Back in the studio with Brad Whitford as producer, the Hoods release an area-rock type album that was simple self titled “The Neighbor Hoods” for Third Stone / Atlantic records.

 

1994, Aerosmith was doing an Asian tour when Brad Whitford was forced to leave unexpectedly due to family illness, Dave Minehan was flown to Japan where he performed in Whitford's place for several days until Whitford returned.

The Hoods continued as local favorites despite the changes through out the years and eventually another lineup in the late 90’s with a new drummer named Johnny Lynch.

 

By 2005 The Neighborhoods were inducted into the Boston Music Awards Hall Of Fame as Tom Hamilton & Joey Kramer from Aerosmith gave the honors.  2010 still has the Hoods rocking and recently they opened for the Joe Perry Project at the Living Room in Providence.

 

- Paul Fernandes

 

For more information visit The Hoods Online http://www.thehoodsonline.com/

 

 

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