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Get Hooked Up with The Hook Up

Appleton-based band The Hook Up will make the trip up the peninsula on Friday, June 3 to play an evening of rock and roll and original music at The Garage at Husby’s in Sister Bay.

Founded in 2012, The Hook Up began with Harry Right on guitar and vocals, Nicholas Rodello on bass and vocals, and Evan Brown on drums and vocals. The band has recently added David Payne as an additional drummer.

“Evan is a nurse and he works all the time,” Right explained. “David…plays about 50 percent of the shows. When we play at Husby’s it’s actually going to be David playing.”

The Hook Up takes inspiration from bands and artists such as Deftones, Rage Against the Machine, The Strokes, and Jimi Hendrix. Their sound, however, is completely their own.

“A lot of the songs that we play are classic and traditional rock. It’s cool to listen to those artists and take them to a new place,” said Rodello. “We used to be rock and roll and now we’re moving into hip hop. Taking electric songs and changing them.”

The Hook Up will perform at Husby’s as part of the band’s summer Wisconsin tour. They will make two more appearances at The Garage over the course of the summer: once each in July and August.

The band has played in Door County several times in the last year and a half. They have performed at Husby’s five times before and have also made appearances at The Fireside, Brick Lot Pub, and Sister Bay’s Fall Fest 2015.

“We’re definitely getting a following up there,” Right said.

“Every time we go to Door County, there’s just something about the people up there,” Rodello said. “They’re always receptive and responsive. We can feel our culture, our community in Door County…It’s a very cool, laidback scene.”

The Hook Up is already starting to expand its name recognition beyond the state’s borders.

“I think we’re doing a good job of reaching all of Wisconsin but hopefully we will try to reach out to the surrounding states and even beyond,” Rodello said.

Earlier this year, The Hook Up completed a weeklong tour, making stops in Oklahoma City, Austin, Nashville, Little Rock, and Chicago. They hope to organize a similar tour to the West Coast in the upcoming months.

When asked what they enjoyed most about performing live, both Right and Rodello talked about the pleasure that comes from interacting with fans.

“For me it’s all about connecting people,” Right stated. “That’s why I do it, that’s why it’s fun to me.”

“For me, I think inspiring people. I think that’s it. I definitely like it when I’m able to play a show and wow them and impress them,” added Rodello. “And then we have people come up to us and share their passions. Whether it’s doing something with art and music, raising a family, or being a gardener, it’s great to hear…I really like inspiring people and being inspired by others, and playing for them lets me do both simultaneously.”

The Hook Up will perform at Husby’s at 8 pm on June 3.

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