By BJ Kirkpatrick
In 2011, local musician Tim Hoover, left for Liverpool, UK
to study
at the prestigious Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, a school
co-founded by former Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney. This summer he returns to Texoma for a few
local appearances then on to Nashville to promote his new band, Dallas Mile,
and the release of their debut single “English Rain”.
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| Dallas Mile |
Growing up with a guitar in his hand, music has always been
deep in Tim's soul. The
blues/rock/country influence came from his father, John Hoover and mother Amy
Hoover, who play in the very popular local band, BluRock. The guitar, well, that probably came from
Eric Clapton.
Tim was awarded the "Louis Armstrong Award” his
freshman year as a member of the Denison High School Jazz Band. Jazz is an improve type of music that allows
expressions of spirituality, sadness and “blues” with a rhythm that is distinguishable
from other types of genres. More awards
are in Tim’s future.
Competing in various Music Award contest as a teenager, Tim
was the 2010 Dallas International Guitar Festival Under 20’s Winner. At the Camp Jam, Tim walked up to the mic and
started to sing. Tim had always focused
on the guitar, and seeing him sing was a bit of a surprise to his mother and
sister –they looked at each other and said “who is that and what has he done
with Timothy”! As a rather shy young
man, Tim doesn’t however suffer from stage fright. Performing is his “comfort zone” and he is
quite at ease on stage, under the lights, engaging the audience in the musical
experience.
Upon high school graduation, Tim had planned to go to
Nashville. When he learned about the
Liverpool Institute he talked it over with his family and decided this was an
opportunity he wanted to pursue.
Competition was tough. Only 55
musicians would be selected out of 4,500 applicants.
Auditions took place in Los Angeles where he spent 6 hours
collaborating with six other applicants to write a song, took a music literacy
test and performed live. He didn’t have
to wait long for an answer - about a week later he was notified of his
acceptance.
At the Liverpool Institute Tim is studying toward a
Bachelors of Arts degree in the school’s honors music program. In addition to studying guitar, he is
learning about the music business – producing, writing, recording and
composition. He has also learned about a
new culture – one that has influenced his music from the very beginning.
A deep down in the core Beatles fan, Tim said, “Their music
(the Beatles) is timeless, it's genius.
It's the most amazing thing; four men from Liverpool made the most
timeless music in history." Now he
is playing in the same Cavern Club where the Beatles got their start and has
the opportunity to learn from one of the masters – Sir Paul McCartney. To live and study in the town and country
that influenced The Beatles music has been an extraordinary experience.
In 2012, Tim met Alec Brits from South Africa and Jesse
Eigen from Israel. Together this trio
has formed Dallas Mile, a Blues/Rock/Country Trio. Their debut single “English Rain” was
released in July of 2013 and they will be returning to Texoma in August as a
part of their tour through North Texas and Nashville, Tennessee.
“English Rain” an easy flowing Cash-like country shuffle,
tells the story of Tim’s transatlantic shift from living in Texas to the far
ends of Liverpool, UK. Tim doesn’t know what made him want to pick up
a guitar but in an interview with Mary Jane Farmer for Scene In Town, he recalls
“listening to Cream, Eric Clapton and others, he noticed the chemistry, the
bond between musicians, and when he heard the notes that came out of Clapton’s
guitar, from that moment on it (guitar) was the coolest thing. It was something deep down in my soul and
after that it came natural”. Within the
first 30 seconds of hearing Dallas Mile you will realize that he too has
created the chemistry.
The single is available now on ITunes and Spotify. You can find their tour schedule on the
BluRock website http://blurockband.com/?p=1216
, follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DallasMile and get updates on Twitter @DallasMile. Listen to the promos on https://soundcloud.com/dallas-mile
and on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYs7CGbWmyY
Never disappointing, Dallas Mile’s positive energy on stage
is contagious and creates an unforgettable atmosphere adorned with 3 part
harmonies and exciting instrumentalism.
Along with their original material they mix up their sets with classics
from the likes of Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles to name but a
few. They will be at Smitty’s in Denison
on August 9th, Loose Wheels on August 30th and the Point
Bar & Grill at Grandpappy Marina on Lake Texoma, on August 31st. For more Lake Texoma area appearances, visit
the entertainment page on www.texomaconnect.com.
