New pictures from our show at the Ritz in Okoboji, IA are up in our pictures section.

Members of Judd Hoos take a break from rehearsing in the back room of Flex Gym in Sturgis on Jan. 15. Members are, from left, Shane Funk, Bob Zwart, Andy Young, Zach Fronce and Chris Hornick. Pioneer photo by Sara Koch

Here is an article Sara Krock from the Black Hills Pioneer recently wrote on the new members of Judd Hoos.

Spearfish native joins Judd Hoos
By Sara Koch
Black Hills Pioneer
SPEARFISH – Andy Young, a native of Spearfish and current resident of Chadron, Neb., recently joined the South Dakota based rock band Judd Hoos.

The 22-year-old guitarist has been friends with the band for several years and has played in a couple other Black Hills bands in the past. He will also be playing the keyboard for the group in a  variety of songs. In the future, he said might also help with some vocals.

“I basically knew Shane (Funk) through living in Spearfish and shows and booking,” Young said. “I’m ready to start playing.”

Young will graduate in May from Chadron State College in Nebraska where he is focusing on his commercial music business degree. He started playing piano when he was six or seven and began taking guitar lessons in fifth grad.

Young’s inspiration comes from numerous aspects of his life.

“My dad is a drummer and I have seen him play my whole life,” Young said. “Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of jazz music – John Scofield and stuff in that region.”
Hoping to contribute a different dynamic to the group, Young said that there will be more flexibility instruments and the option of having a keyboard at any time.
“(My friends and family) are really pumped and excited for me,” Young said. “I’m also really pumped for the Rally.”

Young said that although he doesn’t get too nervous before shows, he probably will when it comes time for his first show with Judd Hoos. To warm up before the concert and prepare himself, he said he practices some scales on his guitar.

Zach Fronce of Omaha, Neb., 20 plays guitar with the group as well. Young said he and Fronce met for the first time in Watertown about three months ago. Both members joined the group after long-time member and co-founder of Judd Hoos Drew Lerdal decided to take on a dew job in Minneapolis, Minn. Lerdal was a multi-instrumentalist that provided guitar, keyboard and vocals for the group. After being offerred his dream job as a music director, producer and composer, he decided his time with Judd Hoos had come to an end. Lerdal’s last show was Jan. 2.

“We are lucky we found the right guys,” said drummer Shane Funk. “We have been working to get going since October and (Young and Fronce) have been playing at shows here and there since then.”

Funk said that he has known Young for the past several years, and remembered hearing Fronce in a different band in Omaha three years ago.

“I looked (Fronce) up online, found his MySpace account and contacted the manager of the club,” Funk said.

Bob Zwart, vocalist of the group and former member and co-founder of the band Zwarte, said that their summer is already 90 percent booked. Zwart, along with bass player Chris Hornick, left Zwarte with plans on starting a new group. Zwart joined the Black Hills group Stones Throw with Lerdal and Funk and later formed Judd Hoos, asking Hornick to be their bass player.

“(Young and Fronce) will add a different dimension and fuller sound,” Zwart said.

All the members said that since Judd Hoos now consists of five instead of four, much of their music must be tweaked to accommodate the different instruments. They said that the rhythmic guitar and keyboards will be able to be heard at the same time now, and nothing will have to be left out.

Judd Hoos has played in 12 states, mostly bordering South Dakota and the Midwest.

Young and Fronce’s first official Arnolds Park, Iowa. Upcoming shows in the area include the Loud American Roadhouse in Sturgis on April 16 and Jake’s in Gillette, Wyo. on May 7-8.

“I’m excited to start playing,” Young said. “The best part is just playing, gelling with everyone on stage.”

We’re in Okoboji, IA this weekend at The Ritz for their Winter Games. Come out and show some support and see the new Judd Hoos!  On a side note… we just put up some great new photos of our shirts in our online store.

Here is a link to a video I found of us playing for the show NO COVER NO MINIMUM on PBS. http://video.wttw.com/video/1358458989/

Here is also a link to a bunch of YouTube videos that fans have put up. YouTube

As many of you may know, Judd Hoos played it’s last show with Drew this past Saturday in Lincoln, NE.

In  what Drew described as one of the toughest decisions he has ever had to make, he will be accepting an offer to take his dream job as a full time music supervisor/composer/producer at a prestigious Minneapolis marketing firm. We will miss Drew’s awesome musicianship, as well as his tireless work ethic and dedication, but most of all we will miss not having our good friend with us on stage and on the road.  I can safely speak for all of us in Judd Hoos when I say that Drew is a first class human being who has been inspirational both as a musician and a person.  The countless hours we have spent with Drew in Judd Hoos has created a bond that transcends friendship. It feels like a family member is leaving, but in the same spirit of family we are proud of Drew’s accomplishments and we have high hopes for his future.  We wish you all the best Drew.

Having  known about Drew’s impending departure for several months, we have had time to comb the earth for the talent needed to fill Drew’s enormous shoes. What we have found are two amazing musicians that will be joining Judd Hoos.  The new Hoos lineup will feature two talented guitarist.  Andy Young and Zach Fronce have been rehearsing with us for the past three months and we are extremely excited about the new lineup!

Andy Young is from Spearfish, SD  and recently received his music degree from Chadron State College.  Andy is a talented guitarist and has a wealth of experience as a band leader and performer having played in some very successful Black Hills bands.  Andy will share lead guitar and rhythm guitar roles with Zach as well as taking on keyboard duties on a number of songs.

Zach Fronce is from Omaha, NE and at 20 years of age is already a seasoned professional musician having played in a number of popular Omaha bands.  Zach’s passion for guitar brought him to the stage in professional bands at an early age where he quickly made a name for himself as a guitar gunslinger in Omaha.  Zach will share lead guitar and rhythm guitar roles with Andy while providing backing vocals.

We are blessed to have found such exceptional people who share the same passion for great music and high energy performances that have been the foundation of Judd Hoos.

We can’t wait to hit the stage!
The next chapter of Judd Hoos is going to be fun!