Greg Hoy & The Boys - FOMO YOLO ONO EP

​Greg Hoy & The Boys

FOMO YOLO ONO EP
self-released; 2016

4.0 out of 5

By Jamie Robash

“I love rock and roll” Joan Jett declared on her 1981 opus of the same name. And all these years since it is still the genre that has spawned more bands and splinter genres than any other. In this way it is perhaps also the most forgiving genre in terms of talent and quality, and since that is a subjective term, I will also cite the diversity of the music itself.

Greg Hoy, founder and front man extraordinaire of the San Francisco based rock outfit Greg Hoy & the Boys knows a thing or two about rock n’ roll. Hoy released his debut solo record way back in 2003. The lead-off track from that record was used in an episode of the television show “One Tree Hill.” Throughout his New York City period Hoy played in several different projects, logging nearly five hundred shows in five years’ time and has more than twenty releases to his credit. 

Hoy’s latest release as Greg Hoy & the Boys is the pop punk leaning FOMO YOLO ONO EP, which features bandmates David E. Richman, Harris Pittman and on two occasions Steve Sutherland. Right out of the gate Greg Hoy & the Boys treat us to the uppity effervescent rock tune “PowerLosers” complete with rigid and hard to resist jangle-pop guitars. To these sounds Hoy’s vocals, which have just the slightest hint of twang to them are fervent and powerful and his scope is right on target.

Next we’re treated to the feel good and radio friendly “Forever is Plenty of Time” with its bobble-head melody and hints of keyboard and xylophone which reminded me a bit of the North Carolina pop rock outfit The Love Language.

​Next Hoy and his boys get a little more out there with the pounding psych-rocker “Simplicity Complex,” which along with the equally harsher psych-rock esthetics on “Ruby,” were recorded in a separate session in Colorado along with Steve Sutherland. These songs definitely stand apart genre wise from FOMO YOLO ONO’s other tracks but quality wise they are right in line.

Hoy and company return to the pop punk format to close it out with the scraping “judd-judd” guitars of “On the Fence.” FOMO YOLO ONO is a shining example of why rock n’ roll will never die, and why so many people love the genre so much. It’s filled with catchy riffs and great instrumentation as well as lyrics that document the struggles of the common man, and makes a great addition to the cannon that just won’t quit.

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