Bio

–Act I, Scene I–

Scene: the basement of a house in small-town Nebraska, rainy April afternooon, 1999. Several kids are gathered around a billiards table, others talk and joke. howie is sitting on the basement steps, strumming a guitar.

Scott: I could put some sweet saxophone on top of that, you know.

–Act I, Scene II–

Scene: A coffeehouse in Lincoln the following year. A crowd of people fills the room with the hum of conversation. howie&scott take the floor with a guitar, a saxophone, and a set of bongos.

howie:You want to play DMB or Foo Fighters?
Scott:Dave.
howie:That’s the most you’ve said in weeks.

–Act I, Scene III–

Scene: A college dorm room, spring 2001. Scott walks in. howie is seated on the floor with a yellow legal pad in front of him.

howie:Guess what.
Scott:What?
howie:I just wrote a song.
Scott:Cool.
howie:That’s the most you’ve said in weeks.
Scott:(silence)
howie:Go get your djembe. And the soprano sax, claves, congas, radio, flute…

–Intermission–

Two records (“Bigger Sounds From Fewer Folks,” “near and far”) are released during this time. h&s play gig after gig in southeast Nebraska.

–Act II, Scene I–

Scene: A sweltering night in midsummer 2003. Dim light outlines two figures, one seated behind a drum kit, the other poised towards the set, guitar in hand. Feedback fills the room. ProTools is trying to keep up with the sound.

howie:You ready?
Scott:Rocket (rock it).
howie(singing):In the night sky, past Orion’s eye…

–Act II, Scene II–

Scene: Beginning January 2004. The metamorphisis to rock band from jazzy coffeehouse duo complete, h&s release “signs.comets” – two albums in one package – and play its songs for all who will listen. Speaking from the stage…

howie:I’ve always wanted people to jump and rock out to our music… can we do that tonight?
crowd: yeah! (various affirmative responses).
howie&scott: After the countdown / what should I do now? / a new one begins…

–to be continued…–

Circa spring 2004, the story thus (near and) far… -h, 2011