Greg Hoy Discusses First Questions, Record Clubs & Pet Peeves

Not long ago, veteran musician Greg Hoy released a new music video for “Last Quarter,” a song featured on his latest album, Hit Music, which is essentially a self-made greatest hits collection.

Hearing “Last Quarter” might make you question why more independent rock groups don’t blend big band sounds into their tracks. The moments when the saxophone and trumpet come in add a noticeable depth and richness that you can both hear and feel.

The video’s playful imagery, i.e., unicorns in a limousine, showcases a bold sense of imagination and energy, making it genuinely entertaining. There’s also a clever reference to Pan American World Airways, the former airline.

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Greg Hoy about “Last Quarter,” moments of newness, and the concept of ‘play’ in the video.

What’s the question you wish people would ask you when they meet you for the first time?

Greg Hoy: “It’s actually THIS question! The problem is we get stuck in a Q&A loop. It hits like a perfectly timed .gif! My actual favourite first question these days is ‘Have you seen any good documentaries these days?’ I did a road trip to drive my Jeep from California to Colorado. The setup is such that my smartphone sits on the dashboard. So, playing documentaries on the long drive was easy. I finished the Charlie Sheen doc (incredible), the Billy Joel doc (more interesting than expected), the David Bowie The Last Five Years BBC doc (well done), and rewatched Roadrunner on Anthony Bourdain. Apparently, my current buzz is watching docs on bipolar drug addicts because I got home and started the P Diddy doc, which is terrifying!”

When was the last time you tried something new?

“Um, watching documentaries on a road trip… while driving? Last year, I started writing a fiction novel, and got about 40 pages in. Life took over. However, I just started to collaborate with a dear friend and mentor on a new, practical book sort of centered around creativity, mindfulness, and embodiment. So that’s the latest new thing.”

Greg Hoy ‘Hit Music’ album artwork

Which one of these is most like you: upholder, obliger, questioner, or rebel?

“Rebel with a side of questioner, which, if you are a true rebel, means asking a lot of questions.”

What inspired your new single/music video, “Last Quarter?”

“My daughter became quite the fan of a vintage Ms. Pac-Man video game at the Craftsman Coffeeshop in Pacifica, CA. She’d always be asking for another quarter to play it. Plus, she came along during what might (depending on my death date) be the last quarter of my life.”

Who directed the video, and where was it shot? Are you pleased with the way it turned out?

“That’s an easy one! This video was all my idea, direction, and edit. Would I rather have real footage of an airplane, and have kept the limo for more than eight hours to shoot outside shots of it? Sure! Then again, the addition of green screens and miniature vehicles is part of the fun.

“To be clear, I did try to hire three real unicorns for the interior car shots; however, unicorns are unionized and charge far, far too much for on-camera appearances.”

What do you want viewers/listeners to take away from “Last Quarter?”

“The idea of ‘play’ being a worthy way to pass time… versus the capitalistic idea of slaving hours and hours for the profit of others. Struggle is real in a system designed to normalize things that aren’t really normal. (That’s that questioning rebel in me, by the way).”

Which musicians/singers influenced your sound the most?

“So, so many influences growing up in a house full of music! My mom belonged to Columbia House Records and Tapes, and all my siblings, who were a generation older than me, were musicians. The club was a monthly thing where you had to send a postcard back to them if you didn’t want the ‘record of the month.’

“As to be expected, oftentimes, records would just show up that no one requested. This meant James Brown and Barry Manilow, Barbara Streisand, with maybe Kool & The Gang and Neil Diamond, Huey Lewis, Herb Alpert, Little Richard. Then, around ten years old, my sister got me into Van Halen, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Genesis, Yes, Supertramp, and Joni Mitchell. This giant stew led me into the accelerating ’90s and ’00s as a seasoned, curious rock n’ roll appreciator.”

Greg Hoy, photo courtesy of Greg Hoy

Name some of your biggest pet peeves.

“My current pet peeve would be the phrase ‘Appreciate you!’ when spoken to me by a stranger. Now, if you want to say ‘Appreciate it’ based on my, say, act of holding the door for you at a store, or assisting in some other way, great! Somehow, ‘appreciate you’ from a stranger feels icky to me. It’s like… You don’t even know me! I might be a terrible person! I get it. The sentiment is nice. But that pronoun? Not so much.”

What are you good at that no one would ever suspect?

“I’ve been told I’m a solid team and band builder and can sense authenticity in others. I’m probably a closeted stand-up comedian.”

If you weren’t a musician or totally in love with your job, you’d be…

“A stand-up comedian.”

Does God exist? Why yes/no/who the fuck cares?

“Remember: God appreciates you!”