Why being in the trenches works for Hollywood Folk Hogan

Hollywood Folk Hogan prefers to go onstage unrehearsed when they have gigs. For the band, it becomes a playful game to see whether they can stay in sync with each other.

- By JANUAR JUNIOR AGUJA

"The experience of playing music is better when there's a playful element," Ricky Coyoca, the band's lead vocalist and primary songwriter, told The FREEMAN.

That’s not to say it’s a flawless show every time. There were moments when their timing was off, and other moments when they went off-key. But they prefer it this way over delivering an over-synthesized performance.

“It’s about AI versus humans. The struggle of getting the song right and getting back to the sound is a human element that cannot be captured by AI,” he said. “It’s about putting us in the trenches, and we can see how we rise under pressure. It’s about that itch to play music.”

“When you go on tour a lot, you'll realize that it’s hard to play in a band that has a slower tempo compared to those who play it fast,” he added. “It’s about staying in pace and choosing the right notes.”

Coyoca originally formed Hollywood Folk Hogan as a solo project, playing gigs by himself until he realized he could not carry out his intended vision with his acoustic guitar alone. This led him to recruit members from other local bands to form a five-piece.

Joining Coyoca are Jao Jaunich on drums, Llywi Ripper and Edward Dy as lead guitarists, and Patrick Gallito on bass.

“Within the indie scene, it’s kind of incestuous [to grab members from other bands],” Coyoca jested. “We would often meet up to drink and share our stories.”