The band tried to start around 1992 as two Tulane University students, Art Boonparn and Tom Bell wrote and recorded some songs with various drummers, but never played live just to friends in their living room. Tom eventually went to Grad School in Massachusetts while Art devoted more time to the hardcore band he was in called Andon. Towards the end of '95 Art started writing Hotchkiss songs again. "Monday Wednesday Friday" was recorded and a copy of the song, unbeknownst to Art was given to Tulane's student run indie station, WTUL by CK a close friend at the time.
Due to the popularity of the song Hotchkiss was restored with Art's Andon bandmates and close friends. What is often referred to as the classic line up consisted of: Art Boonparn, Tommy Meunier, Brian "Chuch" Alexander and Zack LeBlanc. With the help of friend and manager Andy Bizer a they released a 4 song cassette demo. While still trying to find the band's true identity, the guys had fun for about two years playing shows and writing, but the progress was slow and frustrating. Anthony from Turducken put out an unrealized and confused Hotchkiss cassette and cd titled "Sincerity" which I think you can still buy from insound.com. Tommy married and relocated to Austin, TX. Hotchkiss disbanded for the second time.
Art spent the next year doing solo gigs of Hotchkiss material, some original comedy songs like "Shut Up and Blow Me" (claimed to be written for a porn movie with the same name) and lots and lots of covers. In an interview with Human Error fanzine, Art said, "I started getting really comfortable with the audience. I mean I'm up here by myself. It's sorta a one man drunken circus. Sometimes I would pass out and people would wake me up to play songs. I learned how to entertain."
Brian Antonak moved to New Orleans around this time and formed a band called Turtle Search with his friend Peggy Wang, who was also friends Art and Chuch. Art and Brian Antonak found they shared similar interests in music, hockey and drinking until last call. Art had just written "Just like a cat" which piqued the interest of local recording engineer and Mermaid Lounge soundguy, Joe "Joetist" Hollier. Recording began at Joe's home studio, the Megaplex. Aron Culotta formerly of the Leopolds was recruited on drums. Joetist and Art formed a label to release the JLAC 7". With Brian Antonak aka Nasa Man on bass, Hotchkiss reformed this time as a three peice. A batch of new songs were written but hardly anything was recorded. Aron moved to Amhearst to attend UMASS and became the 2nd Hotchkiss member to leave the band for UMASS. Art's old friend, Clarke Martty and bandmate from other projects most notably the Archdukes filled in on drums and contributed with song writing and arrangements. Clarke's busy schedule had him on the road more than at his "surf hut" in New Orleans so when Zack moved back from furniture school in North Hampton he provided the beat once again. The band quicky got back in the studio to finish songs written while Culotta and Martty were in the band. "I miss you forever" was Art's favorite since "Just like a cat." At this point Zack's life changed gears again as he and his future wife moved to somewhere in Mississippi. Nasa Man and Art used this time to finish the recordings.
The fourth and final era-of Hotchkiss began as Art became friends with a guitarist and keyboardist name Jack Porobil aka Jack Delancey and sometimes Saucy Jack. They started a band called the Facials. One day Art found out that Jack could also play drums meanwhile Art and Brian where in another project, Girl Distraction and asked one of the guitarists, Mike Higgins to play bass in Hotchkiss which would allow Nasa Man to switch to 2nd guitar. With this line-up everything seemed to be in place. Finally, Hotchkiss controlled it's dynamics as noisey post punk songs mingled with intricate lo-fi art punk ballads. While working on completing the first full length Katrina hit New Orleans. After the storm, Mike went back to New Olreans to finish Tulane Law, Nasa Man moved to Philly with his bandmates from Mexico 1910. Art, Chuch and Jack Delancey re-located to New York. With no motivation to play music, Hotchkiss lies dormant again. Most of our equipment was saved, but mastertapes, dats and hard drives full of pro-tools files were lost. Thankfully Art had sent some cdrs of Hotchkiss to friends which is what we used to put on this page. More songs and more info and pics will be posted soon. Thanks for listening. Orignally the Hotchkiss family never wanted a myspace page, but since a Hotchkiss flyer from a show with J Church appears in the new book PUNKHOUSE we figured wtf? Why not make a myspace page?
Hotchkiss would like the thanks these people who were not mentioned in the bio put played or sang back up on the songs...Becky Lowry (vocals "I Miss You Forever", vocals "I'll See You Again"), Matt Sakakeeny (we dueled leads on "I Miss You Forever"), Jason Rhein (vocals "Hong Kong"), Damian Williams (vocals "Hong Kong"), James Marler (keyboards "Kiss Me on the Straightaway") and Joetist (theremin "Just Like A Cat", NY subway sound (I'll See You Again").Video for "Just Like A Cat" shot 6 years ago...