Gainesville, Florida which showcases the
songwriting of Hoyt Walston. Hoyt began writing
songs in 1996, inspired largely by the success his
older brother, Charles Walston, had achieved as a
songwriter and as leader of Atlanta alt-country band
The Vidalias. Hoyt started playing his songs out in
public as a “solo acoustic” performer in the summer
of 2000.
The Hotheads were formed in 2002, when Hoyt was
invited to perform as opening act for national
recording artist/singer/songwriter Dan Bern. Hoyt
put together a rhythm section for that show, and the
performance was so much fun and so well-received,
the decision was made to continue the band as a
permanent project under the Hotheads name.
Since the band's formation, the Hotheads have
played numerous gigs in and around Gainesville.
More noteworthy performances include playing at
the 2002 Florida Music Harvest (at the Spirit of the
Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida), at the
2004 Santa Fe Community College Spring Arts
Festival, and at the 2004 Alachua County Fair as one
of the finalists in the inaugural Gainesville
Sun/gainesville.com "Battle of the Bands." The
Hotheads have also participated in the 2002, 2003,
and 2004 Gainesville Summer Music Showcases
(“Moefest”) and benefits for the Civic Media Center
and local homeless charities, as well as performing
at most of the Gainesville local music venues.
The Hotheads have recorded an 8-song debut CD
entitled “Kill the Pain,” and also contributed a track
to the compilation H.O.M.E. CD released by
Signalpath Records.
Members of the band are Hoyt Walston
(vocals/harmonica/rhythm guitar), Brian Krashpad
(Lead guitar, backing vocals), Bruce Barkwill
(Drums), and Dan E. Bukkake (Bass, backing vocals).
While the Hotheads is the first and only rock band of
which Hoyt has been a part, all of the other Hotheads
are, or have been, members of other bands. Brian
has played in numerous bands on the Gainesville
scene, including the Atomics, Band of Fools, Tycho,
Camp 7, Allen Wrench, Smart Bomb, Sick Dick & the
Volkswagons, Jetsam, and Crash Pad, a punk rock
band for which Brian is frontman, and which
currently is one of Gainesville's longest-standing
bands.
Bruce has been the drummer for Life on Mars and
Chasing Birds as well as the Hotheads. He is also
experienced as an agent and publicist in the music
business. He was the manager for late-80's/early-90s
local group Zombie Birdhouse, and presently is
involved in assembling and managing a backup
band for young vocalist Sarah Hoffman. Bruce also
is a long time friend of members of legendary rock
band Cheap Trick. This has allowed Bruce to have
the kind of experiences most of us mere mortals
merely dream about. Elsewhere on this website you
can find pics of Bruce (and maybe even the other
Hotheads too) hamming it up with some "big names"
in rock music.
Dan, the newest Hothead (and the fourth bass player
in the band's brief history) is a member of The
Monistats, a popular Gainesville punk band.
Festival in downtown Gainesville -- (April 18, 2004).
bands" finals competition (October 22, 2004)
earned the nickname "Mr. Sensual."
Hotheads' performance at Moefest 2004 as a member of the audience. Playing
bass is Vince Ryan, the Hotheads' previous bass player.
Tyler (Aerosmith Vocalist)
(Cheap Trick drummer) ---------------------------^
behind-the-back guitar playing technique --^
