I first heard of the Spongetones sometime in the 1980s, when Don Dixon and Marti Jones worked with Jamie Hoover. I checked them out because of that and never looked back. While I’ve not seen them live, this concert tells me what I’ve missed. I'm glad to have it.

The band was kind enough to answer a few questions for me.

Andrea Weiss: How did the concert come about?

Jamie Hoover: We were going to do something to celebrate. Chris put the show together.

Patrick Walters: Our drummer at the time, Chris Garges put the concert together. It was originally scheduled for April, 2020, but was delayed for a year and a half due to COVID.

AW: For those who are hearing you for the first time, how did the band form?

JH: Pat, Steve, Rob, and Keith Brooks were the band as I saw them first. Pat’s idea, I believe.

PW: A friend asked me and Steve Stoeckel about putting together a band for one night, playing some of the 60s music that we grew up with. It was tremendous fun! Eventually we became the songwriting, recording band that we now are.

AW: Who’s in the band?

JH: Pat Walters, Steve Stoeckel, Eric Wilhelm, and Jamie Hoover

AW: I hear a lot of mid 60s Beatles in your sound. Would you say they’re an influence?

JH: Absolutely! We wanted to write new songs with the same sensibilities, but without stealing.

PW: Oh yes!

AW: The last three tracks are new studio recordings, and I do like them. Why include them on an anniversary concert album? 

JH: It seemed like a good idea and it seemed like a good tool to sell with.

Steve Stoeckel: We had thought about recording new songs already, and it was Big Stir Records’ idea to add them to the concert with older originals. Their title The 40th Anniversary Concert...And Beyond indicated we had a history, but also had plenty to say with new tunes.

AW: I love the melody on “My Girl Maryanne.” Who came up with it, and the very nice, sweet lyrics?

JH: All Steve’s baby! There was a fan who was named that, and she talked so much…barely time to breathe. Good fan!

AW: “Must Be Lust” and “Honest Work” are fun too. How did they come about?

JH: “Must Be Lust” was something I wanted to write about young love-and how intense it was! “Honest Work” was my lyric. I just wanted to talk about working, how important it is, and that everyone has to do it - so make it fun!

PW: I wrote the music for “Honest Work” and Jamie contributed his excellent lyrics.

AW: Are you taking the concert outside of your home state of North Carolina?

JH: Not sure. Just a matter of finances!