Review: Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet, EMERGENCE

Co-leaders make the most of band's unusual, drumless instrumentation

"...sounds come from Carolyn Trowbridge's vibraphone, James Sutter's bass, Bob Hoffnar's pedal steel, and Elaine Barber's harp. The drumless..."

May 12, 2023 Music Feature by Michael Toland

Crucial Concerts for the Coming Week

Fusebox, Alejandro Escovedo, alexalone, and the Ballinger brothers lead our recommendations

"...locals to qualify as a veritable supergroup: steel guitarist Bob Hoffnar, harpist Elaine Barber, bassist James Suter, and vibraphonist..."

April 14, 2023 Music Column by Genevieve Wood

2022/2023 Austin Music Awards Winners

You voted – here's Austin's favorite artists, albums, and more

"...Nominees: Bob Hoffnar & the Mood Illusion Future Museums More Eaze..."

Feb. 26, 2023 Music Post by James Renovitch

Ten Chronicle Music Writers on Their Favorite Austin Albums of 2022

Almost 100 albums we loved this year

"...alphabetically: Adrian Quesada, Boleros Psicodélicos; Adrian Quesada, Jaguar Sound; Bob Hoffnar & the Mood Illusion, Things We Wonder: An..."

Dec. 16, 2022 Music Feature by Kriss Conklin

Crucial Concerts for the Coming Week

Melissa Carper, Taméca Jones, the Hide Outs, Alex Coke, and more local shows to see

"...With concert harpist Elaine Barber and steel guitar maverick Bob Hoffnar in their sextet's lineup, the duo pushes the..."

Nov. 25, 2022 Music Column by Abby Johnston

Review: Bob Hoffnar & the Mood Illusion, Things We Wonder: An Interpretation of the Shaggs (Rock Tumbler)

Deft experimental combo reworks Worst Album of All Time contender into avant-garde jazz

"...Pedal steel guitarist Bob Hoffnar has never been afraid of showcasing his instrument..."

Aug. 19, 2022 Music Feature by Michael Toland

Crucial Concerts for the Coming Week

Bigg Robb, Weedeater, the return of Lou Ann Barton, Mike Sailor's Good Time Orchestra, and more

"...ultra-engaging live show – in the same league as Bobby Rush and Morris Day & the Time – that'll..."

July 1, 2022 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

Crucial Concerts for the Coming Week

Anthea, Terry Allen, the Greeting Committee, Hellfury, Dorian Electra, and Olson St. Clair

"...playful beats, sure to warm up the crowd with bobbing heads and swaying bodies. Austin's favorite bedroom haze, Indoor..."

Feb. 18, 2022 Music Column by Christina Garcia

What We're Listening to Right Now

Nakia, Sun June, Norman BA$E, Good Looks, 8½ Souvenirs, and more local sounds worth seeking out

"...tunes. Manipulating saxophones, flutes, guitar, bass, vibraphone, harp, and Bob Hoffnar's atmospheric pedal steel, Coke and Michel sample catalogs..."

Jan. 28, 2022 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

Faster Than Sound: Natalie Jane Hill Finds Her Balance on Sophomore LP

Folksinger and guitarist details Solely, created alone and in community

"...to contribute, including both Mat Davidson of Twain and Bob Hoffnar on pedal steel and Sadie Wolfe of Batty..."

Nov. 12, 2021 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

What We're Listening to Right Now

Beats by Balto!, Hayes Carll, Kiko Villamizar, Ley Line, and Colin Clark

"...solo on "Worldview"), Carrie Rodriguez fiddling, Michael Longoria drumming, Bob Hoffnar delivering pedal steel, and Michael Ramos squeezing accordion..."

Nov. 12, 2021 Music Column by Michael Toland

Janie Cowan’s Fascinating Musical Journey Finds Her Playing Alongside Bob Dylan in Shadow Kingdom

Checking in on the one-time Austin bass standout

"...up from tables where folks in fedoras and curly bob haircuts sip from lowball glasses, the plumes lingering, hanging,..."

July 28, 2021 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

New Austin Music Worth Your Bandwidth This Week

What we’re listening to

"...Håker Flaten, trombonist Michael St. Clair, and steel guitarist Bob Hoffnar. Backed here by guitarist Bruce Saunders, bass thrum..."

June 11, 2021 Music Feature by Raoul Hernandez

Love Tests Jordan Moser in Video Premiere

Indie folk singer’s “ready for the ride”

"...at a studio in Fayetteville, Ark. Pedal steel sage Bob Hoffnar and multi-instrumentalists Jeff Crozier and Dan Duszynski also..."

July 15, 2019 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

Our Music Critics Pick Their Top 10 Austin Albums of 2018

80 local picks from Molly Burch to Brownout

"...3) Chris Cogburn/Ingebrigt Håker Flaten/Bob Hoffnar/Henry Kaiser, En las Montañas de Excesos (Self Sabotage)..."

Dec. 28, 2018 Music Feature by Greg Beets

Raquel Bell

"...Lisa Cameron (ST 37, Suspirians), Adam Jones (Bill Callahan), Bob Hoffnar (Mood Illusion), Thor Harris (Thor & Friends, Swans),..."

Aug. 24, 2018 Music Review by Michael Toland

Chris Cogburn/Ingebrigt Håker Flaten/Bob Hoffnar/Henry Kaiser

"...between Austinites Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (the Thing, Young Mothers), Bob Hoffnar (Mood Illusion), and Chris Cogburn (No Idea Festival),..."

May 11, 2018 Music Review by Michael Toland

Kaiser, Cogburn, Hoffnar & Håker Flaten Rock Free and Lovecraftian

A track premiere from the Mountains of Excess

"...Håker Flaten, drummer Chris Cogburn, and pedal steel expert Bob Hoffnar...."

March 26, 2018 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

Ingebrigt Håker Flaten’s Village Songs

"...Andreas Bjørkås form the foundation of these tracks, but Bob Hoffnar's pedal steel on "Jesus Al Min Fryd og..."

Jan. 26, 2018 Music Review by Michael Toland

Playback: White Riot, Black Identity

Crowdfunding a black punk narrative, shuttering the Houston Press, and soundtracking Enchanted Rock

"...members of Tosca String Quartet and pedal steel experimenter Bob Hoffnar, mark the release of Music for Enchanted Rock,..."

Nov. 10, 2017 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

No Idea Festival Q&A

Improvisational guru Chris Cogburn explains the matrix

"...work of Henry Flynt, using musicians in town like Bob Hoffnar and Lauren Gurgiolo. It’s gonna be a pretty..."

Feb. 16, 2017 Music Post by Michael Toland

Playback: The Westin Sues the Nook Over Sound

And “Playback” votes in the Austin Music Poll

"...Miscellaneous Instrument: Bob Hoffnar (pedal steel)..."

Jan. 6, 2017 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

Angers City Limits

Four French acts crashing our scene for Angers Week

"...cultural exchange. In September, Austin exported Golden Dawn Arkestra, Bob Hoffnar’s Mood Illusion, Grace Park of the Deer, Jai..."

Nov. 8, 2016 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

Playback: Austin Week in Angers, France

Kevin Curtin runs into more than a handful of musical Austinites on the other side of the globe

"...an experimental lounge troupe led by pedal steel renegade Bob Hoffnar that sounds like Bert Kaempfert on mushrooms. That..."

Sept. 23, 2016 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

Let Them Eat BBQ

Texans levitate the French

"...Walkin’” that showcased his radiant vocals. Soon adding Austin’s Bob Mustachio – ex-drummer for the Warlocks and, often, the..."

Sept. 19, 2016 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

The French Connection

Golden moments at Austin Week in Angers, France

"...bar. The experimental lounge act, consisting of pedal-steel tactician Bob Hoffnar, vicious upright bassist Janie Cowan, and Hard Proof..."

Sept. 16, 2016 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

The French Connection: ATX6

"Playback" follows Austin musical emissaries to Angers

"...painter and weird whisperer Ethan Azarian, pedal steel renegade Bob Hoffnar, soulful country tough Doug Strahan, and smooth folk..."

Sept. 9, 2016 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

Musical Personae

"...Bob Hoffnar: Renowned pedal-steel player living in Austin...."

Feb. 26, 2016 Music Feature

White Denim 2.0

Frontman James Petralli talks of the old days and a new era

"...Okkervil River, and he does the Mood Illusion with Bob Hoffnar at Stay Gold. That’s kind of where I..."

Feb. 4, 2016 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

Monkey Town 6: It’s Somewhere You Definitely Want To Be

Montgomery Knott’s multimedia pop-up rewards all your senses

"...transcendent performance from composer Justin Sherburn and pedal-steel maestro Bob Hoffnar on the night I was there. [Note: They..."

Jan. 12, 2016 Screens Post by Wayne Alan Brenner

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