Jesse And The Hogg Brothers

At the age of 17 Horace Lee "Pappy" Hogg was living in a trailer in Bosque County outside of Clinton, Texas in 1952 when he was drafted into the US Army. Soon he was on his way to fight in the Korean War. There he met Travis Braintree, a member of Company E of the 31st Infantry. They fought side by side at the Battle of Pork Chop Hill. On the night of April 16, 1953, shortly before midnight, a hail of artillery signaled a sudden infantry assault by a Chinese battalion. Pork Chop Hill was quickly overrun, although isolated bunkers were defended by U.S. soldiers. During this battle Pappy Hogg was wounded, and Travis carried him on his back to one of the bunkers. Hogg’s life was saved, and the two became the best of friends. After the war Hogg retired from the army, married Betty Louise Dodson, and they quickly had two sons, PJ and Junior. Braintree reenlisted and was stationed in TX. Braintree eventually met and fell in love with Pappy’s sister, Thelma Hogg, and they were married in February of 1966. After only a few months of wedded bliss, Travis was sent to Vietnam, but not before Thelma became pregnant with Jesse and his twin sister Becky Ann.

That year Pappy got divorced and quickly wed his 2nd wife, Tammy Lee. Tragically, in the spring of 1967 Travis was reported Missing In Action near Hanoi. He was never heard from again. Pappy took in his sister and her children and helped raise the twins along with his new sons, Neil and Robert T. The boys grew up with Jesse listening to Buck Owens, Johnny Cash and many other country heroes. The family loved to watch Hee Haw together. And they really jammed too when cousin Beau brought over his boy Buzz who was Pappy's first guitar student that really bonded what would be the foundation of the band to follow decades later. . 

Jesse and his cousin Neil Hogg wrote a bunch of songs together when they was common up in Bosque County TX but when he was 16 Jesse moved up north with his mom. Neil stayed in Texas. Jesse eventually teamed up with cousin Buzz Hogg and played all over New England as a country cover band “Jesse & The Hogg Brothers” was the band name as they played every country bar they could. The band played The Woodstock Fair and were good enough to be asked back.

This attracted attention and the band added this guy Dirk a talented guitarist/vocalist who had a 2 man act that ended. He and Buzz left the band 6 months later to do the same.

So Jesse had to call Pappy Hogg and his 3rd wife Cathy-Sue along with Robert T Hogg and Kenny-Joe Hogg who got Pablo Hogg  to play drums to do the Woodstock Fair as Jesse & The Hogg Family. After 5 months passed Buzz rejoined the band. The Hogg Family played together up until 1999 when Jesse decided to call it quits.

Meanwhile Neil Hogg was in TX playing in a lot of different bands and one day in 2005 he picked the phone and called Jesse. On that call they caught up and Neil invited Jesse to come home and record the songs they wrote as kids. Needless to say the answer was yes. In 2008 They recorded those songs and many more resulting in the CD’s “White Trash Meth Lab” and “Working For Yankee Money” and by 2009 they were available everywhere.  

But there was no band to support a live show, but shortly after the second release when both CDs were out Neil had recruited family musicians and the band debuted at a Jazz club in Dallas?? 

It seems not so strange today. Anyway the next show was at the historic bar in Shirley, MA The Bull Run. Jesse reunited with Buzz and up from TX came Kenny Hogg, Neil Hogg, Junior Hogg, Hirohito Hogg and Bobby Hogg and they played a sold out room. 

Then it looked like with Jesse in New England and Neil in TX this would not continue. 

Neil and Jesse still continued with Jesse visiting in TX writing new music.

Jesse and Buzz along with Merle, Jolene, Buford, Abner, and Stevie Joe Hogg became the band that supported the CDs. As time went on members came and went Roadkill, Capt Pigheart, T-Bone, even Pappy Hogg played with the band.

Things changed in August of 2013 when Lisa Mari showed up in Boston. She got ahold of Jesse’s saliva somehow on one of his visits to Neil’s place in TX, and swabbed it and tested it and it confirmed Jesse was her father. Good Grief! This broke Neil’s heart. Lisa Mari’s mom AKA Jesse’s 1st wife who left him for Neil. Seems like She was cheating while still with Jesse and Neil assumed.

Jesse taking her in drove a stake in the relationship between him and Neil. Neil formed Kenny & Neil with cousin Kenny Hogg. Jesse continued playing but added Lisa Mari on Vocals to the mix. The band started touring going as far southwest as Las Vegas and far Northwest as Wisconsin. 

They released a Christmas single “Don’t Mess With Christmas” and then the EP “Rusty Loved Christmas” that one features the video/single “Party In My Pants” 

In 2018 the single/video “Hogg Tail Twist” got a good deal of attention but the next single/video  “Wife Swapping Party” has created quite a bit of activity over 21,000 views on YouTube.

April 30th 2019 the band released the new CD “Live In Harlem” capturing a live performance at Shrine World Music Venue. 

The band will be featured in the upcoming movie - Attack Of The Killer Chickens!

Whats next???

The most exciting original Urban Country Rock Band in the Nation. The First Family of Texas CowPunk.

Led by Jesse Braintree the ringmaster of this amazing Texas variety show, the Hogg family is a different kind of country. Think the Beverley Hillbillies with intelligence. Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show on steroids.  The Hee Haw TV program at maximum warp. Or if the Osmond Brothers were total rednecks! 
  
When you see The Hogg Brothers you get an entertaining night that is both exquisitely played music and can’t-take-your-eyes-off-‘em showmanship.

Besides singing Jesse Braintree plays percussion and wind instruments too.  But it is the bands showmanship that captivates and has this group touring across the USA.

Texas, Indiana, Florida, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Ohio are the current home states of this creative ensemble, old-style country and western burlesque, if you will.

Jesse & The Hogg Brothers was originally formed in North Texas and is currently based out of Cambridge MA. But make no mistake about it this is a Texas band and loaded with Texas pride. Celebrating an authentic style of modern country music, that is deeply rooted in the traditions of Buck Owens, Johnny Cash, George Jones and Hank Williams along with that Hogg family sense of humor truly provides fans a unique live experience they won’t soon forget. You never know besides Jesse who will be there but can always expect a great show.

AVAILABLE FOR CONCERTS, DANCES, WEDDINGS AND OTHER PRIVATE, CORPORATE OR PUBLIC EVENTS, Full band or 3 man comedic music trio for clubs with Cabaret License or Comedy Clubs.