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Hoosier Daddy: Finding Comfort In Collaboration

Hoosier Daddy, l-r, Larry Wigand, Cindy Youngren, Dave Diefendorf
Hoosier Daddy, l-r, Larry Wigand, Cindy Youngren, Dave Diefendorf

Releasing a new album during the coronavirus pandemic has a silver lining for the bluesy Peoria roots-rock trio Hoosier Daddy.

Cindy Youngren and Dave Diefendorf said the stay-at-home order has forced them to focus on marketing their album and given them time to dig into making more promotional videos, including for "Underground," which debuted on Episode #3 of the WCBU/WGLT Stay at Home Concert series:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygrXGvr24jk

Diefendorf said the song that became the album title "The Neighbors Called the Cops" came from a story he read in a Vintage Guitar magazine, where a musician was recounting a great lick he created while rehearsing with a garage band.

“And everything was fine until they got too loud, and now here come the police,” said Diefendorf of the rockin’ title track. “I came up with the line ‘the neighbors called the cops’ and it turned into something. And I had a lick I had been playing with and the two just went together.”

This album is the sophomore release from the trio that includes drummer Larry Wigand, late of the Dave Chastain band. In addition to playing bass and lead guitar respectively, Youngren and Diefendorf split lead vocals on the seven-song album, something Youngren said has become comfortable after leading Southside Cindy & the Slip-Tones for many years.

“I like being part of a bigger thing,” said Youngren, who admitted to the added pressure of being the frontwoman of the band that incorporated her name can be a bit much.

“It really does. Everything is on you. And I was the main writer and arranger (with the Slip-Tones). This is a three-piece band where you don’t have to work all day to find a schedule where we can all get together. It’s a great collaboration. Dave and I are great friends, with Larry we really gel with it,” said Youngren.

Diefendorf said he did some lead vocals with previous bands including French Connection. “But with this band, the more Cindy sings, the better we sound,” said Diefendorf of Youngren’s powerful bluesy voice.

Still, he is stepping out vocally compared to the French Connection.

“I’m trying to write songs that she sings, but it doesn’t always work out that way,” said Diefendorf. “Like the song ‘Ecstasy.’ The fact that we’re both on the thing all the way through, I just love it. She just killed it and came up with some great ideas on that song.”

Indeed, the two harmonize during the first 23 seconds of the rootsy track before the instruments kick in.

“I’ve never had a great male vocal behind me … I think ever,” added Youngren. “The harmonies we have, it really adds a lot of depth, strength, and layers.”

The two consider the entire album to be an exercise in rootsy, southern rock, but “The Fever,” “Underground” and their cover of the blues staple "Queen Bee" dig deep into blues.

“I just like the way (the songs) all blend together on this album,” said Youngren. “We’re getting amazing response to the video. It has 1,000, going on 2,000 hits. The comments and everything have just been spectacular just coming out of the gate.”

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Jon Norton is the program director at WGLT and WCBU. He also is host of All Things Considered every weekday.