Hoi Polloi is....

Dona Masi - Lead Vocals

  

One of the original members of Hoi Polloi, Dona has mastered a wide range of vocal styles from soft and sweet to in your face kick-butt rock. Her energy and enthusiasm is sure to bring the crowd to its feet!

Lou Cypher - Stunned Guitar and Caterwauls:

"Sky Blue" Lou joined Hoi Polloi in a serendipitous moment for all. After time spent in the now legendary Seacoast lineups; Knottop 40, Free Parking and The Guys From Randy's Basement, Lou took several
years off to pursue Zen Husbandry and Lawn Management. Once he felt
his spiritual batteries were recharged, so to speak, he bought a kick-ass PA system and showed up at our place. What were we going to do, say "No Thanks"? Lou brings a certain "Joi de beer" to Hoi Polloi and is never at a loss for thirst. The PA comes in handy too. Lou spends his free time herding cats and creating table candles.
 

Scott Chrane - Bass 


 Scott Chrane has been an on-again, off-again bass player for the past 25 years. He became "on again" in 1997, after experiencing a sonorous epiphany at a local music store while plucking a '72 Hofner Beatle Bass.  The
bass came home with him, and his long-dormant rock and roll roots were soon
awakened.  Not since his 1980-81 stint with the Durham-based New Wave band, The Briefs,  was Scott
comfortable playing in front of a crowd again, but he soon quickly established himself in the Seacoast area  as a top "school musical session man" and "gentleman swing bassist".  By 2002, he was ready to rock out again when he met John and Dona. What could we say? Scott adds a steady, Entwistle-esque quality to our backbeat, and he's not afraid to belt out a few vocals as well. Scott is also a member of Union Pier, a "fresh water" reggae project based out of Chicago, IL.

 

Guitar - John Layton

  Starting at age nine, John has had guitar playing in his blood. Studying under such notables as Jim Gagner ( author of The Gagner Guitar Method ) and Jim Price (of international jazz fame)  John loves all styles and techniques of guitar playing. After being in successful rock bands throughout his high school years, John was accepted to Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA where he studied for three years, or as he puts it, "until the money ran out" . John has played throughout the seacoast in many styles of bands, from acoustic trios to an oldies rock band. Johns favorite music however, has always been whatever the current kick but rock is... as a kid, he was always first on his block with the latest KISS record!

 

Drums - Brian Caven

  Brian, a native of Massachusetts and current resident of Dover NH became a musician late in life. After finally seeing his favorite band Aerosmith in 1997, and being awestruck by the hard hitting drive of Joey Kramer, he decided to fulfill his life long desire to play the drums. The day after the concert he sought out professional instruction and continues to study with weekly lessons. After 3 years of lessons he was finally proficient at “chick-boom- thwack” and decided it was time to play with others and stop playing with himself. Getting together with a few other co-workers and rehearsing in an old storage room of the company, the very popular cover band, Tone Salad was formed and toured New England for over 5 years before disbanding in April 2006. In September of 2007 the itch to perform was back when he met the members of Hoi Polloi who were auditioning drummers. From the first practice, the music, personalities and goals all clicked. Brian looks forward to driving the backbeat of this Seacoast rock powerhouse.

 

 
 

 
Welcome to the internet home of Hoi Polloi

  

What in the world is Hoi Polloi you ask?

Pronounced  (hoy palloy)

Hoi polloi (Greek), an expression meaning "the many" in Ancient Greek, is used in English to denote "the masses" or "the people", usually in a derogatory sense. For example, "I've secured a private box for the play so we don't have to watch the show with the hoi polloi."

The phrase originated in English in the early 1800s, a time when it was considered necessary to know Greek and Latin  in order to be well educated. The phrase was originally written in Greek letters. Knowledge of these languages would serve to set apart the speaker from the common people who did not have that education.

The phrase has been the source of considerable controversy over its correct usage. One debate has been over the usage of the English article "the" in front of the phrase. Furthermore, the phrase has at times been used to mean the exact opposite of its originally intended meaning. Synonyms for "hoi polloi" include "Middle America, commonality, commoners, great unwashed, huddled masses, infrastructure, masses, multitude, proletariat, rabble, rank and file, riffraff, the common people, the herd, the many, the masses, the working class...

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org

 
 

Main | The Band | The Music | Venues | Photos | Mailing List | Booking