Biography

Instant Hobo front man, John Feula, grew up near the beach in Central Florida, not exactly the land of Stetsons, cowboy boots, and pickups. Still, his love of country music runs deep. “My parents raised me on country: Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Eddy Arnold, Ernest Tubb, Skeeter Davis…my older brother and sisters raised me on Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, and Deep Purple.” Along with his training in jazz and classical guitar, his influences have the chance to all come together in Instant Hobo’s music. “I wanted to start with a country sound and add some radical influences, like what the Flying Burrito Brothers did in their day.” Based in Mesa, Arizona, the band’s hillbilly fusion music follows in a tradition of other state Americana institutions like Goose Creek Symphony and Meat Puppets.

James Thorp, the group's drummer, producer, and resident graphic artist, brings a progressive rock complexity to the band’s music, being influenced by the likes of King Crimson and Genesis. A California native, Thorp has played everything from musicals to new country, to 60’s British Modbeat. Rounding out the group is Oklahoma native, Jasun Downing, on bass and vocals. The newest member of Instant Hobo, Jasun adds an aggressive energy and tight playing to the band's show.

Formed in the summer of 2006, Instant Hobo has recorded two albums, “Dirt Roads & Detours” and the new “Honey The Horse”. Both albums are available from the band's website and on iTunes.