Nate Hoben: Music, Art, and Appreciation

VICKSBURG, Miss. – Nate Hoben’s cup stays rather full these days. Aside from his music projects, and the day to day grind, he still finds time to work on a labor of love; original portraits on woods slats using mixed media. While his work encompases more than portraits, his favorite ones are of artist who have either played in Vicksburg or inspired Hoben.

His most recent effort is Shawn Williams of New Orleans. Williams played Second Saturday last month alongside Omari Neville who is the son of the drummer for both The Meters and Neville Brothers, Cyril Neville.

How It All Began

When Hoben was around ten years old, he found one of his dad’s old high school sketch books, “It was amazing, I didn’t know he could draw like that. He passed that talent down to me.” Hoben said.

Hoben has always had a deep passion to create. He’s is currently the worship band leader for his church, Elevate Church of Vicksburg. He is the lead guitarist and co writer for Downhill, best described as alt-grunge. He runs underground music shows at the B.B. Club, books music artists for Second Saturday, runs a successful Facebook music group, and is co host to a Blues Jam at the Watermark.

In addition to all that, he has been married to Bridgette since 2008 and they have three children.

Next to Nothing

In 2010, his band Next to Nothing won a six week long Club Fire’s Battle of the Bands gauntlet in Jackson. The band was one of twelve to compete, and making the cut with an original song they had written.

“Each week was a different genre of music. They gave us two minutes to perform our own version of the genre. We won five out of six weeks.” Hoben said.

Part of the winnings were some studio time, an original song of theirs played on Rock 93.9 for six months, and the opportunity to open for larger acts traveling through, Trust Company, Shaman’s Harvest, and Marcy’s playground to name a few. But all goods things must come to an end.

“We fizzled out. We were good, we were going places, but it just didn’t work.” said Nate. The final straw was the singer for the band turning down opening for a band to attend Memphis in May.

Q the Music

Like with most artists, passions lie dormant until the next big pull, but never truly goes away.

“I played at church the whole time, so I was always playing, but not in a band.” Hoben said. Then in 2020 after the outbreak of COVID ground most everything to a halt, Nate started a music trivia Facebook group, Quarantine Music Trivia (now known as Music Headz).

“Everyone was at home just going crazy.” he said.

Occasionally, Hoben would make posts on the page reminiscing over RiverFest which led to dialogue over starting something new to replace it.

He and a handful of other musicians gathered to discuss the workings of getting a festival off the ground. Not knowing where to start or what to do, the numbers at the meetings began dwindling to nothing. Thankfully, Hoben’s passion didn’t go unnoticed, and was eventually contacted to help book musicians for Second Saturday.

Giving Back

Hoben is proud that alongside cover bands, he’s been able to book original acts as well. Seeing the proverbial blood sweat and tears these musicians put into their craft resonates with him. Naomi Taylor and Joe Raines will be performing for Second Saturday in July, representing Taylor’s newest project, the Whispering Trees, which marks the third consecutive month he’s booked original artists.

“We (the Second Saturday Committee) work really hard to bring musicians and talent to Vicksburg. We’re very passionate about that.” said Hoben. There’s a feeling of pride to have a hand in bringing talented musicians to a town that is steeped in music history.

Almost as if guided by a string, Hoben feels compelled to give a token of appreciation occasionally to an artist that deeply inspires him. It’s a way to show appreciation of the witness to others who share their creative passions.

“It’s all about giving back to them.” he said.

Tools of the Trade

The first piece Hoben did on the birch blanks was fifteen years ago, gifted to a musician by the name of Trevor Hunt.

“He was virtuoso of a talent who didn’t play music, but he could listen to a song and immediately pick it up on guitar or piano,” said Hoben. “I’d been playing for ten years and I’m looking at this dude who doesn’t play music, but can play anything the first time, I wanted to quit.”

Hoben said the process is slow, but rewarding. Like any artist, he starts with a good composition, finding pictures on Instagram, Facebook, or ones he’s taken himself. Once the 16″x24″ birch is assembled and sanded, Hoben free-hands, in pencil, the rough sketch using only his phone as a reference.

After he is satisfied with the penciling, he uses a ball point pen (the Tool brand being his preferred pen of choice) for the outline and detail shading. He then uses a sharpie to fill in the large shadows and tighten up the line art. Signing the back with a little thank you note.

“I like to give back to the musicians who come and perform here, and one of the things that landed on my heart was to draw a picture of them performing here (in Vicksburg), and just send it to them as a surprise.”

Since the first one years ago, Hoben has sent two others to their respective artists. One to 2023 Mississippi Songwriter of the Year, Naomi Taylor, and the most recent one to Shawn Williams.

“I’ve been a musician for a long time, almost thirty years now. I’ve been in some really good bands throughout my life.” said Hoben. Art is a way to give back to those who share his passion.