By Savana Hardin
Singer / songwriters Dani Hoy and Chris Rehm are wonderful performers individually, who more recently have begun performing together regularly, making for a powerfully entertaining duet. They began playing together as “The Shanty Hounds” in August of last year, and nowadays The Shanty Hounds can be seen playing every Saturday for happy hour at Pour Decisions, the patio outside of Cowboy Bill’s. They also play occasionally at the Sunset Tiki bar.
Their music can be best described as cross genre — everything from The Grateful Dead to Van Morrison to New Orleans Jazz. Besides Dani Hoy and Chris Rehm (both on guitars and vocals), additional member John Sausser plays drums and keeps that steady beat.
Dani and Chris are multi-talented: songwriters, recording artists, performers, and they produce two quality podcasts: The Key West Music Show: Conch Rockin’ in the Keys and Key West Beer Tales: The Sum of All Beers. Both podcasts are broadcast on 12 different radio stations around the U.S.
Carrying out her motto, “Better late than never,” Dani Hoy started her musical career around the age of 40 and is wasting no time establishing herself as a serious songwriter and an engaging vocalist. Her ability to connect with audiences, as well as her adventurous yet vulnerable songwriting style, has garnered her many fans over the last few years.
A lover of musical styles from many eras and genres, Dani’s songwriting reflects these varied influences. Her widely anticipated second full CD, “Songs of Love and the Ocean,” released in August 2013, was produced by Kevin Johnston of Orca Sound Studio in Abingdon, MD and features a versatile mix of songs from funky pop and rock to country and torch songs. Dani’s dedication to touring and performing has earned her some accolades. In the last two years since her first CD was released, the Trop Rock Music Association (troprock.org) nominated her for awards in 2012 and 2013. She has also been recognized by a poll of Beachfront Radio (beachfrontradio.com) listeners as the Top Female Vocalist of 2013.
Chris Rehm, a.k.a Key West Chris, is a singer/songwriter/arranger based in Key West for the last seven years. While living in Miami n 2000 he was signed and published by McClure and Trowbridge Publishing in Nashville. After moving to Key West, Chris was invited to play in the Key West Songwriter’s Festival in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015.
His current release “Shanghai’d and Marooned in Key West (things could be worse)” received rave reviews from producers such as Shelly Liebowitz (Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Maria Muldauer…) Key West Chris is currently working on his second album, “Jump into The Fire.” At this writing it consists of local musicians Bobby DeVito, John Sausser, Dani Hoy, Din Allen, plus the Knoxville based band Homemade Wine. Release is expected sometime this summer.
In addition, Chris writes a blog which recently went over 100,000 views, Key West Music and Happenings, as well as two pod casts, “The Key West Music Show Conch Rockin’ in the Keys” and “Key West Beer Tales: The Sum of All Beers.” On April 1st he became a partner in the Cork and Stogie bar at 1218 Duval St., Key West.
