Suzie HarrisonThey can be heard playing at...

Suzie Harrison

They can be heard playing at the Sawdust Festival, the Festival of

Arts, on a float in the Patriot’s Day Parade and on street corners

Downtown. While some might call all this playing a little loony --

they call themselves Lagunatics.

Gary Hogan, who plays the trumpet, formed the Dixieland jazz band

more than 13 years ago with Ed Erickson on banjo and Jimmy Ogden on

tuba.

“I got the idea to form the Lagunatics, not affiliated with the

civic group by the way, about 13 years ago and applied for a job at

the Sawdust Festival,” Hogan said. “We’ve been there ever since.”

The group has no relation to the annual production of “Lagunatics”

by No Square Theatre.

Dressed in crazy attire, the band focuses on enjoying themselves

and having fun. From their footwear all the way to their heads, the

trio is decked in quite a selection of threads.

“I love it,” Erickson said. “It’s my realm. I like to be

ridiculous. I love the Sawdust Festival -- it’s our biggest fan

base.”

Before his Lagunatics days, Hogan was getting sick of working in

smoky night clubs six nights a week for years. He had been on the

road with a Western swing band since he was a teenager.

“Playing those wild joints in the East Texas airfields was an

unforgettable adventure for a 16-year-old boy. Later, I became a

commercial musician and raised my family by playing in Orange County,

Las Vegas and on cruise ships.”

He has no complaints about his partners in crime. They even have a

new CD out called “A Cool Southern Breeze.”

“With just a trio, everyone has to be able to play to make it

happen,” Hogan said. “I’m so lucky to have two great musicians with

me now.”

Erickson is retired from the Disneyland Band, where he played full

time for 25 years.

“Ed’s a consummate musician who can play any tune, in any key at

any tempo,” Hogan said. “And he’s always on time. You can’t ask for

more than that.”

The music Erickson likes to play most are Dixieland songs.

“I like ‘Way Down Yonder,’ ‘New Orleans’ -- I play the minor

version,” Erickson said.

It’s hard not to notice Ogden and his tuba.

“He’s had a long career in the musical trenches, too,” Hogan said.

“He loves to entertain the kids with his hand-puppets while he’s

playing and is famous for being able to perform piccolo parts on the

tuba.”

Ogden played at Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm and he has played

with Henry Mancini and Pete Fountain.

“I think it keeps you happy,” Ogden said. “I think it’s the key to

life to enjoy living. Playing keeps you there.”

The trio, which has a repertoire of more than 150 songs, seem to

enjoy one another’s company even when they aren’t playing.

“There’s such happiness playing and being a musician,” Erickson

said. “Sharing that experience is a natural way of creating smiles.

It keeps us vital. It’s a wonderful way of life, that’s why we’re

here.”

“Our simple mission is to play happy, toe-tapping music that makes

people feel good,” Hogan said. “And we love doing it.”

To find out more about the Lagunatics, call Hogan at 376-8742 or

go online to www.thelagunatics.com.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321 or [email protected].