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Erick Hovey Press
Erick Hovey CDs Reviewed
Blues Farm and Recycled Souls
By Richard Greaves / Blues In Britain Magazine
Erick Hovey is from Fort Dodge, Iowa in the Midwest of the USA. He combines being a farmer (5th generation) and a musician. He is a singer and guitarist who started gigging when he was fourteen and put out his first CD about fifteen years ago. He has released these two CDs at the same time. I’m going to concentrate on Blues Farm which is the more blues oriented of the two. All songs are original and there is a core backing band of keyboards, bass, and drums together with occasional horns.
The CD opens with “Ball And Chain”, which has a slow, reggae-ish beat and some really good spare and moody guitar work. And this sets the scene for the whole album with tastey and often understated guitar work rather than fret burning speed playing and high volume. “Know Who You Are” is an up-tempo blues with horns and the one appearanceof a harp player (who is good) and some tough guitar, really liked this one. A complete change of style for “Soda Pop Girl” which is a 50s style swing blues with piano and trumpet spot on. With the line “She likes driving, I like drinking beer” this song hits the spot. Another of my favorites! “Patchouli” chugs along nicely with some BB King style guitar. There is a late night feel to the mainly acoustic “Running With A Full Moon”. “Fight That Monkey” is another highlight with a good guitar intro, nice stop time, good lyrics, and topped off by tasty guitar throughout. There are more good lyrics in “Baby Come Home” and then it’s back to that swing jazz style on “Missing Part” where again the band have it nailed. Next another favorite, “I’m Through”, which is a shuffle shot through with good guitar work. The reggae style comes up again on “Talkin Bout Love” and then it gets a bit more heavy on “Going Down” which lyrics-wise borrows from “Going Down Slow”. The CD rocks out with “Can’t Fall Down”.
The second CD. Recycled Souls maintains the same high standard of musicianship but is more in a singer/songwriter mode with the songs showing blues influences rather than being more directly blues linked. The backing musicians don’t overplay and get it right for the style of each tune. Erick has a good almost “smoky” voice and is a very tasteful guitarist (think latter-day Eric Clapton for instance). A couple of the reviews in the promo blurb call Erick a hidden gem of the US Midwest and I can only concur. I really enjoyed these CDs.
Can’t say enough about Erick and his music, which I have followed for many years now. Those of you who don’t know this fifth-generation Fort Dodge, IA farmer/musician will be dutifully impressed –
The songwriting, lyrics, production, and arrangements on “Blues Farm” will have you hitting the replay button often. The great care in details – guitar tones, the homage to different eras of blues and blues-rock recording, insightful lyrics – all combine for a heady mix of meaty, soulful grooves. Just goes to show you that Iowa boys play their music card decks close to the vest until delivery – no boasting, no grandstanding, just deliver the musical goods when needed.
And boy, this delivers!
By Mick Polich – July 8,2009
I received your CD's and took the time to listen to them. I put all of the songs on Rocket 88. I wasn't sure what to expect but for some reason I had it in my mind that this is some "bar band" that played
songs like "Wang Dang Doodle" and other standard blues songs. Boy was I suprised! We all have ideas as to what the blues is all about. Traditional, electric rock and so on. I can't classify your style of blues as I feel it is unique. Your songwriting abilities are amazing to say the least and your delivery is fresh and compares to no other. If the big recording companies haven't signed you by now, then they need to open their ears and get this music in the hands of blues lovers around this globe. My comments are more about enjoying your music as an artist. It was like finding that "rare blues pearl" in a sea of sound alike blues songs. Reviews might say "vocals similar to John Mayall or songwriting similar to John Campbell", but the truth of the matter is you are Erick Hovey, and NO ONE can write and sing songs like YOU!
I found that I am repeatedly playing your CD's and look forward for them to come up in our playlist. Erick, my only advice is to keep on doing what you are doing as hard work will pay off. Thank you for this music as this is the injection the blues needs.
P.S. Just so you know that this is not a false pat on the back I did have a negative thought when I skimmed throught the first CD. I heard a fair ammount of wah-wah that I felt might have been over done. But when I actually listened I can't recall ever hearing another guitarist master that sound with such grace and command. Absolutely a grasp on what the blues is all about. Thanks again Erick!
Tom @ Rocket 88 FM
Erick Hovey is not your typical farmer, nor is he your typical blues guitar player, yet if you met him on the street you would think you are meeting Joe Average. However, the 5th generation gentleman farmer from Badger is one of Iowa's best guitar slingers in the state. As typical with Erick, he doesn't do things like the rest of us. Instead of releasing one CD, he puts out two. Recycled Souls, and Blues Farm, are two great discs of blues, jazz, and blues rock. Both these discs are similar. You really can't put Erick into a box. In one track he sounds like Eric Clapton, then the next song he is David Gilmore, or chunking along like a train in a jump blues style. Hovey's guitar just soars through out this disk. It isn't that over the top, wish I was Stevie Ray Vaughn style of guitar, but the playing of a guy who knows what he is doing and making great music.
Furthermore, his writing style is incredibly eclectic.
Erick kind of takes words from out of the ether, and sometimes an almost zen like quality of word play. Then at other times it is just down and dirty blues.
Throughout the disk Erick is supported by Dan Lodden on bass, Jeff Forman on drums, and the breathy ethereal vocals of Heather Kelly of H &K. A few friends drop by to help Erick out, Andy Schinder plays bass on Sweet Fire Rain, from Recycled Souls, while harp maestro Andy Blumenthal blows on harp on Blues Farm. Then there is also some piano player I have never heard of named Tom Gary, that sort of plays piano and organ on a few tunes:-)
This is a great CD to pick up. I can't recommend one over the other, just buy BOTH!! CD Baby has both discs.
Tom Gary, Blues Historian
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