Erick Hovey (USA)
Blues Farm
884502028294
©Erick Hovey 2009
"Finding Erick Hovey's two 09 releases "Blues Farm" and "Recycled Souls", was like finding that "rare blues pearl" in a sea of sound alike blues songs...this is the injection the blues needs."
Rocket 88 FM
"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!"
Jeff Foreman - Drums
Erick Hovey - Guitar, Vocal
Heather Kelly - Vocal
Dan Lodden - Bass
Tom Gary - Keys
Erick Hovey is a blues guitarist and singer from Fort Dodge in Iowa. He learned to play the blues at the age of ten years, but had already tried his hand on the old piano in the living room. Erick listened to the radio, especially station KAAY out of Little Rock, Arkansas, where he first encountered the blues-based music of Clapton, Pink Floyd or Zeppelin. He remembered well those first lessons and has followed the same path of blues.
Four years later, Erick stood on the stage. He played for years in many configurations experimenting with country blues, jazz, rock and funk music, which still echoes in his compositions. He enjoys performances in juke-joints, though famous for performances at concerts and festivals throughout the Midwest. In free moments working on his 400 acre farm, he composes records and performs. When the time comes to sow or harvest, he puts aside the guitar and sits on the tractor.
His independence has its price. Erick has not earned wealth, or media fame, while doing what he loves, developing his own original style. Blues fans in Europe are fond of him and play his music on stations from the Netherlands to Poland. Erick’s music is fresh and original, he sings from the heart about what we feel about our lives, hopes and dreams.
Iowa is a land of prairies and endless fields, where the landscape dotted with a few towns, elevators, and recently, the slender towers of wind power. For Erick, farming, just as music, is not only a source of income, but a mission and a way of expressing himself. "Farming and blues has a lot of ups and downs - he says - every day is a clash of fate." Erick observes, collects impressions, and then converts it into music.
His first two albums, ''What You Blue About "and" Prairie Dance Music "gained critical acclaim for the deep, expressive groove, sincere vocals and his own, unique style. What is the recipe for the blues? "Be creative and break the rules –he says - blues is an intriguing combination of discipline and freedom, are here the structure of rhythm and chords, building bases blues groove, and a lot of room for improvisation. Blues gives rise to many different musical directions. "
Erick recently sent us the latest two CDs released in 2009,''Recycled Souls "(aimed specifically toward the blues-rock) and" Blues Farm "(based on the blues, but enriched with many other musical tones), which today we listen to on Derf Radio. Erick plays guitar and is accompanied by drummer Jeff Foreman, Doug Hines on keyboards and Dan Lodden on bass. Erick composes even while driving a harvester, using a portable digital recorder to outline the emerging ideas. "Songs come to mind at the strangest times, not always when I desire, so I always have with me the sound recorder."
"Dear Erick,
I'm Jim Greaves and I write for Blues In Britain magazine and the review appeared in November issue. I enjoyed both CDs but particularly Blues Farm - it's good to hear a guitarist who doesn't play at a million notes a minute! I'm a big fan of Peter Green and the less is more school of playing.
Jim, Blues In Britain"
"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 CD".
Erick Hovey CDs Reviewed
Blues Farm and Recycled Souls
By Richard Greaves / Blues In Britain Magazine
Review or comment on this CD!
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