The Erick Hovey Band - Media Quotes
"As he says in the song, there is "Nothin'
Like A Good Guitar."and Midwesterner (Fort Dodge, IA) bluesman
Erick Hovey takes those immortal words to heart. Judging from the
cover photo (it's him as a geeky teenager doing his best blues snarl
with his sister beating an indian drum), he's been at it for some
time, and this homegrown disc grows on you like the corn in his home
state."
Blues Access
Catfish Choice, Spring '97
"Hovey's unstrained delivery and easy
grace make the material seem utterly uncontrived. My guess is that
you'll like this sweet natured little collection of originals."
Blue Suede News
"Somewhere down on a farm in a remote
corner of the US Midwest, this artist perfected his skills to become
not only a skillful performer but an accomplished songwriter. This
collection of fourteen songs is just a cross-section of his material,
which ranges from upbeat rock to introspective blues."
Music and Media
Europe's Radio Active Newsweekly
"Serving up solid original blues
from Fort Dodge, Iowa native Erick Hovey, What You Blue About? Has
genuine heart and engaging personality. This CD is a treat, equal
to or a cut above much of the material coming from established blues
labels. Erick Hovey's tunes are rooted in traditional blues and
swing conventions. The songwriting is suprisingly skillful. His
vocal style is swingin' and rockin' blues. Like Austin's Gary Primich,
Hovey pours on just enough hep-cat-daddy charm to make you listen
up and snap your fingers. He also proves to be a sharp guitarist
with a satisfying command of grooves and licks. There's some smart
swing stuff reminiscent of Teddy Morgan's work, and some growly
Delta-influenced guitar similar to that of Tinsley Ellis or Fast
Johnny Ricker."
The READER
Omaha's Arts and Entertainment Weekly
The band doesn't overplay, so the music has a
clean, light feel. The main attractions of Hovey's CD are the swing
blues cuts, which move along well, yet never so fast that the pulse
is lost. His guitar work is fluid, and solos always concise. It's
an unpretentious record that avoids flash and pyrotechnics, and
as a result, serves the blues quite well.
Delta Snake Blues News
"Erick Hovey and
his group of very talented musicians have put down fourteen tracks
that entertain no matter what type of blues you're into. This is
like a cold drink on a hot day. Erick puts down all the right licks
in all the right places and that comes from two reasons. The man
wrote the numbers and he sure knows his craft. The lyrics read like
a trip from early puberty to young adulthood and sometimes beyond.
It's a disc that when played the second time sounds like a whole
new ball game. Hot licks, cool chops, tight rhythm sections created
by all who participated in this disc, make it a winner in any collection.
If it is not in your store, ask for it. Iowa has some great hidden
talent. Be the first on your block to discover Erick Hovey."
Big Al Watts
Presenter of Big Als Blues Blast
On PBS 106.7 FM Radio
Melbourne, Australia
"In this sparkling
CD you will find a very pure vein of blues to mine. Erick Hovey
has built his CD on the sturdy foundation of simple, easy-to-identify-with
subject matter and sharply performed arrangements. At times smooth
and wistful, at times rockin' in an older sense of the word, but
always cloaked in cool, cool blues. Outstanding."
CAKE magazine, Minneapolis, MN
"Erick Hovey has released a very fine CD
that does some blues, some rock and some other kinda out there grooves;
but it's cool stuff. I found it more enjoyable than many other CDs
I received from 'big labels'…His guitar playing and singing,
coupled with his own originals (and they're all his and quite original),
make a fun listen with more than a little wisdom thrown in for good
measure."
Blues Crier
Central Iowa Blues Society
"What You Blue
About? Features music that is straight-ahead and sometimes not,
but is always accessible to the public ear…all of the songs
are Hovey originals and they're all good."
"muzi.com" magazine
DesMoines, IA
"Hovey and the
band concentrate on upbeat, dance-worthy blues designed to move
people off their chairs."
The DesMoines Register Datebook
"I've just received
an excellent 14 track CD from singer and guitarist Erick Hovey entitled
"What You Blue About?" on Juniors Motel Records. The entirely
self-written CD starts strong with the shuffling title track and
the swinging "Sleep Late" with it's nice clean guitar
solo and short but tasteful piano and drum solos. There's something
for everyone from out and out rockers("Rockin' The Blues")
to the heart- felt ballad "Love Affair", the funky "Shake
That Thang", and "Wicker Benz" the jazzy Hammond
based instrumental that closes the CD. Wah fans will love "Tore
Me Apart" which also features harmonica from Tony Zagar. Tony
also appears on my favorite low down and lazy track "Take Me
Home" with it's JJ Cale vocal style. Erick's vocals compliment
his guitar very well and remind me at times of Lyle Lovett (especially
"Ain't Nothin Like A Good Guitar"). The band/session musicians
are very tight and let Erick do his thing whilst contributing some
short sharp solos themselves (step forward and take a bow Mr. Doug
Hines on keyboards).
The UK Northern Blues Guide
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