reviews.htm

“Bassist Alan Hodde refers to his band “Homebrew” as being “the Steely Dan of West Denver,” because they rarely gig and exist most of the time in the studio.

Along with bandmates Mark Turner on guitar and drummer Johnny G, Homebrew creates funky grooves and catchy, inventive songs. ...with each CD project, they invite the cream of Denver’s blues scene in to bring the lyrics to life. This time around they have Denver’s reigning Queen of the blues, Erica Brown on three songs. She brings her powerhouse style to the opener “Bad Suspicion” and shares the mic in a rare duet with the criminally under recorded Shelby Johnson on “Monkey on My Back.”“Fandango in Paris” features Erica emoting in a much softer style punctuated by searing guitar runs by Mark Turner.

Showing off the voice that makes her a contender for Erica’s crown, Shelby gets to sing two songs by herself, “He’s Comin Slowly” and “Footprint.” Fredi Johnson brings her R&B sass to “Infrastructure Blues” and “Smashed Bug.” Mary Ann Scarpino gives “Down the Tracks" a jazzy turn and Teresa Lynne ends the CD with a terrific “Goin Home.” Its not just the ladies that take turns at the mic, “Cup-A-Jo’s” Joe Oeser brings some testosterone to the party lending his macho growl to “Fire on the Hill” and “Cardboard Sign.” Homebrew itself gets to stretch out on the instrumental “Sweet Tooth/Hobcam” aided and led by AJ Salas on keyboards.

The best blues CD so far in 2006, every cut on “Smoke and Mirrors” is a strong contender for “blues song of the year” on any critics list.”

— J.R. Wolfe, music editor, Colorado Music Buzz




				“Bassist Alan Hodde refers to his band “Homebrew” as being “the Steely Dan of West Denver,” because they rarely gig and exist most of the time in the studio. Along with bandmates Mark Turner on guitar and drummer Johnny G, Homebrew creates funky grooves and catchy, inventive songs. ...with each CD project, they invite the cream of Denver’s blues scene in to bring the lyrics to life. This time around they have Denver’s reigning Queen of the blues, Erica Brown on three songs. She brings her powerhouse style to the opener “Bad Suspicion” and shares the mic in a rare duet with the criminally under recorded Shelby Johnson on “Monkey on My Back.”“Fandango in Paris” features Erica emoting in a much softer style punctuated by searing guitar runs by Mark Turner. Showing off the voice that makes her a contender for Erica’s crown, Shelby gets to sing two songs by herself, “He’s Comin Slowly” and “Footprint.” Fredi Johnson brings her R&B sass to “Infrastructure Blues” and “Smashed Bug.” Mary Ann Scarpino gives “Down the Tracks" a jazzy turn and Teresa Lynne ends the CD with a terrific “Goin Home.” Its not just the ladies that take turns at the mic, “Cup-A-Jo’s” Joe Oeser brings some testosterone to the party lending his macho growl to “Fire on the Hill” and “Cardboard Sign.” Homebrew itself gets to stretch out on the instrumental “Sweet Tooth/Hobcam” aided and led by AJ Salas on keyboards. The best blues CD so far in 2006, every cut on “Smoke and Mirrors” is a strong contender for “blues song of the year” on any critics list.” — J.R. Wolfe, music editor, Colorado Music Buzz




				“Guitarist Mark Turner’s Homebrew is less a band than a platform upon which a swarm of Denver’s best-known (and best) blues and R&B players can cut loose. And despite the disc’s title, smoke and mirrors aren’t required. The sounds on display here aren’t of the gutbucket variety. Instead, the disc presents brassy, frequently up-tempo showtime blues designed with crowd-pleasing in mind. Erica Brown, one of the area’s most underappreciated belters, elevates the raucous “Bad Suspicion” and “Fandango in Paris,” a slinky tune that pits her against Turner’s string-bending. And A.J. Salas’s “Sweet Tooth/Hobcam” is a captiviating change of pace that seques from New Orleans-style piano striding to full-fledged blues-rock blowout. Homebrew goes down smoothly, but it’s got quite a kick.” — Michael Roberts, music critic, Westword magazine



	“If you can buy only one CD this year, this is the one to get. Smoke & Mirrors features outstanding performances by some of Denver’s elite blues players and lead vocals by Erica Brown, Shelby Johnson, Joe Oeser, Fredi Johnson and Teresa Lynne. Called “millineum blues with a healthy dose of funk, jazz and rock influences,” every song is a hit—though you’ll probably find yourself playing “Fandango In Paris” over and over before making it all the way through the CD.” — Mark Stout, music critic, WhatsDoingTonight.com
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