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ALBUM REVIEW February 10, 2007

The Holmes Brothers: State of Grace

Read "State of Grace" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki

Wendell Holmes plays guitar, piano and sings, and Sherman Holmes plays bass and sings. When Popsy Dixon joins on drums and vocals, this trio transforms into the Holmes Brothers, the Blues Foundation's 2005 Band of the Year. Their three-part harmonies are honeyed country gospel, but their front-stoop funk and dark, broken-hearted tales are pure country blues.

The Holmes Brothers make every song they sing sound gospel sacred and gutbucket funky. Look no further for an example than Wendell's ...

ALBUM REVIEW January 10, 2004

The Holmes Brothers: Simple Truths

By Chris M. Slawecki

The Holmes Brothers play rock 'n’ roll like a band that grew up playing the blues on Saturday night and then gospel in church on Sunday morning. Drummer Popsy Dixon, guitarist/keyboardist Wendell Holmes, and bassist Sherman Holmes play rough and tumble with the blues—but their vocal harmonies, most often casting Sherman’s baritone and Popsy’s falsetto in harmony with Wendell’s rough leads, ring like a churchbell with sweet, sweet gospel (their hometown: Christchurch, Virginia).

Simple Truths rings both simple ...