by Brian D. Holland.

The Holmes Brothers third release on Alligator Records, State Of Grace, is a pleasant blend of southern roots blues, Cajun, New Orleans, gospel, folk, R&B, and straight forward roadhouse rock and blues. Their sound is melodic, catchy, and extremely entertaining. A recent appearance on the Conan O’Brien show substantiated their current popularity and delightful persona.

The fourteen tracks on State Of Grace are an all-around presentation of their magical style and versatile technique. The opener, ‘Smiling Face Hiding A Weeping Heart’, possesses a Sam Cooke-like melody with an Otis Redding vocal feel. That’s just the beginning, because everything changes as each song happens. These guys don’t stay in the same mode. ‘Close The Door’ has a gritty, down home in the delta feel to it, acoustic and bluesy.

The three musicians who make up the Holmes Brothers: Sherman Holmes on bass and vocals; Wendell Holmes on guitar, piano, and vocals; and Popsy Dixon on drums and vocals get by with just a little help from their friends on this one. Along with a few original Holmes compositions, these versatile musicians from Christchurch, Virginia, get into some interesting covers, including Lyle Lovett’s ‘If I Had A Boat’, the Elvis Costello covered and Nick Lowe penned ‘(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding’, John Fogerty’s ‘Bad Moon Rising’, and Rick Nielson’s ‘I Want You To Want Me’, just to name a few.

The Holmes Brothers’ vocal harmonies and instrumental abilities have been in demand for years. In the past, they’ve recorded with the likes of Van Morrison, Peter Gabriel, Willie Nelson, Phoebe Snow, and many others. Although they've been performing sold out shows in New York City for years, and have released a handful of albums before moving to Alligator Records, worldwide recognition has only been of recent. The fact that their multi-genre talent is catching on lays reason to why they’re booked clear through 2007, appearing at numerous festivals and at venues throughout the US and Europe.

Though there’s a lot of wonderful music to listen to on State Of Grace, their versions of ‘Peace, Love, and Understanding’, If I Had A Boat’, ‘Gasoline Drawers’, and their own ‘Smiling Face Hiding A Weeping Heart’ are worth it by themselves.

These guys have the rhythm thing down to a science. Instrumentally and vocally, they’re about as passionate and genuine as it gets.

State Of Grace Track Listing
1. Smiling Face Hiding A Weeping Heart
2. Close The Door
3. (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding?
4. Gasoline Drawers
5. I Can’t Help It If I’m Still In Love With You
6. Bad Moon Rising
7. Three Gray Walls
8. If I Had A Boat
9. Those Memories Of You
10. I Want You To Want Me
11. Ain’t It Funny What A Fool Will Do
12. Standing In The Need Of Love
13. I’ve Just Seen The Rock Of Ages
14. God Will

Along with the Holmes Brothers:
Rosanne Cash: vocals
Amy Helm: vocals
Fiona McBain: vocals
Joan Osborne: vocals
Byron Isaacs: bass, vocals
Catherine Russell: vocals
Colby Rose Street: vocals
Levon Helm: mandolin, drums, vocals
Glenn Patscha: organ, guitar, piano, accordion, vocals
Chris Bruce: guitar
John Leventhal: guitar
Craig Street: guitar
Larry Campbell: fiddle, mandolin, pedal steel

Produced by Craig Street
Alligator 2007

Links
Alligator Records
State Of Grace on Amazon.com