b. May 30th, 1965 in Fairbanks (Alaska)
LOOKOUT
Black Top
Hepcat
February 1993 / August 1995
Fils de Larry et Diane Holmstrom, Rick nait en Alaska. Marqué par l'émission radiophonique de son père (qui était D.J.), Rick s'intéresse très tôt à la musique. Arrivé en Californie en 1985, il devient le guitariste de William Clarke pendant 3 ans. Puis, il collaborera avec Johnny Dyer ("Listen up", "Shake it") et Billy Boy Arnold ("Back where I belong"). Engagé par Hammond Scott, il trouve l'opportunité de graver son premier disque pour Black Top. Sur une base West Coast Blues, il a conçu un album inventif et entièrement instrumental pour lequel il est son propre producteur. "Fooled ya", "A good one" et "The floater" figurent parmi les bons moments. Certains morceaux proviennent des albums de Johnny Dyer. Son groupe se compose de Andy Kaulkin (piano), Jeff Turmes (saxophone), Tyler Pederson (basse) et Steve Mugalian (batterie).
Son of Larry and Diane Holmstrom, Rick was born in Alaska. Influenced by the radio broadcast of his father (who was D.J.), Rick was very interested in music. Settled in California in 1985, he became the guitarist of William Clarke for 3 years. Then, he will collaborate with Johnny Dyer ("Listen up", "Shake it") and Billy Boy Arnold ("Back where I belong"). Engaged by Hammond Scott, he finds the opportunity to cut his first disc for Black Top. In a West Coast Blues style, he designed an inventive and entirely instrumental album for which he is his own producer. "Fooled ya", "A good one" and "The floater" are among the best moments. Some songs come from Johnny Dyer's albums. His group consists of Andy Kaulkin (piano), Jeff Turmes (saxophone), Tyler Pederson (bass) and Steve Mugalian (drums).
BLUES MISTLETOE & SANTA'S LITTLE HELPER
Black Top
June 1995
Dans cette anthologie, on trouve l'instrumental "Sleigh ride" où Rick est supporté par son groupe habituel.
In this anthology, we find the instrumental "Sleigh ride" where Rick is supported by his usual backing band.
GONNA GET WILD
Tone-Cool
2000
Fidèle guitariste de Rod Piazza entre 1995 et 2001, Rick met plusieurs années avant d'enregistrer son second album. Avec ses musiciens habituels (Steve Mugalian, Jeff Turmes, Andy Kaulkin) et quelques invités (Rod & Honey Piazza, Johnny Dyer, Junior Watson, John "Juke" Logan), il continue dans un style West Coast Blues avec, toutefois, un son de guitare particulièrement original (n'hésitant pas à opter pour des sonorités distordues). En revanche, il est un chanteur assez anodin. On peut ressortir de cet intéressant album "Have you seen my girl", "Lucky day", "Lovin' ways", "Uno mas", "Lost in the shuffle".
Faithful guitarist of Rod Piazza between 1995 and 2001, Rick puts several years before recording his second album. With his usual musicians (Steve Mugalian, Jeff Turmes, Andy Kaulkin) and a few guests (Rod & Honey Piazza, Johnny Dyer, Junior Watson, John "Juke" Logan), he continues in a West Coast Blues style with a particularly original guitar sound (not hesitating to choose distorted sounds). On the other hand, he is a rather insignificant singer. We can point out "Have you seen my girl", "Lucky day", "Lovin' ways", "Uno mas", "Lost in the shuffle" on this interesting album
HYDRAULIC GROOVE
Tone-Cool
2002
Avec cet album, Rick poursuit ses expérimentations, délaissant de plus en plus son West Coast Blues pour des arrangements Acid-Funk qui peuvent désappointer. Pourtant, "Hydraulic groove" s'écoute avec plaisir et curiosité ("Bobo the hobo", "Pee Wee's nightmare", "My Maria"). Sous l'influence du claviériste-producteur Genome, les éléments Electro, les arrangements Acid-Funk et l'utilisation de samples donnent un son bien particulier. A découvrir pour se faire une idée.
With this album, Rick continues his experiments, abandoning more and more his West Coast Blues for Acid-Funk arrangements that may disappoint. However, "Hydraulic groove" can be listened with pleasure and curiosity ("Bobo the hobo", "Pee Wee's nightmare", "My Maria"). Under the influence of the keyboardist-producer Genome, the Electro elements, Acid-Funk arrangements and the use of samples give a very special sound. To discover to get an idea.
LIVE AT THE CAFE BOOGALOO
Tone-Cool
LATE IN THE NIGHT
M.C.
2007
Contrairement à ce que le titre suggère, il ne s'agit nullement d'un album en public. Il s'agit de son dernier album pour Tone-Cool qui sera réédité par son nouveau label M.C. Records. Moins inspiré que "Gonna get wild", moins surprenant que "Hydraulic groove", on opte ici pour un son plus dépouillé. Le programme n'est pas aussi accrocheur qu'à l'habitude et s'avère plutôt ennuyeux.
Contrary to what the title suggests, it is not a live album. This is his latest record for Tone-Cool which will be reissued by his new label, M.C. Records. Less inspired than "Gonna get wild", less surprising than "Hydraulic groove", a more stripped sound has been chosen. The program is not as catchy as usual and seems rather annoying.
TWIST-O-LETTZ
Mocombo
2010
Album en commun avec John "Juke" Logan (harmonica) et Stephen Hodges (batterie). Ici, le son est brut, puissant et donne un Blues percutant parfois volontairement chaotique. Encore une fois, le résultat peut déconcerter. Pourtant, "If I should die", "Be home soon", "Jukestaposition" et la reprise de "Turn your damper down" méritent vraiment l'écoute.
Album in common with John "Juke" Logan (harmonica) and Stephen Hodges (drums). Here, the sound is raw, powerful and gives a percussive blues sometimes voluntarily chaotic. Again, the result may be disconcerting. Yet, "If I should die", "Be home soon", "Jukestaposition" and the cover of "Turn your damper down" really deserve listening.
CRUEL SUNRISE
M.C.
2012
Avec ses musiciens habituels (Jeff Turmes, Stephen Hodges), Rick propose un nouvel album qui dépasse largement le cadre du Blues empruntant régulièrement au Rockabilly, Surf ou Folk. Co-produit par Rick Holmstrom et Doug Boehm, cet opus peut déplaire à l'amateur de Blues traditionnel malgré d'excellents moments ("Cruel sunrise", "It's time I lose", "Owe you everything" chanté par Mavis Staples. Il existe une version allongée avec un CD supplémentaire rempli de reprises instrumentales qui intéresseront surtout les amateurs confirmés de sa musique. Dès 2012, il intègre le groupe de Mavis Staples.
With his usual musicians (Jeff Turmes, Stephen Hodges), Rick proposes a new album which goes far beyond the Blues borrowing regularly to Rockabilly, Surf or Folk. Co-produced by Rick Holmstrom and Doug Boehm, this opus can displease the traditional blues fan in spite of excellent moments ("Cruel sunrise", "It's time I lose", "Owe you everything" sung by Mavis Staples. There is an extended version with an additional CD filled with instrumental covers that will interest mostly confirmed fans of his music. From 2012, he joined the group of Mavis Staples.
SEE THAT LIGHT
Luellie
2021
Un album sombre et introspectif composé par Rick Holmstrom pendant la pandémie. Rick est rejoint par ses comparses Gregory Boaz (basse) et Steve Mugalian (batterie) et montre l'étendue de sa technique sur sa Fender Telecaster. On retient en particulier "Look me in the eye", "Losing my shit", "Don't wake me", "I'd rather be a loser", "I'm an asshole".
A dark and introspective album composed by Rick Holmstrom during the pandemic. Rick is joined by his bandmates Gregory Boaz (bass) and Steve Mugalian (drums) and shows the extent of his technique on his Fender Telecaster. We particularly point out "Look me in the eye", "Losing my shit", "Don't wake me", "I'd rather be a loser", "I'm an asshole".
GET IT
Luellie
2022
Encore accompagné de Gregory Boaz et Steve Mugalian, Rick Holmstrom propose ici un album tout intrumental. Sa créativité à la guitare et son sens de la mélodie suffisent à donner de remarquables et accrocheuses compositions comme "Looky here", "All about my girls", "Erlee time", "Robyn's romp", "Pour one out" sans oublier "Taghazout" et ses accents orientaux.
Still accompanied by Gregory Boaz and Steve Mugalian, Rick Holmstrom offers here an all-instrumental album. His creativity on the guitar and his sense of melody are enough to give remarkable and catchy compositions like "Looky here", "All about my girls", "Erlee time", "Robyn's romp", "Pour one out" without forgetting "Taghazout" and its oriental accents.