"Great article. I dig the two new releases ya got out man, keep it up!"
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Erick Hovey
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Jeremy Ober commented on Erick Hovey's blog post Iowa farmer-musician cultivates music, career his own way
A blog post by Erick Hovey was featuredIowa farmer-musician cultivates music, career his own way
Scene ScribeCityview, Des Moines, IABy Michael SwangerErick Hovey has the kind of freedom some people might envy. By day, he drives a tractor, working the tranquil 400-plus acre farm in Fort Dodge, IA. By night, he picks an electric guitar in local taverns and pubs, playing a mix of music that pleases him, yet doesn’t fit neatly into one musical category.He is living life on his own terms.But freedom comes with a heavy price. Hovey isn’t getting rich working as a farmer and a musician, and lest…See More
william commented on Erick Hovey's photo
EnB at Marvins, MySpace pic.
"Hey, Eric ,Betsy , Im sorry I missed you las time i was home . We will plan something fun for Christmas"
Erick Hovey posted a blog postReview by Tom Gary, Blues Historian, 7-09
Erick Hovey is not your typical farmer, nor is he your typical blues guitar player, yet if you met him on the street you would think you are meeting Joe Average. However, the 5th generation gentleman farmer from Badger is one of Iowa's best guitar slingers in the state. As typical with Erick, he doesn't do things like the rest of us. Instead of releasing one CD, he puts out two. Recycled Souls, and Blues Farm, are two great discs of blues, jazz, and blues rock. Both these discs are similar. You…See More
Profile Information
- My FD Connection:
- I currently live in Fort Dodge
- Which Fort Dodge High School?
- Fort Dodge Senior High
- Year of Graduation
- 1977
- About Me:
- Erick Hovey, Musician and Farmer - a Blue Collar Review
By Mick Polich - 07/26/2009 - 03:10 PM EDT
Folks, let me introduce you to my friend Erick Hovey, and his unique way that he approaches his vocations, missions, and passions in life and music.
Erick is farmer who has a place outside of Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he tills the land, and probably works one of the last respectable vocations left on the planet.
Erick is also a master musician, and has been touring NW Iowa and recording music when he’s not on the tractor. He’s released two CD’s this year, ”Recycled Souls”, and “Blues Farm”. To Erick, the blues is the best genre to express himself in, but isn’t limiting to his fertile imagination in arranging and peppering his music with seasonings of jazz, funk, old power trio rock, and newer folk fusion styles. But to me, the biggest part of Erick’s approach to his art and life is the organic nature with which everything blends together – everything is explored, and added in a positive fashion.
I have listened to both “Recycled Souls” and “Blues Farm” with equal aplomb and openness Yeah, Erick is a friend, but I’m not blowing smoke –this stuff is the real deal.
Overall, what draws me to Erick’s music is the ability of the songs to take the myriad of blues styles, THEN, fuse lyrical content that has not only good humored nods towards classic blues and rock cliches’, but spans the afterlife, and existentialism as well. Sometimes it’s spooky, sometimes it’s raw, spiritual, and sensual – everything for the purist and the novice as well.
Now, Erick the Farmer……
Why do you need to know that Erick Hovey is a farmer as well as a gifted musician/songwriter? Because not only do the two vocations define Erick as a man, they are organically tied and interwoven, as essential to his being as breathing. In our e-mail correspondence, Erick sent me a multi – page ‘manifesto’ that details everything from soil conservation to better land management, to the balance of economics of farming, providing the population with a food supply, and trying to do it all with sustainable agriculture and a balanced, healthy respect for nature. And you know what? Those are just PART of the topics in this intriguing, yet urgent, work.
Erick and his wife Betsy have gone from organic market gardening to farming, getting it down as a sensible science, relishing it as their life’s work. They are a complementary couple as most compatible couples go – Erick, with his impish, ah-shucks grin, the mover, deep thinker, and Betsy - quiet, friendly radiating charm and grace. Erick, armed with a bachelors degree in agriculture, and Betsy with a masters in English (please forgive my syntax lapses, darlin’), set out to give back to the land, their shared history and heritage, and their community. And in continued harmony, Erick has grown an impressive side career of making and playing music around the Midwest.
I wish I had more space to delve into Erick’s passion and love for the land and music – after all, what started as a simple CD review could have actually gone on for a couple of columns to get more fascinating details.
All I can end on is this – start picking up on Erick’s music, and you can start with “Blues Farm”. This has been a short primer, but hopefully, one that gives a little more insight on my friend, musician and farmer Erick Hovey. By Mick Polich, Muses Muse website , "Blue Collar Rockin' 7-09
- Website (Please DO NOT enter your email address) :
- http://www.erickhovey.com
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Iowa farmer-musician cultivates music, career his own way
Posted on September 7, 2009 at 7:55pm 1 Comment 0 Likes
Scene Scribe
Cityview, Des Moines, IA
By Michael Swanger
Erick Hovey has the kind of freedom some people might envy. By day, he drives a tractor, working the tranquil 400-plus acre farm in Fort Dodge, IA. By night, he picks an electric guitar in local taverns and pubs, playing a mix of music that pleases him, yet doesn’t fit neatly into one musical category.
He is living life on his own terms.
But freedom comes with a heavy price. Hovey isn’t getting… Continue
Cityview, Des Moines, IA
By Michael Swanger
Erick Hovey has the kind of freedom some people might envy. By day, he drives a tractor, working the tranquil 400-plus acre farm in Fort Dodge, IA. By night, he picks an electric guitar in local taverns and pubs, playing a mix of music that pleases him, yet doesn’t fit neatly into one musical category.
He is living life on his own terms.
But freedom comes with a heavy price. Hovey isn’t getting… Continue
Review by Tom Gary, Blues Historian, 7-09
Posted on August 28, 2009 at 7:02am 0 Comments 0 Likes
Erick Hovey is not your typical farmer, nor is he your typical blues guitar player, yet if you met him on the street you would think you are meeting Joe Average. However, the 5th generation gentleman farmer from Badger is one of Iowa's best guitar slingers in the state. As typical with Erick, he doesn't do things like the rest of us. Instead of releasing one CD, he puts out two. Recycled Souls, and Blues Farm, are two great discs of blues, jazz, and blues rock. Both these discs are similar. You… Continue
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