_(L to R) Popsy Dixon, Sherman Holmes and Wendell Holmes_Happy Birthday to *Popsy Dixon* of the "*Holmes Brothers*":http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:aifyxq95ldke, born on this day in 1942 in Norfolk, Virginia. Popsy plays the drums and sings (most notably in an angelic falsetto) with this three-piece dynamo of blues, soul, R&B and gospel. He also sports one of the coolest nicknames I've ever come across, and thinking about Popsy always starts me thinking about how much _I_ need a damn nickname myself.Originally christened Willie Leonard Dixon, Popsy joined up with Wendell and Sherman Holmes in the early 1970s. The two brothers had been playing music together since growing up in Christchurch, Virginia; they moved to New York City in the '60s and performed and recorded as the Sevilles, sometimes backing headline acts coming through town, like John Lee Hooker, the Impressions and others. After the three-piece lineup had been together for a few years, the officially took the Holmes Brothers name in 1979. They toiled in the New York club scene for many years, releasing a debut album in 1990. While they continued to perform and work on various recording projects, their real breakthrough album didn't arrive until 2001. _Speaking In Tongues_ was a near-perfect document of their infectious, passionate musical energy and the unmistakable joy they experience in singing and playing.I'm sure some MOGgers reading this are already well aware of the Holmes Brothers. For anyone who isn't, however, let me strongly encourage you to not only pick up pretty much any of their recordings you can track down, but also make a point of catching their live show if the opportunity ever arises. I've been lucky enough to see them twice, and both times they just blew me away. These guys produce a big, arresting, irresistible sound for a mere trio; and then they can stop on a dime and deliver a tender ballad, played so down-low and heavy with feeling that the tears start to well up before you even know it. For a bunch of AARP-eligible dudes, the Holmes Brothers put a lot of the kids to shame. Without really trying to, they make an ironclad case for the idea that experience counts for a lot in the world of musical performance. They're also quite canny interpreters of other people's songs. They've cut surprisingly original covers of the O'Jays' "Love Train," Collective Soul's "Shine," Nick Lowe's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding," and the absolute must-hear "I Want You To Want Me" - yes, originally by Cheap Trick. You won't believe it. (Click the link at the top of this post for a quick preview.)While Wendell handles most of the lead vocals in the group, with Sherman and Popsy frequently adding sweetly layered harmonies, you can always count on Popsy singing lead on a couple songs. For this post I've chosen a video cilp of the band performing "Three Gray Walls," one of those songs that features Popsy's voice. Brace yourself for the last verse, where he climbs into his famous falsetto range.
mousetrap says
Yep, it's your friend and mine, Bug-Eyed Earl from "Red Meat" (minor correction there). The strip's in syndication, so it appears in our free independent weekly here. I didn't know it ran in the print edition of _The Onion_, so that's cool to hear. I do like that character so much.....not sure how long I'll keep using the avatar, though. You can check out the Web site "*here*":http://www.redmeat.com/redmeat/.
(Mind you, Earl's image does do a pretty decent job of conveying my abject horror upon reading your recent MOG-mail about Dudley's experience at the vet....)
mousetrap says
YEAH, Yoto! That's what I'm talkin' about!
Nice addition to the thread. I did want folks to hear that ol' Popsy can punch it hard on the drums as well as do the sensitive ballad stuff.
_(L to R) Popsy Dixon, Sherman Holmes and Wendell Holmes_Happy Birthday to *Popsy Dixon* of the "*Holmes Brothers*":http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:aifyxq95ldke, born on this day in 1942 in Norfolk, Virginia. Popsy plays the drums and sings (most notably in an angelic falsetto) with this three-piece dynamo of blues, soul, R&B and gospel. He also sports one of the coolest nicknames I've ever come across, and thinking about Popsy always starts me thinking about how much _I_ need a damn nickname myself.Originally christened Willie Leonard Dixon, Popsy joined up with Wendell and Sherman Holmes in the early 1970s. The two brothers had been playing music together since growing up in Christchurch, Virginia; they moved to New York City in the '60s and performed and recorded as the Sevilles, sometimes backing headline acts coming through town, like John Lee Hooker, the Impressions and others. After the three-piece lineup had been together for a few years, the officially took the Holmes Brothers name in 1979. They toiled in the New York club scene for many years, releasing a debut album in 1990. While they continued to perform and work on various recording projects, their real breakthrough album didn't arrive until 2001. _Speaking In Tongues_ was a near-perfect document of their infectious, passionate musical energy and the unmistakable joy they experience in singing and playing.I'm sure some MOGgers reading this are already well aware of the Holmes Brothers. For anyone who isn't, however, let me strongly encourage you to not only pick up pretty much any of their recordings you can track down, but also make a point of catching their live show if the opportunity ever arises. I've been lucky enough to see them twice, and both times they just blew me away. These guys produce a big, arresting, irresistible sound for a mere trio; and then they can stop on a dime and deliver a tender ballad, played so down-low and heavy with feeling that the tears start to well up before you even know it. For a bunch of AARP-eligible dudes, the Holmes Brothers put a lot of the kids to shame. Without really trying to, they make an ironclad case for the idea that experience counts for a lot in the world of musical performance. They're also quite canny interpreters of other people's songs. They've cut surprisingly original covers of the O'Jays' "Love Train," Collective Soul's "Shine," Nick Lowe's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding," and the absolute must-hear "I Want You To Want Me" - yes, originally by Cheap Trick. You won't believe it. (Click the link at the top of this post for a quick preview.)While Wendell handles most of the lead vocals in the group, with Sherman and Popsy frequently adding sweetly layered harmonies, you can always count on Popsy singing lead on a couple songs. For this post I've chosen a video cilp of the band performing "Three Gray Walls," one of those songs that features Popsy's voice. Brace yourself for the last verse, where he climbs into his famous falsetto range.
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