Photo by: Roberto Antonio Terrones Jr.
[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/julierhodes/08-julie-rhodes-holes[/soundcloud]
The latest edition in the WFMO X Music Savage Show “Song of the Week†spotlight is the great track “Holes” from local favorite Julie Rhodes. The Somerville blues musician extraordinaire’s debut album, Bound to Meet the Devil, is nominated for the Boston Music Awards ‘Album of the Year’, and Rhodes herself is nominated in the categories for best new artist, Americana artist and female vocalist of the year. Quite an accomplishment for a musician’s first release!
Credit for discovering Rhodes immeasurable talent goes to singer-songwriter Jonah Tolchin, who heard her singing along at one of his shows in Providence and promptly urged her to write and record her own songs. The outcome of the encouragement can be heard in all eleven songs of her record. Her voice has been compared to all the great blues and soul artists that came before. Joplin? Yep! Franklin?! You bet! While the comparisons ring true, Rhodes’ vocal prowess and song writing skill put her on a level worthy of the awards she (in this humble writer’s opinion) most certainly should win.
Seeing as how she is local you should do yourself a huge favor and see her in concert. Her live show is incredible! Rhodes’ band are truly amazing musicians, and together they create a hurricane of sound that will blow you out of your dancing shoes. Your next chance is December 8th at the House of Blues, which just so happens to be the Boston Music Awards show. Good luck Julie!