REVIEWS

Here's a sample of some reviews of the Hicks from print and online sources.


Bluegrass Breakdown      December 2004. "Modern Hicks is a Northern California band with a delightful mixture of old time sound and modern sensibility. They choose songs with carefully crafted and meaningful lyrics and then add a wonderful backdrop with strong vocals and a powerful mix of mandolin, guitar, resonator guitar, bass, and banjo. The band has a truly evolved ensemble sound.
Layne Bowen's strong mandolin playing adds punctuation to all of the songs, but he also does equally well with lead guitar and fiddle. His instrumental "Sleeper's Dream" has a bright, Celtic feel aided by the sparkling bandjo of guest Bill Evans. Kevin Russell has a strong rhythm guitar but he also adds vibrant guitar solos and mournful resonator guitar to the rich mix of textures. Craig Anderson's skill on instruments includes the resonator guitar, banjo, and Weisenborn guitar.
Newest member Ted Dutcher's bass adds a basement floor of rhythm and strength to the band's sound. Gina Blaber has one of those voices that blends blues and jazz with a touch of hometown country truth. Her versatility shines in her close harmony with Kevin Russell on "Speed of Light" and her bluesy, no-hold-barred version of her own "Whether I Call You." Their version of Daniel Lanois' "Under a Stormy Sky" has a wonderful Zydeco bouncy beat with Julie Wolf guesting on accordian. Kevin Russell's "Solid Wrong" has a commentary on the covering of fields by parking lots, and his "Setle Down With The Blues" nails the blues in bluegrass.
Here's an album to play over and over. Your personal favorite will change with every listening, and you may have to conclude that each song is a treasure!"


Bluegrass Now      September 2004. "Under A Stormy Sky, the Modern Hicks' third CD, represents their best effort yet. The music is tighter and more enjoyable than ever and their originals, seven of the 14 cuts on the album, are more professional and polished.
The Hicks -- five very talented Northern California musicians with wonderfully eclectic musical tastes -- include bluegrass, country, swing, blues, rock, and pop, everything from Hank Williams to Irving Berlin to Sting. On Under A Stormy Sky, a very impressive collection of music, the Hicks continue to hone their own musical identity, which is becoming more solid and vibrant, resulting in a delightfully unique sound. Their musicianship, which inclues the mandolin, fiddle, guitar, banjo, Weisenborn (an acoustic lap steel), and resonator guitar, is even more inventive and tasteful. Ted Dutcher has joined the Hicks on bass, rounding out this excellent sound.
The band kicks things off with "Tall Pines," a driving bluegrass number, then changes speeds very smoothly with Kevin Russell's tasty blues number "Settle Down With The Blues," which features some fine solos on mandolin and resophonic guitar. Craig Anderson shows off an impressive country baritone on "Dry River" and "Santa Ana Wind," the latter his own composition (check out this guy on guitar, too!).
The Hicks showcase their instrumental skills on Layne Bowen's "Sleeper's Dream"... this haunting number is done in a minor/modal key and features some masterful solos. Layne's lyrics on "Road to Salem" are profound, his lead vocal stirring.
Like their other CDs, I've played Under A Stormy Sky over and over, relishing lyrics, music, and all the little intricacies and subtle nuances in each cut, amazed that these folks still haven't yet been picked up by a major label. Thhis is a band deserving of some quality airplay, destined for notice on a very grand scale once they get the attention they deserve. (JF)

Bluegrass Now      March 2004. "Tornado Alley is an excellent follow-up to the Modern Hicks' earlier effort, Out Among the Stars. With the same personnel, Layne Bowen plays mandolin and guitar, Kevin Russell adds additional guitar work, Gina Blaber is one of the primary vocalists, triple-threat Craig Anderson plays resonator guitar, Weisenborn (on "Killing The Blues"), and banjo, Tom Sours provides the bass and they are all accomplished vocalists. This band is even more polished and musically mature than before. That's saying a lot as they were pretty darn good last time around, but here Modern Hicks' musicianship is even tighter and more creative and their vocals are even more stunning.
The band again draws from a number of artists and genres for their material, but wonderfully makes each song their own. The band opens with Gillian Welch's toe-tapper, "Red Clay Halo", and follows up with Hank Williams' "Ramblin' Man," Bob Ferguson's old Ferlin Huskey hit, "Wings of a Dove," Peter Rowan's "Midnight Highway," and Irving Berlin's "Russian Lullaby."
There's a gorgeous rendition of Sting's "Fields of Gold". I found myself so taken by this one that I hit the "repeat" button several times. Gina Blaber's country vocal is bolder and even lovelier than before. The same is true of Kevin's baritone on Hal Ketchum's hit, "Past the Point of Rescue," done here with some exquisite instrumental twists and turns. "Killing the Blues" is lovely, showcasing not only Gina's beautiful vocal range, but the band's softer, sentimental side. this song alone is definitely worth the cost of the CD.
Tom and Layne contribute threee compositions to the recording, including Layne's driving, twisting, instrumental title cut and Gina and Kevin show off their own talents wtih some stirring a capella.
If the CD photo is any indicator, these folks are still quite young and, predictably, with a big musical future ahead. This band is just waiting to be discovered! (JF)"

Bluegrass Now      March 2004. "Out Among the Stars" "There's a lot to like about this band. Most apparent from the outset is their choice in music; 15 cuts representing evertyhing from folk rock (the Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil"), some old country/bluegrass (Lefty Frizell's 60s country hit and bluegrass favorite Gone, Gone, Gone"), stunning modern folk from Gillian Welch (the opener "Stillhouse" and "Annabelle" and Wendy Waldman's hit "You Plant Your Fields"). If that isn't enough, there's swing, blues, a little jazz, and a gorgeous rendition of Adam Mitchel's very moving title cut to keep your interest alive.
The band's stirring vocals complement each other very well on all of these cuts, with Kevin Russell doing most of the lead vocals in a fine country baritone and Gina Blaber performing beautiful vocals on songs like "Satan's Jewel Crown" and "Love to Learn". The band really swings behind her jazz lead vocal on "Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring," and does a very respectable job supporting Kevin on the very bluesy "That's How I Learned to Sing the Blues" and Billy Jack Wills' "Cadillacin'," a Texas version of "Little Deuce Coupe." The band informs us that Billy Jack is, indeed, Bob Willis' brother and he took over lead duties with the Texas Playboys when Bob left.
Kevin also does a fine job on guitar, with Craig Anderson contributing masterfully on resonator guitar, banjo, and vocal on "Friend...," Layne Bowen on mandolin, guitar, and harmony vocal, and Tom Sours on bass. All are very competent in each of the musical styles on the CD.
This band has something for just about everyone's musical tastes. Their music grows on you with each listen."

Good Times (Santa Cruz County weekly)      May 2002. "I'm not sure where the "modern" part comes into play, but Modern Hicks' sincere, highly competent approach to country and bluegrass is refreshingly free of bacon grease aftertaste. Its specialty is slow Willams-style laments, but when the band hits the gas on numbers like the title track from its latest CD, Tornado Alley, it doesn't take too long to figure out that the group's been saving some hot licks for the right moment. With its wealth of country covers, occasional originals, and pop hits reworked for fiddle-fed ears, MH is like a living jukebox from a friendly roadside tavern."

Bluegrass Unlimited      October 2001. "It's to their credit that the Hicks eschew licks for tasteful approaches to songs and arrangements, with Anderson's resonator and Weisenborn guitars subtly spicing up most tracks...The group's two principal lead singers, Gina Blaber and guitarist Kevin Russell, shine separately and together on other lesser-known selections. Blaber's effortlessly sensual voice delivers a delicious version of "Killing the Blues" and Sting's "Fields Of Gold" has a beautiful vocal texture thanks to her tone and touch. Russell evokes the spirit of Gram Parsons on a quietly forlorn "Brand New," and Russell and Blaber complement each other nicely on harmonies most notably on Two Soldiers."

Pacific Sun      May 2001. "Arguably Northern California's finest contemporary bluegrass ensemble, the quintet walks the fine line between reverence and innovation with assurance... All the proof you'll ever need can be found on the Hicks' latest, Tornado Alley. The alternatingly lovely and boot-stompin' 14-song collection brims with relaxed, confident artistry..."

Dirty Linen      December 2000; PEC. "This California-based quintet plays a compelling mixture of folk, bluegrass, and acoustic country. Kevin Russell and Gina Blaber are both very strong lead singers... Standouts include Wendy Waldman's "You Plant Your Fields," old gems associated with Lefty Frizzell and The Louvin Brothers, and "Floods of South Dakota" by the late great Judy Roderick."

BluegrassNet.com      August 2000; Keith Morris. "This is a great recording. The instrumental work, selection of songs, and styles will have you spinning... Usually I recommend who should and should not get a particular recording. Well, I'm definitely going to recommend that everyone who likes bluegrass get this CD, <Out Among the Stars>. The recording is definitely rooted in bluegrass, but there's a lot more in there."

California Bluegrass Association      March 2000; Bluegrass Breakdown, Suzanne Denison. "If you're looking for good picking, pleasing vocal harmonies, and a variety of musical styles, this recording has them all. Each band member contributes outstanding instrumental breaks, and the three who sing (Kevin Russell, Gina Blaber, and Layne Bowen) offer a great blend of lead and harmony vocals... I can recommend <this CD> to anyone who enjoys good music, performed well... It isn't straight-ahead Monroe-style BLUEGRASS, but it is very enjoyable music and I would highly recommend you get a copy for your collection."

Bluegrass by the Bay      February 2000; Matt Knoth. "All of <their 15 songs> are treated with a sensibility that is at once deliberately musical and playful... "Out Among the Stars" ends up being so listenable not just because the Modern Hicks' respect and appreciation of their musical influences is so clear, but also because you can tell as you listen that the Hicks are having a great time playing music. What could be better to listen to than that?"

Bluegrass Unlimited     February 2000; Les McIntyre. "Modern Hicks are a captivating bluegrass ensemble from Santa Rosa, CA whose musical style can best be categorized as "Jazz Grass". This is most apparent on Billy Jack Wills' western swing standard bearer "Cadillacin'", the Henry Hipkens composition, "Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring", and the Hal Ketchum cheating ditty "Waiting 'Til the Coast Is Clear"... Anyone who prefers their bluegrass with a touch of swing all wrapped in folk-flavored overtones will find plenty to savor in this appetizing little morsel."

San Francisco Examiner Magazine      Sunday November 28, 1999; Sound Judgments. "Santa Rosa producer Doug Jayne has turned out another minor gem, Modern Hicks - Out Among the Stars (Jackalope Records), with Craig Anderson, Kevin Russell, Tom Sours, Gina Blaber, and Layne Bowen in lovely turns on such tunes as Gillian Welch's "Stillhouse" and the Louvin Brothers "Satan's Jewel Crown." Unlikely to knock Garth Brooks off the charts, we guess, but this is the real deal."

Here's what radio hosts have to say about the Modern Hicks:

"One of the best bands to come out of California in a long time. A fine album. Ray Edlund, "Pig in a Pen" KPFA radio

"A very great band, nice harmonies and good interpretations. Quite a wonderful album." Mary Tilson, "America's Back Forty" KPFA radio

"A real good album!" Tom Diamont, "Panhandle Country" KPFA radio

"These guys have done their homework. A great record from a great band." Robin Pressman, "Our Roots are Showing" KRCB radio

Check out this fascinating interview  Kevin Russell did with stellar guitarist and IBMA guitarist of the year Jim Hurst and four-time IBMA Bassist of the Year Missy Raines in May 2002.

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