HOLMES

Artist Information

Biography

The members of the band have collectively shared the stage with many notable and diverse artists as Cypress Hill, KRS-One, G. Love & Special Sauce, Los Amigos Invisibles, Jazz Mandolin Project, The Slip, Dr. Didj, The Original P-Funk Allstars, Charles Neville, Leftover Salmon, Bonerama, Rebirth Brass Band, Big Sams Funky Nation and more all the while honing their chops in other bands on the local, regional and national music circuit.

Winners Best Funk/ Soul Act Worcester Magazine 2009
Winners Best Live Act Worcester Magazine 2009 (write-in vote)
Winners Best Male Vocalist Worcester Magazine 2009 (write-in vote)
Winners Best New Record Worcester Magazine 2009 (write-in vote)

Nominee Best Funk/Soul Act Worcester Magazine (2007-2008)
Nominee Best Male Vocalist Worcester Magazine (2008)

If you’re looking for a band that can deliver a night of funky grooves and dancy tunes then HOLMES is the band for you!

Instrumentation

STEVE SNUFFER (GUITAR/VOCALS)
MIKE O’SHEA (PIANO/ORGAN)
MIKE THOMAS (BASS)
ALEX BUDROW (DRUMS)
WILL CAVINESS (TRUMPET)
MIKE RUDICK (TENOR SAX)
RUSSELL BOGARTZ (TROMBONE/BACKUP VOCALS)

Discography

Debut 6 Song EP "Keept It Funky" Released in October 2008. Voted (write-in) Winner Best New Record by Worcester Magazine Turtleboy Music Awards 2009.

Official Website

http://www.holmes-band.com

Links

• MySpace
• Facebook
• Twitter

Audio

• Cigar
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• Everythings Spinning
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• Funky Feelin
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• How I Feel
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• Stoney Kurtis
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• Unlock That Door
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Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Love Day Swag [+ Show ]
  

  You don't have to be Tom Cruise to find Holmes funky By Lisa Egan Eight band members may soun...You don't have to be Tom Cruise to find Holmes funky
  
  By Lisa Egan
  
  Eight band members may sound like a lot for one group, but it worked for the likes of Chicago and The Ramones. That's even the sum total of former Duran Duran bandmates. Talking locally, add Holmes — Worcester's own blend of funk, soul, R&B and reggae — to that list. It's a large outfit pulling off that funk.
  
  Funk music actually has a pretty hip etymology. The word "funk," once classified as the stench of body odor or sexual intercourse, was commonly looked upon as vulgar or indecent. Musicians subscribing to this style initially employed the name "funk" to describe music with a slow, smooth rhythm. Eventually, because of the word's association with sex, it was applied to music with a distinct, determined beat. This early form of the music set the pattern for later musicians.
  
  Inspired by the authentic funk of yesteryear, Holmes was founded in 2002 as the brainchild of Steve Snuffer and Mike O'Shea. Drawing inspiration from Snuffer's vast collection of music, the guys were looking for a fresh alternative to the cover-band scene.
  
  They began by playing various venues all over the Northeast. They even opened for noteworthy national acts such as Bonerama, Rebirth Brass Band and Big Sam's Funky Nation.
  
  Originally a five-piece group, Holmes added a full horn section and a female back-up singer. "I found many years ago bands with horns have a mass appeal," says Snuffer, "and command better pay scales in addition to adding to that ‘wow' factor." Their aim was to play music with more substance than typical Top-40 fashion, but they still wanted to radiate a mass appeal.
  
  Holmes professes to combine traditional soul elements (think The Isley Brothers, The Meters, Stevie Wonder and Al Green) with some of its own contemporary style. Their classic de-emphasis of both melody and harmony allows for more attention paid to bringing the rhythmic groove of bass and drums to the foreground. So in a word, Holmes is just downright catchy.
  
  Holmes' standard line-up consists of lead singer Steve Snuffer, Mike O'Shea on the keys, percussionist Alex Budrow, back-up vocals Linzy Martinelli, alto sax Tim Reese, tenor sax Mike Rudick, Russell Bogartz on the trombone and Lee Whalen on the bass. They also share guest musician Sam Holmstock with the local band Entrain, along with so many other area performers from the local scene who have known to sit in with Holmes from time to time. "The Worcester music scene has an unbelievable camaraderie and a real communal vibe," says Snuffer. "All the bands are like a tight knit family and rarely does ego get in the way."
  
  To honor the city that's been so welcoming to them, they've decided to give a little something back. Snuffer says of Worcester, "We're psyched that we've been recognized for our hard work and musicianship," he says, "and we plan on giving back to the city and people who helped us with a new CD of original music for free, which we hope to give away copies of at our next Tammany Hall gig." For a post-Valentine's Day funkathon (and as promised, hopefully some free swag), be sure to check out Holmes accompanied by Soulstice for an 18-and-up show. o
  
  Lisa Egan
  

Setlist

HERE I AM BABY - AL GREEN
TAKE ME TO THE RIVER - AL GREEN
PICK UP THE PIECES - AVERAGE WHITE BAND
AINT NO SUNSHINE - BILL WITHERS
LEAN ON ME - BILL WITHERS
USE ME - BILL WITHERS
STORMY MONDAY - T BONE WALKER
HIP HUG HER - BOOKER T & THE MG'S
HAVE A GOOD TIME - BRAND NEW HEAVIES
RIGHT PLACE, WRONG TIME - DR. JOHN
SHINING STAR - EARTH WIND & FIRE
GUN - GIL SCOTT HERON
CIGAR - HOLMES ORIGINAL
EVERYTHINGS SPINNING - HOLMES ORIGINAL
FUNKY FEELIN - HOLMES ORIGINAL
HOW I FEEL - HOLMES ORIGINAL
STONEY KURTIS - HOLMES ORIGINAL
FWUN-NUN-NUN - HOLMES ORIGINAL
UNLOCK THAT DOOR - HOLMES ORIGINAL
DOIN IT TO DEATH - JAMES BROWN
THINK - JAMES BROWN
JUNGLE BOOGIE - KOOL & THE GANG
EVERYTHING I DO - LEE DORSEY
GIVE IT UP - LEE DORSEY
YES WE CAN CAN - LEE DORSEY
GOT TO GETCHYA - MACEO PARKER
SHAKE EVERYTHING YOU GOT - MACEO PARKER
SOUL POWER - MACEO PARKER
THE CHICKEN - MACEO PARKER
AINT THAT PECULIAR - MARVIN GAYE
LETS GET IT ON - MARVIN GAYE
GET UP FOR THE DOWNSTROKE - PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC
SOUL MAN - SAM & DAVE
IF YOU WANT ME TO STAY - SLY & THE FAMILY STONE
BOOGIE ON REGGAE WOMAN - STEVIE WONDER
I WISH - STEVIE WONDER
SIR DUKE - STEVIE WONDER
SUPERSTITION - STEVIE WONDER
YOU HAVE’NT DONE NOTHIN’ - STEVIE WONDER
EASY LIKE SUNDAY MORNING - THE COMMODORES
PASS THE PEAS - THE JB'S
BIG CHIEF - THE METERS
CISSY STRUT - THE METERS
HEY POCKY WAY - THE METERS
MESSAGE FROM THE METERS - THE METERS
YELLOW MOON - THE NEVILLE BROTHERS
FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY - THE OJ'S
CANTALOOP - US3
DOMINO VAN - MORRISON
LOW RIDERW - WAR
SLIPPIN INTO DARKNESS - WAR

Basic Requirements

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