Thaddeus Hogarth

Music junkies may remember Thaddeus Hogarth as the singing, guitar and harmonica-playing member of Boston funk-rock band Heavy Metal Horns, with whom he tasted early success in the '90s.  Opting to pursue his R&B calling, Hogarth left the group and recorded a well-received solo album, 1999's When the Sun Goes Down. He plants himself squarely in soul terra firma with this second effort for which he did all the writing, arranging, and producing. Unearthing memories of such '70s stalwarts as War and Stevie Wonder, Hogarth turns in a back-to-the-roots set whose ambitious embrace of reggae, rock, jazz, and blues sometimes leaves the listener wondering exactly where he's headed. But when everything clicks, as on the album's best track, the jazzed-up "Back Street", the sweet harmonica-introed title track, and the playful "She Loves Me" it's not hard to believe in Hogarth. 
- BillBoard Magazine May 12 2001

In the grace and gospel of Thaddeus Hogarth lies one of Boston's most underappreciated musical treasures.  This one-time frontman for the Heavy Metal Horns has been gigging around New England and New York behind his sublime Tryin' to Believe CD, which no lover of retro soul, funk and R&B should be without.  Tonight Hogarth and his band, which include David Buda from the Boston Pops on bass, Joey Scrima on drums, and Craig Stevens on keys, get their groove on at Ryles Jazz Club (212 Hampshire Street, Cambridge) at 9.  Tickets are $9 -- trust us, a night with Hogarth and crew is well worth three times that.  Call (617) 876-9330.
- Stuff@Night Jan 15 2002

This year, three of the more notable local artists playing "Steppin’ Out" — songwriter Thaddeus Hogarth, versatile blues outfit the Nicole Nelson Band, and veteran spiritual group the Silver Lining Gospel Singers — are steppin’ out themselves with new releases. Although, like much of "Steppin’ Out," these performers have deep roots in African-American culture, they’re also an indicator of the event’s musical diversity.

Take Hogarth — the former Heavy Metal Horns frontman’s third CD, his new It Might As Well Be Now (Higher Ground), is a blast of psychedelic soul funk that goes down smart and easy. Its opening "If You Knew" is a prayer for tolerance set to his wah-wah guitar licks and a reggae feel. "I Think It’s Gonna Rain" is a vocal showcase; his slightly foggy, relaxed singing and slinky guitar-and-keys arrangement capture a Bill Withers soul-folk vibe. Then there’s "Cold Shack Attack," a gritty hunk of dub that demands attention right from its opening blast of harmonica set to a raw groove pumped by drummer Joey Scrima and bassist David Buda, Hogarth’s crack rhythm team. Reggae star Sister Carol lends her voice to the song, which is a metaphor for the cruel world we live in. Before Hogarth closes the disc with his expert chromatic-harmonica licks and warm-hearted singing on "Ain’t Gonna Miss My Train," with lyrics about aiming for a better future, he hits Sly Stone’s "Family Affair" in an overt nod to his musical roots in the early ’70s — a time when rock and roll and R&B were often indistinguishable.

"I’ve been accused of being locked in the ’70s, but I don’t feel like I am," Hogarth says. The solo work of this veteran local musician, who teaches guitar and songwriting at Berklee College of Music, does, as he admits, draw on his love of harmonic structures from the ’70s, but there’s a spiritual sensibility coming through his music that makes it timeless. "I’m a spiritual person, but I’m not religious. I feel like I have a message, and if I can touch people, then I’ve accomplished my artistic endeavor." Wrapping his messages of hope, redemption, and peace in appealing melodies and grooves certainly does the trick.

The musical payoff for Hogarth’s fans on It Might As Well Be Now is the depth of his guitar playing. On his earlier albums, the sound that’s most striking is his chromatic harmonica; it’s reminiscent of Stevie Wonder and quite arresting because of Hogarth’s command of the instrument and its rarity in contemporary music. But the guitar solo on "I Think It’s Gonna Rain" is an excellent example of how restraint and good tone can take a song to higher ground. "I was going for economy and expression on that," he says. And those are the qualities that permeate Hogarth’s playing on all 10 of the album’s tunes. It’s a radical departure from his days with the party-pumping Heavy Metal Horns — softer, more soulful, and enriching.
- Boston Pheonix Oct 31 2003

Remember the days when R&B music was created with real instruments, including prominent guitars, and had tunes that were written around melodies instead of rhythm? Remember when soul songs were more than just showcases for the singer's voice lessons? Remember when R&B artists respected roots beyond the last Dr. Dre album? Thaddeus Hogarth remembers.
- Michael Toland
- Hi Bias