Whoopgnash - Whoopgnash CD details

"I don't think John Erickson, guitarist would mind me calling his playing Holdsworthian, with the legato and fast runs, but he steers well clear of the Holdsworth-clone pigeonhole. Then there are a number of professional jazz guitarists who are happy to be known to playing in the style of WesMontgomery without being slavish, so let's avoid any hassle when somebody adopts and adapts a Holdsworthian approach? The Whoopgnash album is a much more exuberant, extrovert album than recent albums by Holdsworth - IMHO has been more cerebral/intellectual of late, nevertheless "SMOT" is as enjoyable for a set of different reasons. The Whoopgnash album as a listening experience, has to be taken as a work by all three members of the band, not simply that of an excellent guitarist. The drums and bass are a real treat, adding synergistically to the whole, sounding unlike any Holdsworth rhythm section I remember, while giving an energy similar to that heard with Wayne Krantz's rhythm section on "Greenwich Means". One nice bonus, is in that I've found myself whistling several of the main themes of tunes on this album - and I can't remember doing that for a long time!!! A most strongly recommended album."

-Dick Heath: "The Alternative Alternative Show" , Loughborough Campus Radio 1350 AM

"Whoopgnash is a new fusion trio from Minnesota in the tradition of Allan Holdsworth and IOU. Guitarist John Erikson, drummer Bill Paul and bassist Keith Norton have crafted a disc of hard-hitting modern fusion which will appeal to fans of fusion, progressive rock, legato guitar and fine trio music. A group to watch in the future."

-David Dorkin: Fusemag.com

"Well, the endless axe adventures of Allan Holdsworth, down through his helter-skelter career has left dents in the brains of many a guitarist, (mine included). Whoopgnash's John Erickson is severely dented by the Holdsworthian monolithic guitar benchmark. Erickson is no copycat but has caught the drift of what happens in a Holdsworth tune perfectly. His band; Bill Paul on drums, Drum KAT/synth and Keith Norton on bass follow along easily at breakneck speeds, stop-n-go time sigs, and accentuate unison jams, rim-shot tight. Erickson's attacks on solos are clean, expressively driven and fly along at legato phrasings that will make most fusion fans drool. If you have dug Holdsworth for years, then enjoy this Erickson cat skittering all over that I.O.U./ Metal Fatigue era sound. Bass work and drum lines are fine too with Erickson interweaving intricate finger rolls and subdued backing soundscapes in Texan, Eric Johnson's style. We tone down the fusion-fueled, frenzy on "Reunions" and my mind is cast into dreamworlds of chordal ascenscion to the stairway lit by heaven's portals. Erickson's emotive lead is precisely voiced like a soul crying out for answers to life's myriad of set backs. Wonderful cut! A wealthy amount of exactly the type fusion that typifies the best to be heard is right here folks. And executed with pizazz. Get this CD and help one more unknown fusion group make it big time. Don't believe me? Just sample "Sissy-Boy Slap Party"!
You'll see the light too. Highest of recommendations."

-John W. Patterson: Eclectic Earwig Reviews, Jazz Prog.Webring

"Heads up fusers who yearn for IOU-era Holdsworth -- the self-titled CD by the Minneapolis fusion band Whoopgnash is sure to please. It's all-instrumental g/b/d trio fusion much like the kind of thing Scott McGill is doing these days. This band needs to be more acclaimed, they deserve it."

-Randy Booth: Highly regarded music advisor
Posted on Fusenet

"Hello all, just thought I'd join in the crowd already singing the praises of WHOOPGNASH. This band from Minneapolis screams. John Erickson is a fantastic guitarist but that's not all. The rest of the band is amazing too. I loved some of the bass lines on this disc. Let's hope we hear more from these cats real soon. If you're a Holdsworth fan you don't want to miss Whoopgnash."

-Steve Gintz: Rabid Wombat........ Critic
Posted on Fusenet