Billy D. & The Hoodoos: Somethin's Wrong

Last year, I stumbled upon Billy D. & the Hoodoos and have been waiting for the right time to feature their song “Somethin’s Wrong.” With my Bluesday Tuesday feature, now is that time. Born in a hot spot for the blues, the Southside of Chicago, Billy Desmond would eventually move to Santa Fe, New Mexico where he put together his trio of performers. The Hoodoos are Big Jeff Sipe on bass, and Mikey Chavez and Craig Neil alternate as the band’s drummer. The Billy D. & the Hoodoos are currently based out of Portland, Oregon.

In November 2010, the Cascade Blues Association honored Desmond with a Muddy (named for Muddy Waters) Award for the Best New Act. Although the title cut from the “Somethin’s Wrong” CD was released in 2010, it won in the Blues/Jazz category for the 2013 UK Songwriting Contest and is probably the reason why I stumbled on to this video.

While Desmond’s guitar is shaped like a Fender Telecaster, it was custom made by John Suhr. It features two Humbucker pickups rather than the single coils found typically on Teles. Sipe is playing what appears to be a late model reissue of a Dan Electro Hodad bass guitar. It has three lipstick tube pickups and is a very nice sounding instrument.

I hope this satisfies your need for the blues on a “Bluesday Tuesday.