Since You Had A Hold On Me is Joe Hodgson’s Single Out Now
Good Day Noir Family,
Joe Hodgson’s “Since You Had A Hold On Me” steps into the room with swagger.
Since You Had A Hold On Me is Joe Hodgson’s Single Out Now
From the first few notes, the guitar tone drips with character: sharp, expressive, and steeped in a tradition that feels like it was born under the streetlamps of New Orleans.
It’s a sound that conjures smoke curling from manhole covers, blues clubs with flickering neon signs, and a city that never forgets its roots.
Hodgson’s guitar work is as precise as it is emotive. Each phrase lands with intent, never showy for the sake of flash, but always saying something. When Glen Harkin’s voice enters, it’s like a shot of aged whiskey—raw, soulful, and deeply textured. His vocal delivery carries the grit of Joe Cocker with a scratchy depth that sounds lived-in, not performed. There’s something about the way he draws out certain lines that feels like a conversation with ghosts of the past.
The Hammond organ is the backbone of the verses, laying down warm, swirling chords that give the vocals and guitar space to breathe and stretch. This isn’t a track that relies on studio tricks—it’s built from real playing, real feeling, and an honest connection to musical tradition.
What’s most striking is the atmosphere Hodgson creates. Though he’s Irish by birth, he channels the rural American South with uncanny instinct—cotton fields, sticky summer heat, and backroom bars where strangers become family over rum and rhythm. The energy is raw, but never messy. His technical approach is crisp and flawless, yet never cold.
Also worth noting is “Stick Or Twist,” an instrumental that sits in contrast with a more modern, almost progressive edge. It’s another side of Hodgson’s artistry—more experimental in tone, yet equally refined in execution. It confirms what “Since You Had A Hold On Me” already suggests: this is a guitarist who knows how to tell stories, with or without words.
Since You Had A Hold On Me is Joe Hodgson’s Single Out Now!
Real!
Joe Hodgson is a guitarist from Ballymagorry, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, whose music reflects the turbulent beauty of his homeland and his upbringing during The Troubles. Blending rock, blues, jazz, and Irish influences, his evocative instrumentals are both powerful and intricate, showcasing a deeply expressive style.
After years of performing and recording with London-based bands across Europe, Joe returned to Northern Ireland in 2018. His 2020 debut solo album Apparitions received widespread acclaim—Guitar World praised his “elite” playing, Canadian critic Steve Newton dubbed him “the best guitarist you’ve never heard of,” and ANR Factory hailed the album as “a modern-day masterpiece.”
On June 20, 2025, Hodgson will release his second solo album, Fields of Redemption. The lead double A-side single, “The Grass Is Greener” / “Shapeshifting,” dropped in March to glowing reviews. His new release features the soulful “Since You Had A Hold On Me” with vocalist Glen Harkin, alongside the instrumental “Stick Or Twist.”
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