Brewer Phillips anyone???

trag-o-caster · July 3rd, 2003, 04:45 AM

Now there's a name that I've not seen mentioned on here ever (unless I missed something somewhere along the way).

He played with Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers. Being that they didn't have a bass in the band, he had to provide all the low end behind Hound Dog's slide. Both of them played with a distortion tone that sounded like something was wrong with their amps or something, but it was still a really attractive sound. Everyone knows that Hound Dog used some weird kind of Teisco guitar, but Brewer used an old beat up Tele (does anyone know what kind of amp he used?).

His playing was raw, like Hound Dog's, but he could play some very interesting, and tasty lead guitar. He sure knew how to back a slide!

After Hound Dog passed away, Brewer put out one solo album before passing away a few years ago himself. Anyone ever heard this album, or know any info on him? I always thought that he was an unsung great, and deserved more recognition.

porklash · July 3rd, 2003, 05:05 AM

I saw Brewer in 96 when he was doing a few gigs round
Sundsvall here in Sweden.
He played, I believe, a custom that someone had refinished to natural. I will remember it was alder. But to be totally honest I´m not shure.

He didn´t play as "good" as he used to but, to me, it was the best American blues act I´ve seen.
You know, you dont get that everyday where I live.
The amp he used this night was a borrowed BFSR.
And he used the neck pickup

He fired the guitarist from his Swedish band (Benny and the Broom) on stage! And the evening ended with a jam session with the warm up band. I don´t remember its name but the guitarist owns the place where this happened. Out in the woods. In the north of Sweden.

Well, next thursday, I going to see T-Model Ford.
He won´t be playing a Telecaster for shure.

pEr

Big Tony · July 3rd, 2003, 05:10 AM

I love Brewer Phillips' playing behind Hound Dog! On one of Taylor's Alligator CDs there's a instrumental tune called Phillips' Theme (if my memory serves me right) that's an absolute KILLER!
Taylor & Phillips often shared the same amp. I think I read somewhere that they were using a Silvertone 2x12, and later on a silverface Fender 2x12.

I saw Brewer in Uppsala, Sweden in 1976/77, when he and drummer Ted Harvey backed J.B. Hutto. That was shortly after Hound Dog's death I think. It was a great show! 8)

trag-o-caster · July 3rd, 2003, 05:17 AM

Great story porklash! Thanks for sharing that! Firing band members from the stage? I've been close to that a few times myself! I heard a story about Sonny Boy Williamson (the second one - Rice Miller) firing his whole band and finishing the night by himself with just his harmonica.

sticko · July 3rd, 2003, 02:30 PM

Apparently, Hound Dog and Brewer used to go at it with each other all the time. There's a famous story about them being on the road, Hound Dog being asleep and Brewer shoving him and yellin "Wake up and arguge, man!!"

CLASSIC!

Tim P · July 3rd, 2003, 04:34 PM

I've got his CD - Homebrew - and like it. Not as raw as the Hound Dog Taylor stuff, but good. Hopefully when I'm in my 60's or 70's I still be playin like him and the guys on the CD.

July 3rd, 2003, 04:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
trag-o-caster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flushing, Michigan Posts: 4,579	Brewer Phillips anyone??? Now there's a name that I've not seen mentioned on here ever (unless I missed something somewhere along the way). He played with Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers. Being that they didn't have a bass in the band, he had to provide all the low end behind Hound Dog's slide. Both of them played with a distortion tone that sounded like something was wrong with their amps or something, but it was still a really attractive sound. Everyone knows that Hound Dog used some weird kind of Teisco guitar, but Brewer used an old beat up Tele (does anyone know what kind of amp he used?). His playing was raw, like Hound Dog's, but he could play some very interesting, and tasty lead guitar. He sure knew how to back a slide! After Hound Dog passed away, Brewer put out one solo album before passing away a few years ago himself. Anyone ever heard this album, or know any info on him? I always thought that he was an unsung great, and deserved more recognition. __________________ Timothy Jon Lamb

July 3rd, 2003, 05:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
porklash Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sollefteå Sweden Posts: 236	I saw Brewer in 96 when he was doing a few gigs round Sundsvall here in Sweden. He played, I believe, a custom that someone had refinished to natural. I will remember it was alder. But to be totally honest I´m not shure. He didn´t play as "good" as he used to but, to me, it was the best American blues act I´ve seen. You know, you dont get that everyday where I live. The amp he used this night was a borrowed BFSR. And he used the neck pickup He fired the guitarist from his Swedish band (Benny and the Broom) on stage! And the evening ended with a jam session with the warm up band. I don´t remember its name but the guitarist owns the place where this happened. Out in the woods. In the north of Sweden. Well, next thursday, I going to see T-Model Ford. He won´t be playing a Telecaster for shure. pEr __________________ Slicing eardrums...

July 3rd, 2003, 05:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
Big Tony Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sweden, by golly! Posts: 2,525 28 Photos	I'm a big fan I love Brewer Phillips' playing behind Hound Dog! On one of Taylor's Alligator CDs there's a instrumental tune called Phillips' Theme (if my memory serves me right) that's an absolute KILLER! Taylor & Phillips often shared the same amp. I think I read somewhere that they were using a Silvertone 2x12, and later on a silverface Fender 2x12. I saw Brewer in Uppsala, Sweden in 1976/77, when he and drummer Ted Harvey backed J.B. Hutto. That was shortly after Hound Dog's death I think. It was a great show! 8)

July 3rd, 2003, 05:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
trag-o-caster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flushing, Michigan Posts: 4,579	Great story porklash! Thanks for sharing that! Firing band members from the stage? I've been close to that a few times myself! I heard a story about Sonny Boy Williamson (the second one - Rice Miller) firing his whole band and finishing the night by himself with just his harmonica. __________________ Timothy Jon Lamb

July 3rd, 2003, 02:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
sticko Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: They don't call it the Bluff City for nothin' Posts: 424	gimme back my wig Apparently, Hound Dog and Brewer used to go at it with each other all the time. There's a famous story about them being on the road, Hound Dog being asleep and Brewer shoving him and yellin "Wake up and arguge, man!!" CLASSIC!

July 3rd, 2003, 04:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tim P TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 10	I've got his CD - Homebrew - and like it. Not as raw as the Hound Dog Taylor stuff, but good. Hopefully when I'm in my 60's or 70's I still be playin like him and the guys on the CD.