While it may seem like the members of The Black Hollies were all born about forty years too late, the Creative Outlaws-like proclivities of their music is something desperately needed to spark today’s generation of young musicians. Be they a chic shimmy or a modish strut, the overall trippy freakbeat terrain of The Black Hollies goes on a journey through time and encompasses all the glory days and scenes of psychedelic music, be it a human-be in at Golden Gate Park circa the Summer of Love, or a walk down London’s colorful Carnaby Street in the swinging '60s. But make no mistake, The Black Hollies aren’t a mere throwback band aping the past but instead a crew of forward thinking Jersey boys that are well schooled in the roots of music stemming from a time when rock and roll was molded into kaleidoscopic proportions and fused with cleaver pop hooks.
On their second album Casting Shadows, The Black Hollies take that sonic formula and push their ever growing impetus forward into an eclectic smorgasbord of reverb-drenched euphoria with a pure pop dexterity for a soiree-filled good time of a listen. While it will no doubt appeal to listeners with a fondness for legends like Cream, Syd-era Pink Floyd, and The Yardbirds, not to mention modern day psych-rock paladins such as the Black Lips and the Warlocks, Casting Shadows won’t only be one of their career pinnacles but will serve as something akin to nouvelle vague revival on psychedelic-rock and indie pop as a whole. Check your watch. 2008 is The Black Hollies' time!
More about The Black Hollies:
Some acts are content to find a style and stick with it. The Black Hollies are more interested in progress. When the band convened in 2005 to record their debut, Crimson Reflections, it was something of an experiment, mixing 60's soul and pop structures with rave-up rock results. Now, after wide acclaim and a practice regiment that has left their jaw-dropping live shows tighter than a pegged pant leg, they've reached a little further into space, introduced a wonderfully psychedelic element to their sound, and come out on the other side with Casting Shadows, a powerful rock album full of unforgettable nuggets.
Led by songwriter, vocalist and bassist Justin Angelo Morey, this crew of NY/NJ natives and lifelong friends also includes fellow Rye Coalition alums Herb Wiley V and Jon Gonnelli on dueling interstellar guitars, and the freak-beat drumming of Scott Bolasci (who has since been replaced on the live circuit by the seemingly 8-armed wonder Nick Ferrante). Together, the quartet meld classic rock touchstones with a disparate amount of influences and ideas, Wiley is featured on electric sitar for a number of tracks, and the record features the drones of an Indian noisebox called the ragini throughout. From the opening ghostly blast of "Whispers In The Forest", careening through the perfectly realized gem "Paisley Pattern Ground" and the mind twisting changes of "Bruised Tangerines" and finally settling into the soothing cool-down of "Patient Sparrow", Casting Shadows is an album in a time when folks have started to forget about the beauty of a cohesive record.
Garnering massive accolades over their East Coast adventures and unforgettable performances at both SXSW and CMJ as well as hometown freakouts alongside everyone from Ted Leo and The Spinto Band to Blue Cheer and Joan Jett to The Fleshtones and The Woggles, The Black Hollies continue to win over any crowd with a mix of straight skill and total sincerity. They'll be on the road throughout 2008 and you can rest assured that if you catch them once, you won't be able to shake it.
The Black Hollies Live!
Jan 7 2008 In-store performance @ Best Buy Deptford, New Jersey
Feb 15 2008 Magnetic Field (record release show!) Brooklyn, New York
Feb 16 2008 Club Midway New York, New York w/LYRES
Feb 17 2008 Maxwell’s (record release show 2!) Hoboken, New Jersey w/ The Insomniacs
Feb 22 2008 The Talking Head Baltimore, Maryland
Feb 29 2008 Cafe Nine New Haven, Connecticut
Mar 1 2008 Abbey Lounge Somerville, Massachusetts
Mar 2 2008 The Fire Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mar 3 2008 The Tremont Music Hall Charlotte, North Carolina
Mar 4 2008 The Boot Norfolk, Virginia
Mar 7 2008 Saturn Bar New Orleans, Louisiana
Mar 8 2008 Club Dada Dallas, Texas
Mar 9 2008 Rudyard’s Houston, Texas
Mar 12 2008 SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 13 2008 SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 14 2008 SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 15 2008 SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 16 2008 SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 16 2008 SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 18 2008 Vaudeville Mews Des Moines, Iowa
Mar 19 2008 Turf Club St. Paul, Minnesota
Mar 21 2008 Lager House Detroit, Michigan
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