Local Boys Hollis Brown Playing Webster Hall Tomorrow

Hollis Brown are really local local kids, they are from Queens, my ‘hood, and like Bayside (and the Mets), another local team, I don’t give em nearly enough love and listening to their more than solid new album 3 Shots, I sure should. It is a mainstream Americana meets rock and roll vibe with a jam band aesthetic and classic rock sense of construction. A  surfeit of good songs, and a smart, plain spoken poetic vibe, doesn’t hurt either I am still working my way through it and one thing’s for sure, “Cathedral” is a great song and the outro to “John Wayne” will knock your socks off

I wanted to write something major about Hollis Brown and am deciding between an album review (I like the way they get loud)  and a live review, they are headlining Studio At Webster Hall tomorrow (a great room) and  on June 7th at Summerstage,  but while I decide what to do let me take the time to cheat and post their press release…. …

New York, NY) – Hollis Brown has signed with independent label Jullian Records for the release of 3 Shots available May 5, featuring a Bo Diddley collaboration “Rain Dance,” and the duet “Highway 1” with acclaimed alt-country songstress Nikki Lane. The edgy, roots-rock indie band from Queens, NY, known for its adrenaline fueled performances, just wrapped 11 appearances at SXSW, where they signed with The Agency Group, preceded by a mini-tour with legendary band The Zombies.Out now. The band will tour this summer and fall, with dates to be announced shortly, followed by an international tour this October through November.

“Working with Jullian has been everything we could have asked for from a record label: They have given us complete creative control to make the record we want, and the chance to get it out to an audience our way. We can’t wait for people to hear “3 Shots,” says Hollis Brown lead singer/guitarist Mike Montali.

Comments Jullian Records founder, Cynthia Brossy Hart: “There’s a reason Hollis Brown’s new release is called “3 Shots”. The band brings the combination of great songwriting, musicianship, hard work, and lots of energy to their music and live performances. Something everyone should experience.”

Hollis Brown is a self-defined American Rock ‘n’ Roll band, named after a Bob Dylan song (“The Ballad of Hollis Brown”). The band was formed by Queens-natives and songwriters Mike Montali (lead vocals/guitar) and Jonathan Bonilla (lead guitar). Both 2nd-generation immigrants (Italian-American and Puerto Rican-American, respectively), they soon found their musical brethren in the Mid-West, recruiting Dillon Devito (bass/vocals) and Andrew Zehnal (drums) from Ohio, and Adam Bock (keyboard/vocals) from Missouri.

The independent act has achieved a significant amount of success since their formation in 2009. They released their debut album Ride On The Train on Alive Naturalsound in 2013 (produced by Adam Landry), garnering song and video premieres from Rolling Stone, Paste, and American Songwriter, along with music placements on MTV’s “Real World,” Showtime’s “Shameless,” and the Willem Dafoe/Matt Dillon film “Bad Country”. Following a Lou Reed tribute concert in NYC, Alive Naturalsound asked the band to record a tribute to the Velvet Underground’s classic album Loaded, as a limited-edition vinyl release for Record Store Day 2014. Hollis Brown Gets Loaded took on a life of its own, with airplay on stations like KEXP, resulting in a full CD & digital release, and the band’s first AAA/Non-Comm radio campaign. The band has toured extensively in America and Europe, building an impressive fan base on both continents.

Jullian Records is a new breed among record labels with its commitment to developing artists. The independent label believes in providing a personal level of support and resources for both emerging and established artists. The artist-centric company takes a customized and strategic approach to each project, believing every artist is different. Jullian Records is dedicated to bringing back artist development and a personalized plan for success in today’s changing industry.

3 Shots Track List

Cathedral
3 Shots
John Wayne
Rain Dance (featuring Bo Diddley)
Sandy
Sweet Tooth
Death Of An Actress
Highway 1 (featuring Nikki Lane)
Wait For Me Virginia
Mi Amor
The Ballad Of Mr. Rose