Published: September 7, 2009 2:57 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight September 2009 Edition
Hollow Council
Hollow Council
Hollow Council knows how to jam. The four man band consists of longtime friends who are bringing Rock & Roll into a new era of greatness. The band has created a melodic alternative bluesy rock sound that promises to excite music fans of the Rock & Roll genre. Tracks like "Stuffed Suits", "Never Rest", and "Live Letter To God" easily illustrate the enormous skills, diversity, and abilities of the group especially when it comes to delivering solid music after the next. In this spotlight with our Webzine, the members of Hollow Council speak candidly about their music. Enjoy!
Isaac: What's the name of your band?
All: Hollow Council.
What's the origin of that name?
Charles: We wanted something to explain who we were, I was the only one on the original contract so we wanted something to stand for the Musicians working with me, Jesse, Chris and Josh. So, when Chris came up with "The Hollow Council", we all thought it was a great idea. I will always be "Charles Watson" and Jesse, Chris and Josh will always be "Hollow Council".
Have you changed the band's name before?
Charles: It started out as classical guitar album that was my name, but through the evolution of what that project became, it turned into a Council of musicians that wanted to create a new sound in rock and roll.
Isaac: What genre of music do you consider your work to be?
Chris: It's sort of a cross between Blues/Southern Rock and Straight up Rock and Roll.
Charles: Progressive Rock.
Josh: Mutt Rock because it's a mixture of everything.
Who are your major influences?
Chris: My influences are vast. I grew up on Country Music, got into Rock/Heavy Metal during Jr. High/High School years. So, pretty much name a band, and I have listened to them. My personal influences from a vocalist/song writer standpoint would be Jim Morrison, Eddie Vedder and Bono.
Charles: Sigovia, Van Halen, Frank Iomi, Angus Young, AC/DC, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Chuck Scholdner, James Murphy, there's just a lot when it comes to the guitar. I could go on for 20 years.
Josh: For Bass: Geddy Lee, Cliff Burton and Les Claypool.
Isaac: How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?
Chris: Charles and I have known each other since the early 90's. Josh and Shane have both known Charles for quite some time as well. Charles and Josh met in school. Charles and Shane met at work (they are both music teachers) Charles and I met in the early 90's when I needed an artist to do some artwork for a poetry book I was writing.
Isaac: When did you form your band?
All: July 2006.
What inspired you to make music together?
Chris & Chris: Just the love of music, the fact that Charles, Josh and I come from such different backgrounds, both musically and family. We felt it would be a good mesh of alternate minds, which has enabled us to create this unique music. Josh himself came from a Punk background, as did Shane.
Isaac: Do you have a record label?
Charles: Our first album was on Universal Platinum Plus Records (Nashville). Presently, we have a international distribution contract with Sony/BMG.
Are you a member of any music organizations?
Yes. BMI & Ascap.
Isaac: What can you tell me about your instruments? (i.e., Are you subject to brand loyalty or will you play with whatever's available?
Chris: I use Shure Mics.
Charles: As far as guitars go, I use an electrified Solid Body Classical Guitar, at this Point, Godin Guitars are the only brand that I found that can cover the wide spectrum of different techniques and sounds that I use; from a very clean classical guitar sound to an almost heavy metal distorted guitar, all on one instrument.
Josh: I am not subject to brand loyalty, what I do play is the Washburn and I love that bass, it is the shit. I have played other basses that I truly enjoyed, but right now, this is the one I use and it gets the job done.
What made you choose the instruments you have now?
Josh: It was inexpensive.
Was it cost or was it a style/model/brand/color preference?
Josh: Both. I chose this one mainly due to cost, but the style I dug as well.
Isaac: Where have you performed?
Charles: All over AZ and the Western States.
What are your favorite and least favorite venues?
Chris & Josh: Favorite Venue was Sturgis 2008. That was a blast! Least favorite-none that we can think of. We just love playing live, if we could do nothing but tour 365 days a year, we would do it. Small clubs, big clubs, whenever and where ever, we just love being out there on stage performing, Nothing like it in the world!
Do you have any upcoming shows?
Chris: We host a show locally that occurs the last Friday of each month; it's called "Final Fridays Rock Fest" in Gilbert AZ. The venue is Crabby Dons, 386 E Baseline Road Gilbert AZ 85234. Tickets are $5, 21+ doors open at 8pm.
Isaac: Which songs do you perform most frequently?
Chris: We pretty much cover all our tunes on our debut CD "Time for Change" during a live set. We do change it up a bit by throwing in some covers every now and then and switch up the set, and plug in new songs as we write them.
Do you ever play any covers?
All: Yes.
Do you have a set play list?
Chris: Yes and no. Depends on what we are all feeling the night of the show. We always start and end our set the same, the middle; we leave up to our mood. That is what is really nice about how we write our songs; we can change them up to meet our moods for the show. We feel like Rockin Out, it's Hollow Council on the Rocks! Straight up heavy rock vibe. We feel like groovin, Charles uses only the Godin Classical and we just jam out. It's nice, gives us a different sound and vibe, and the fans really like both approaches as well.
Isaac: Who writes your songs?
Charles: On "Time for Change" Chris and I pretty much wrote all the songs.
Chris: For our new material, we are getting the whole band involved.
What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs?
All: Life.
Do you think these topics will change over time?
Charles: Life is always a changing process, but over the decades all the problems are always the same.
Isaac: Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
Charles: Chris will come up a lyrical idea or I will come up with a musical idea. Chris and I will work that material until it becomes a song and when we feel that it is at the point we can present it to the rest of the council members. They will vote on the material at hand, once this is voted on by the council, then the rhythm section will take the song and manipulate it. After this process is completed, the song is now a piece of art and is ready to be executed.
Isaac: What are your rehearsals generally like?
Charles: Nothing but fun.
Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
Chris: Yes, we have a set day and time. The length of each practice depends on what we are working on, if it's a new tune, we can practice up to 7 hours at a time. When Charles and I first got together, he and I would spend about 15-20 hours per week writing, arranging, re-writing, rehearsing until 2-3am in the morning until we came to an agreement the song was done-ironically. We would still go back and make changes after the fact. We are never satisfied, and we have a deep rooted desire to make the perfect song!
Josh: We kick ass!
Isaac: How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
Chris: It's gotten better, (lol). We, as musicians and writers, have evolved in the 3 years we've been together. We are all really excited about our new material.
Isaac: What has been your biggest challenge as a band?
Charles: The loss of our original drummer.
Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Charles: The Anoitment of Shane Walker, to the Council Members Drummers Throne.
Isaac: What's your ultimate direction for your band?
Charles: To change the way music is performed and written and be successful at broadening the horizons of the general audience with a more artist point of view.
Are you seeking fame and fortune?
Chris & Josh of course, aren't we all? LOL!!
Isaac: (smiles and nods in agreement).
Isaac: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
Josh: It helps playing with a group of friends.
Chris: Be patient, find the right group of musicians to surround yourself with, and be open minded. Leave your egos at the door.
Isaac: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music?
Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
Chris: We have a full length CD available on our site, and we are getting ready to put all our tunes online via CD Baby, iTunes…etc.
Isaac: Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
Chris: We, as a band, have put our time, effort and money into this project. Our families are the main reason we have come as far as we have and will continue to go further. They have nothing but love and support for us, so our families are who we will always thank.
Isaac: Any last words?
Chris: Thanks for the opportunity to be apart of this. We appreciate any one who expresses interest in our music. We love this part of the industry (interviews etc). We appreciate your time and desire to learn more about us as a band. Anything else we can do for you; just let us know.
