Hollow Sidewalks

Portland's Hollow Sidewalks casually catch your ear and pull you in until you can't get enough. It's a feeling that lurks beneath the mystical tapestry of their psychedelic post-punk sound, as if there's a bigger story waiting to be uncovered. Frontwoman Nora Murphy Hughes' lazy drawl, reminiscent of early Siouxsie Sioux, is backed by solid rhythm and understated, wandering guitar riffs. Hollow Sidewalks' music is easy to lose yourself in, and has that rare ability to speak to a child of rock 'n' roll of any generation. CHRISTINA BROUSSARD - Portland Mercury

Hollow Sidewalks’ frontwoman Nora Murphy Hughes remembers the first band she ever formed.

As a young songwriter and guitarist, Hughes formed the Stares when she was 12 years old.


The band won its middle school’s Battle of the Bands competition — and even played original compositions.

“I remember the teachers were impressed,” she said, laughing.

After playing bass for a few different bands in Portland after graduating high school, she said she was “done being the meek background bass player.”

“I’ve always wanted to have my own band,” she said.

Now, she does. Hughes founded the punk band Hollow Sidewalks in 2014. She is the group’s sole songwriter, as well as singer and rhythm guitarist.


The band will be playing a free show on Wednesday at Old Nick’s Pub, the second stop on its West Coast tour. The tour is in celebration of the release of its second album, “Year of the Fieldmouse,” she said.

Hughes said that the upcoming show is the band’s first time playing in Eugene. Hollow Sidewalks will be accompanied by two local bands, the Critical Shakes and Steel Kitty.

“I’m very motivated to meet the movers and shakers of each town I play in,” she said.

“Harder and faster”

The Critical Shakes consist of Davey Beebe and Jordan Blaisdell, who play a mix of garage, punk and indie rock. Blaisdell said that the duo is unique because they “play harder and faster” than most bands.

“We burn more calories than any other band in town when we’re onstage,” he said.

The Critical Shakes also play more often than most, according to Blaisdell. While some bands play a couple of shows a month, he says it’s not uncommon for the Critical Shakes to perform five to eight times a month simply because they “say yes to everybody.”

However, their reluctance to turn down a gig is not a marketing strategy, Blaisdell said.

“We just like to play,” he said. “I’m completely addicted to it.”

Local garage glam rock band Steel Kitty also will be playing on the Wednesday bill.

Singer and guitarist Andrew Lathrop said the band is inspired by such artists as the New York Dolls and David Bowie. It got the gig when Hughes came into Sam Bond’s Brewery, where Lathrop is a bartender.

After talking about local music, she asked them to open for Hollow Sidewalks, he said.

While Lathrop plays rock music now, he started out by playing bluegrass in 1998.

“I love all kinds of music,” he said. “I listen to everything and I want to play everything.”

The band is slated to record its debut album this summer, Lathrop said.

Starting her own label

This winter, Hughes is launching her own record label, High School Records. It will be releasing Hollow Sidewalks’ first and second albums on vinyl this winter.

On the tour, there will be limited-release CD copies of the new album for sale, she said.

After Eugene, Hollow Sidewalks’ tour continues, with the band heading to Ashland for a Thursday show. While on the road, the Hollow Sidewalks usually make a 10-hour trek from Portland to San Francisco, so the three-hour drive to Southern Oregon is nothing in comparison, Hughes said.

“We’re road warriors,” she said, laughing. “We mean business.” - The Register-Guard