The Hollow Roots

Blues rock is one of this writer’s favorite genres; and man, does Nashville have some kick-ass blues rock. This city has always been known for this genre’s sister styles, rock and country. However, with Memphis as our neighbor, we can get down with some blues too. This is why it’s no surprise that blues rock group The Hollows grew right out of the local Nashville scene.

Made up of Zach Chadwick (lead vox/guitar), Colten Delgado (rhythm/lead guitar) ,Tyler Stonell (bass), and Billy Kitterman (drums), this band came together right outside of Nashville. The Hollows began playing together when they all moved to Nashville to attend MTSU’s well-established music/recording program. The house show scene is huge around MTSU (I know from experience), so there was no shortage of live gigs for the guys to hone their sound. - Nashville Unsigned

CHICAGO, IL- Upon listening to Nashville outfit The Hollow Roots’ self-titled debut, their hard southern edge is apparent. The seven-track EP is full of driving guitar and smashing high-hats, and when paired with vocalist/guitarist Zach Chadwick’s soulful drawl, makes for a Raconteurs-meets-Alabama Shakes vibe that is hard to ignore – and even harder to resist.

Echoes of the classics are also apparent, especially Cream, with many a bluesy lick punctuating each of the songs on the record. Tracks including album opener “Your Lips” especially draw this comparison to mind, with slow and sultry guitar from Chadwick and Colten Delgado accented by Tyler Stonell’s thumping bass line and Billy Kitterman’s clean but crackling drum hits.

”I Can Never Tell” is also along the Cream comparison, with clipped vocals matched with short, soulful blasts of guitar, catchy enough to make the melody stick to your brain. For this listener, I can almost hear Eric Clapton playing along with this song in particular.

Some tracks, like “Chandeliers,” bring Jack White to mind with its fast-paced, amp-blasting sentimentality, with Chadwick singing “Take me for what I am” over a chorus laced with crunching guitars and relentless pep. It’s one of those tracks that helps keep the balance between a straight blues rock record and the alt edge that keeps them contemporary. “Hurricane Blues” follows suit very similarly, guitars still driving alongside the trimmed but passionate vocals.

"Scars” is a particularly southern-tinged song – the drawl is heavy, the guitars are wailing, and the biblical undertones in the lyrics are defiantly remorseful (“I don’t think anyone is saving my soul”).Contrastingly, “Moving On” is along the alt-rock line with its more defined, harder chorus.

“Waiting Room” takes a little more inspiration from Led Zeppelin, and if Chadwick’s vocal echo doesn’t immediately remind you of Robert Plant, rewind the track and turn it up again. And album closer “Cry” sums up everything nicely, combining slow and soulful with the hard edge that kept the whole record rolling. It’s a neat bow on top of a buzzy, smoke-filled record where musical influencers are celebrated and even idolized while still keeping contemporary sentimentalities to accent each track.

Follow The Hollow Roots on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. - Blurred Culture

MOONLIGHT – INTERVIEW WITH THE HOLLOW ROOTS
ROCKYOURLYRICSSEPTEMBER 1, 201836 VIEWS
ROCK INTERVIEWS36 VIEWS 07 MIN READ
How do you usually write the lyrics of your songs?

I usually start off recording myself singing whatever words spontaneously come to me over chords or a riff I’ve come up with just to mostly get a feel for the melody. After that I’ll go back through the recording and write lyrics around whatever it seems like I was trying to express in that moment.
In your opinion, what is the most important thing in songwriting?

I would say it’s a tie between having a strong melody and honest/meaningful lyrics.
Are you ever scared of revealing aspects of your personal life/experience to strangers through your music?

Never. I think music is sometimes the best and easiest way for me to express those aspects. Those personal life experiences are usually the best inspiration and motivation for a song.

What is the best lyric that you ever wrote (the most meaningful for you)?

I don’t know if I have a best lyric mostly because I think I get a little better with writing with each new song. If I had to pick, there’s a line I like in our song “Easier as it Goes” that’s about being away from family
I feel it in my bones

any time youre not with me

but youre still not far from home

and thats where my heart will be

What inspired “Moonlight”, part of your latest EP? And “Cry”?

Cry is about a bad breakup – wanting someone to “cry” and feel as miserable as you do even though the hurt feelings might be entirely your own. It’s also a warning from the “dump-ee” to the “dump-er” basically not to come around anymore – basically trying to cover up being hurt with a layer of toughness.



Moonlight is about anxiety. Sometimes when I’m up at night, worries running through my mind, it almost feels like my fears are having a party in my brain and I’m the cranky, old neighbor next door yelling at them to “turn it down!”. I thought it would be interesting to actually personify those fears almost as monsters, partying in the “moonlight” ultimately its about learning that anxiety is something you have to co-exist with. If you cant stop the “party” you might as well join in kind of sentiment.



Do you remember the day you wrote “Scars”?

I do! I had come up with the riff and basic melody for the song and Natalie, who was the second vocalist for the band in its early days, came over to my college apartment and helped me plot the whole thing out. We wrote my favorite part of the lyrics together – I threw out “I’ve been slandered and libeled” and she came up with the next line “bruised by the Bible” which is one of my favorites.

What was the best moment of your career? And the most difficult one?

I’d like to think the best moments are still coming! But the very first time we got in our van and hit the road for a tour is definitely a highlight.

Worst moment is a tie between two horrible gigs – one was a pay-less gig where we essentially opened for karaoke night, to an empty bar with zero applause, just to have everyone pour in right after we finished and give roaring applause to the karaoke singers. Basically Karaoke headlined that night and crushed it.

The other was a restuarant gig where the sound guy and owner clearly hadn’t listened to us before booking us, immediately told us to turn down during soundcheck, and then basically told us not to play any of our original music and just play “blues standards.” We agreed to those terms, for whatever reason, just to have everyone in the restaurant walk out anyway.

What are your plans for 2018?

We’re releasing our second album, which is a really big thing for us – so a lot of promotion for that. We’re also definitely hoping to keep getting bigger and better gigs and hopefully get on a festival or two.
To conclude the interview a short Q/A session, please answer the first thing that comes to your mind:

Define in one word your self titled EP: Raw.
The best show you ever played: Blind Bobs in Dayton, OH.
The one thing that you must have in your backstage: Right now I’ll totally settle just for water and/or beer since that seems to be a rarity in and of itself.
The soundtrack of your childhood: The Bee Gees and the first Alvin and the Chipmunks album on cassette tape.
Your favorite song lyrically speaking, but not written by you: I have so many favorites! “Needle and the Damage Done” by Neil Young is definitely up there. “Dogs” by Pink Floyd too.
Last question is “unusual”, we want to know your best relationship advice: Find someone you can effortlessly talk to, and always be honest and open with them. - Rock Your Lyrics