Hollis Brown Captures the Essence of American Rock & Roll at Berlin NYC

New York City rock & roll band, Hollis Brown, played in front of a packed-house at Berlin NYC last Wednesday during the second performance of their Berlin NYC residency. We've been fortunate to lay eyes on this emerging five-piece band for the fifth time, as they continue to raise our eyebrows with compelling melodic content, compassionate lyrics and mastery in live performance. The group's roaring sound, blended with roots of classic rock influences, resonated across the crowd-filled venue. With our ears full of the phonic notes of rock & roll, blues and Americana, it's no surprise Hollis Brown has a place as one of the leading independent bands in the genre.

Stemming from their Record Store Day release, Cluster Of Pearls, Hollis Brown began their month long residency at Berlin NYC on May 4, 2016. As in their first performance, their second date gave us a touch of both their older and latest works, jamming out songs such as "Ride on The Train," "Faith & Love", "Sweet Tooth," "Rain Dance" and "Cold City" as well as their iconic finale with "John Wayne". Each song exemplified Hollis Brown's raw, yet heart-felt, sonic arrangements that illustrate the band's vivid lyrical style and versatile songwriting ability. Hollis Brown's jeering and rapturous melodies capture the essence of rock & roll, inviting us into a realm where classic and contemporary rock blends together perfectly.

Lead singer/songwriter, Mike Montali, crooned the intimate LES venue with commanding, yet subtle vocals, enticing the crowd to draw closer towards him - mesmerized by the band’s jaunty and bluesy western-esque melodies. Standing up front side-stage, the crowd pushed us closer to lead guitarist Jonathan Bonilla as he demonstrated his stormy guitar skills filled with affirmation and ferocity. Bonilla’s muscular work on the strings, along with balancing touches from pianist Adam Bock, drummer Andrew Zehnal and bassist Scott Thompson, offered audiences with a complex and firmly rooted rock & roll sound that portrayed a heart-felt authenticity that radiated off stage.

International front-man, Tony Wright of VerseChorusVerse, kicked off the showcase with his musical brilliance that has spanned across the UK, Ireland and Europe. His polarizing lyrics and keen musical experimentation in the rock & roll space, offered a rare treat for the early birds that flocked to see Hollis Brown perform. Renowned alternative-country and folk-twang singer/songwriter, Don DiLego, followed putting on a spectacular show that drove audiences away from the cold Lower East Side and into a raw-boned saloon in middle-america - bringing bourbon, old tales and lost loves to mind. His mastery of the genre harnesses a melodious craft of fine-tuned musical skill, truly making Don DeLego one of the leading emerging artists to come out of the indie-rock and alternative country space.

As curators of classic rock, Hollis Brown is spearheading the modern rock & roll movement in a city that thirsts for an American-born sound. Their ambition to combine both classic and contemporary rock is a catalyst of their own music individuality that has garnished not only a revival in the genre, but a dedicated fan-base that seeks good-old fashioned rock & roll. Make sure to not miss your opportunity to see this incredible band perform live during their residency at Berlin NYC before it's too late. 

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Guitar prodigy, Marcus Machado, plays The Platinum Room at Guitar Center Union Square

Marcus Machado performs at Guitar Center Manhattan. Photo courtesy of Sean Jamar.

Since meeting Marcus Machado last summer, the young guitar prodigy had already stamped his mark on the indie music scene by way of him winning Rolling Stone Magazine's "New Young Gun Contest" in 2014. His extraordinary talent, music influences and his relentless ambition for perfection has left a permanent impression that has reminded us of the days when funk, soul, blues and hip-hop flourished together.

Since the November 2015 release of his debut EP, "29," Marcus has taken the stage at some of New York's premier music venues including The Blue Note, SOBs and Subrosa. As a mastered curator of his sound, the prodigious guitarist has recorded and performed with industry greats such as Sandra St. Victor, Marcus Miller, V Jeffrey Smith, Pharoahe Monch and DJ Spinna - to name a few. When we attended Marcus's guitar clinic at Guitar Center Manhattan last week his performance, and on-stage persona, was indicative of how far he has come as an artist. His music has forged a path for the next generation of guitarists seeking to adopt their own sound; while also, inheriting those who had come before them. 

Marcus Machado plays The Platinum Room. Photo courtesy of Sean Jamar.

Along with contemporary greats, Daru Jones, Les Lemon and Paul Bloom Marcus Machado rocked the Platinum Room at Guitar Center performing original songs from his debut EP and renditions of iconic rock legends such as Prince, Eddie Hazel, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and of course, Jimi Hendrix .With features by V Jeffrey Smith and JS Williams, Marcus took charge with performances of Jimi Hendrix's "Power With Soul" and a masterful tribute to the one and only J Dilla.

Marcus's powerful rock-inspired anthem "Rockout" and soulful hip-hop jam "New Thangz" drew customers from across Guitar Center with sounds of jazz, funk, soul and rock piercing through the glass doors of the Platinum Room. Inspiring guitarists, fans and industry professionals looked on as Marcus and his 5 piece band lit up the room indicative of the vintage Gibson, Fender and Duisenberg guitars that hung above the stage. 

Marcus Machado and The Soulfolk Experience. Photo courtesy of Sean Jamar.

His feature on The Soulfolk Experience's "Chariot" illustrated a unique contrast and depth that Marcus applies to his music. The soft, bluesy and americana influences offered audiences with further appreciation for how versatile these incredible musicians that took the stage were and how important it was for many aspiring musicians to add to their craft. Marcus topped the evening with titanic finale to the late Phife Dawg with covers of A Tribe Called Quest and other early 90's hip-hop beats that defined not only an era, but an entire genre of music.

Marcus Machado is not only a prodigy, but a representation of a movement that is re-defining how we, as music lovers, view live performances and instrumentation. Marcus's sound is a resurrection of the time where the guitar ruled the stage of rock, funk and soul. As an emerging independent artist, Marcus is solidifying his place amongst his contemporaries and carrying the legacies of the iconic rock stars that came before. Truly the prodigy is ready for the next stage in his young promising career. 

Photo courtesy of Sean Jamar.

Stream, download, and listen to Marcus Machado today on...

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