Cliff Hillis

Artist Information

Biography

Singer-songwriter Cliff Hillis has unveiled "The Long Now", his second release on Los Angeles based TallBoy Records.

The album features Hillis' longtime backing band, the Forward Thinkers as well as a host of guest stars including Eric Bazilian of The Hooters, Danny Wilde of the Rembrandts and California pop troubadour Willie Wisely. Hillis handled much of the vocals, rhythm and lead guitars, bass and keyboards himself.

Since his last Tallboy release "Better Living Through Compression" (which was praised by the L.A. Times) Hillis has been raising his profile nationally with song placements in movies -"Enough" (Jennifer Lopez), as well as TV shows "All My Children, "Party of Five", "Roswell" and "Jake 2.0".

Additionally, in early 2010, Cliff's music was featured in three episodes of the TV show "Life Unexpected" on The CW.

Hillis was the also the national winner of the 2007 Chili's Baby Back Ribs jingle contest, garnering press attention across the country including USA Today online.

Hillis resides just outside of Philadelphia in Phoenixville, PA and has received area honors winning both the East Coast-based "Spark Magazine "Best Singer-Songwriter" and Out & About Magazine "Best Male Songwriter" awards in 2007.

Hillis performs acoustic and with his band the Forward Thinkers (guitarist "Country" Ken Herblin, bassist Greg Maragos and drummer Ritchie Rubini) promoting "The Long Now" and is actively pursing additional TV and movie placements with the management/placement company Measurement Arts headed by Indie911 founder Justin Goldberg.

"There are some artists who you just know should rise up and become stars, and Cliff Hillis is one of them."- Entertainment Today, Los Angeles

Instrumentation

Cliff Hillis- vocals, guitar
Ken Herblin- guitar, backup vocals
Greg Maragos- bass, backup vocals
Dave Anthony- drums

Discography

"The Long Now"-2008 TallBoy Records/Los Angeles
"Better Living Through Compression"- 2004 TallBoy Records/Los Angeles
"Be Seeing You"- 2001 Not Lame Recordings/Colorado

Links

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Last.fm
• MySpace
• Pandora
• Youtube

Audio

• Ought To Know
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• Northern Lights
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• Never Understand
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• Elevator
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• Home
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Lyrics

• Elevator
• Ought To Know
• Northern Lights
• Never Understand
• Home

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• "Cliff Hillis should be a major star. There, I said it … and his latest release, The Long Now (Tallboy Records), proves it." 4/9/10 [+ Show ]
  

  Cliff Hillis should be a major star. There, I said it … and his latest release, The Long Now (Tallbo...Cliff Hillis should be a major star. There, I said it … and his latest release, The Long Now (Tallboy Records), proves it. It’s a stylish, thoughtful, consistently excellent collection of catchy pop tunes that never fails to engage. A few tunes written with the Rembrandts’ Danny Wilde (“She Sees” and “Northern Lights”) are top-shelf, but there’s really nothing here less than very good, as Hillis is a supremely talented craftsman whose way with a hook is undeniable throughout. Not flashy, not life-changing — just great. John Borack/Goldmine Magazine

• "If there is such a thing as an impeccable power pop pedigree, Cliff Hillis comes as close to anyone I can think of to possessing it." 1/12/09 [+ Show ]
  

  If there is such a thing as an impeccable power pop pedigree, Cliff Hillis comes as close to anyone ...If there is such a thing as an impeccable power pop pedigree, Cliff Hillis comes as close to anyone I can think of to possessing it. After solid stints with pop royalty Starbelly and the John Faye Power Trip, Hillis launched his solo career with a pair of aces, 2001’s Be Seeing You and 2004’s Better Living Through Compression. The Long Now, Hillis’ latest release on Anna Borg’s Tallboy Records label, completes his solo trifecta. The Long Now is, in many ways, the perfect pop record: its songs are expertly constructed, melding wickedly clever lyrics with inescapable pop melodies. Hillis, unlike anybody this side of Bay area rocker Chris von Sneidern, possesses the pluperfect pop voice—he can sing sweet and intimate, as on “She Sees” or “Ought to Know,” or can reach back and belt out a rocker, as on “Northern Lights,” or “Faded Star.” Most impressively, he makes it all seem effortless. And if you’re going to ask for a little help from your friends, it surely doesn’t hurt if your Rolodex contains the numbers of Danny Wilde, Willie Wisely, and Kyf Brewer—all of whom co-wrote tracks on The Long Now—or former Hooter Eric Bazilian, who contributes a scorching guitar solo to “All for the Sake.” Kudos, as well, to jack-of-all-trades Ritchie Rubini, who, in a addition to coproducing the disc, contributes drums, percussion, piano, and synth throughout, and co-wrote “Like an Island,” to boot. But it’s Hillis who truly shines on The Long Now—it’s difficult to confine his considerable talents to a 4-1/2” diameter slab of aluminum. --Rick Schadelbauer [January 12, 2009]

• "Some people are so full of talent that it almost seems unfair. Cliff Hillis has such a monopoly on talent" 12/5/08 [+ Show ]
  

  Some people are so full of talent that it almost seems unfair. Cliff Hillis has such a monopoly on t...Some people are so full of talent that it almost seems unfair. Cliff Hillis has such a monopoly on talent: a consistently wonderful songwriter, tasteful guitarist, and smooth vocalist. "The Long Now", named after an intriguing Foundation of the same name, is Cliff's third solo release. Prior to his trio of solo records, he built his musical muscle with one of my favorite power pop bands, IKE/John Faye Power Trip.
  
  "The Long Now" finds Cliff more serious and matured; this can be detected in the subject matter covered by the lyrics and what some would call a more "seasoned" musical feel. The tunes just ease right into the ears and the melodies impress gently on the brain. Like other records by Cliff, "The Long Now" charms quickly, with Cliff's soothing voice more hypnotic than ever. The release has a more laid back feel with a lot of mid-tempo and breezy numbers, but there are some kick ass rockers too, like "Northern Lights" and the smoldering closer, "Faded Star".
  
  The CD features an outstanding collection of collaborators that are no strangers to pop rock. One of my songwriting heroes, Danny Wilde, co-wrote "Northern Lights" and "She Sees", both of which would have fit nicely on The Rembrandts' "Untitled" release. Kyf Brewer (Ravyns, Company of Wolves) does his thing on "All For The Sake" and "Shake Me Down". Eric Bazilian (The Hooters) joins in to solo on "All For The Sake", and Cliff's old Caulfields colleague, Ritchie Rubini is a heavy contributor.
  
  This is an artist who strives for the best and avoids filler on his records. In the spirit of pop wizards like Paul McCartney, Glenn Tilbrook, or Danny Wilde, Cliff Hillis continues to be inviting and accessible while expanding his horizons as an artist. It did not take long at all for "The Long Now" to now be a favorite of mine.

• "There are some artists who you just know should rise up and become stars, and Cliff Hillis is one of them." [+ Show ]
  

  In this vast, fertile underground we love to call the worldwide pop scene, there are some artists wh...In this vast, fertile underground we love to call the worldwide pop scene, there are some artists who you just know should rise up and become stars, and Cliff Hillis is one of them. On his second album, Better Living Through Compression, the Delaware native continues to display his all-around music acumen with a batch of tasty, edgy tunes that fans of anyone from the Raspberries to Rooney will surely love. Crunchy power poppers like "So Much To Tell You," "Two Of The Same" and the particularly radio friendly "Go Go Go" proudly sit alongside moodier pieces like "Madeline," the swaying "Six Feet Under," the beautiful, tasteful "China Heart" and the gorgeous luminescence of "All These Memories." The best song on Better Living Through Compression is probably "Better Than Myself" which in a better world would be a hit single and in this world could easily be the centerpiece of a twenty-something soundtrack.
  
  -David Bash
  

Setlist

Live set includes mostly songs from "The Long Now" & new as-yet-unreleased songs, as well as an occasional obscure 60's pop song ala Kinks or Nilsson.

Basic Requirements

Calendar