Drew Holcomb
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Holcomb began pursuing his interest in performing after Paul Ebersold, a record producer in Memphis, Tenn., who has worked with Sister Hazel and Three Doors Down, listened to a demo CD he made in August 2003 in Memphis, Holcomb’s hometown.
Friday at Eighth & Rail, Holcomb impressed the crowd with his singing and playing of his acoustic guitar and harmonica.
- Auburn Plainsman
Chris Herrington
July 16, 2004
On the strength of his debut EP, Lost & Found ,Drew Holcomb is a compelling new voice on the city's roots scene. Literally. Over the course of the five songs on this sharply produced, uncommonly accomplished debut, Holcomb shows off a raspy twang to rival Lucero's Ben Nichols and, on "Long Gone Away," deploys a yearning ache that evokes Brad Bailey of the Glass. I only wish Holcomb's songs reflected some of the humor you hear from Cory Branan.
If Holcomb's brooding songs come across as a little too dour, they're still strongly written enough to spark interest in what he might come up with next. And as music, he's all aces, showing just enough alt-country range with the little classic-rock surge on the protest song "Anymore Shame" ("Ladies and gentlemen, won't you lend me your ears?/This town's falling all around you, and you don't even care") and jaunty roots-rock à la Guitar Town -era Steve Earle on "Rollin' Around." - Memphis Flyer
The Commercial Appeal-Memphis
Red Hot Music
Bill Ellis-Music Editor
ellis@commercialappeal.com
June 25, 2004
Lost & Found
Drew Holcomb
(self-release)
The crisp acoustic guitar that strums with melancholic fortitude on Lost & Found announces a new rootsy voice in town, Drew Holcomb, whose anthemic twists and decidedly classic rock feel turn his 5-song EP into a surprisingly strong and confident debut.
Not one to downplay the heavy Southern slur in his voice, Holcomb could easily be lumped into the alt-country camp, though he’s just as likely to draw on Neil Young as he is Steve Earle.
Holcomb did his musical woodshedding in, of all places, Edinburgh, Scotland, which has an ancient volcano, Arthur’s Seat, in the heart of the city—it’s a fitting image since the Memphian’s music also displays a quiet majesty that hides undercurrents of something deeper and more powerful.
As such, the best tracks—the minor ode opener “Nothing Left,” the shimmering “Long Gone Away,” and the beautiful closer, “Sola Fide”—position Holcomb not as the latest in a line of Jeff Tweedys but as the Mid-South’s David Gray.
Executive Produced locally by Paul Ebersold (3 Doors Down, Sister Hazel, Skillet) at his facility 747 Studios, this subtle stunner was produced and engineered by Scott Hardin, who provides tasteful electric guitar and piano throughout.
- Commercial Appeal-Memphis
The Commercial Appeal-Memphis
Red Hot Music
Bill Ellis-Music Editor
ellis@commercialappeal.com
June 25, 2004
Lost & Found
Drew Holcomb
(self-release)
The crisp acoustic guitar that strums with melancholic fortitude on Lost & Found announces a new rootsy voice in town, Drew Holcomb, whose anthemic twists and decidedly classic rock feel turn his 5-song EP into a surprisingly strong and confident debut.
Not one to downplay the heavy Southern slur in his voice, Holcomb could easily be lumped into the alt-country camp, though he’s just as likely to draw on Neil Young as he is Steve Earle.
Holcomb did his musical woodshedding in, of all places, Edinburgh, Scotland, which has an ancient volcano, Arthur’s Seat, in the heart of the city—it’s a fitting image since the Memphian’s music also displays a quiet majesty that hides undercurrents of something deeper and more powerful.
As such, the best tracks—the minor ode opener “Nothing Left,” the shimmering “Long Gone Away,” and the beautiful closer, “Sola Fide”—position Holcomb not as the latest in a line of Jeff Tweedys but as the Mid-South’s David Gray.
Executive Produced locally by Paul Ebersold (3 Doors Down, Sister Hazel, Skillet) at his facility 747 Studios, this subtle stunner was produced and engineered by Scott Hardin, who provides tasteful electric guitar and piano throughout.
- Commercial Appeal-Memphis
Discography
Lost & Found EP...2004
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
“With an uncontrived uniqueness to his voice, songs, and stage presence, Drew Holcomb is an impressive surprise to the music world. He grew up in Tennessee, a fourth generation Memphian, living in the world of southern culture, proud of its kindness, proud of its food, but mostly proud of its musical heritage. Drew fell in love with music at young age while traveling to 45 different states in the Union, riding in a tan conversion van listening to everything from the ballads of Bob Dylan to the high soul of Memphis legend Al Green.
His parents bought him a guitar, and years later he has made music a bloodline of his existence. He went to college in Knoxville, TN and found himself in the middle of a group of people who shared his love for music. In the summer of 2002, Drew began experimenting with songwriting and playing in front of small crowds. In December of that year, he moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, where he spent the next six months writing and playing. Upon returning to the States, Holcomb played his songs to larger audiences, sometimes alone with a guitar, and other times with a full band behind him. After graduation, Drew moved back to Memphis, where he began work on his first release, Lost & Found EP.
The release reveals a young artist who writes and plays with a mature confidence that immediately endears Drew to his listener. His listeners range from teenage boys to grandmothers, finding connection to his age-old melodies that grow out of the traditions of Appalachian folk, Memphis rock, and delta blues, with guitars that hark back to Dylan, early Springsteen, or a number of rootsy players in the Alt. Country phenomenon, like Ryan Adams or Wilco.
The album is fantastic, but Holcomb is in his element in front of a live audience. Although his voice brings remnants of Cash, Dylan, or Adams, when the night is done you walk away with Holcomb's voice, not his influences. His stage presence is nothing short of electric. With sweat dripping from every pour in his face, it seems like every ounce of blood in his body is giving full attention to the music, while winning the empathy of the audience. This happens not just with his voice, or his melodies, but with the content of his lyrics. In the musical world of today, where most songs fall into the category of shallow, Drew sings about redemption, hope, suffering, humor, and other facets of the human experience. Songs are filled with dark characters and poignant stories, leaving the audience with glimpses of glory.. He has been seen lately playing with Cory Branan, Chris Knight, and Bill Mallonee (Vigilantes of Love). His shows are never the same; sometimes he has full backup, other times just one other musician, but often he plays alone. Drew's energy in performing and songwriting has been surprising listeners everywhere he plays and they should watch closely as his career takes off.� -JD Ketchum
Band Members
Links
