Hall Williams Band
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Hall Williams Band

Baltimore, MD | Established. Jan 01, 2016 | SELF

Baltimore, MD | SELF
Established on Jan, 2016
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"Album Review: Hall Williams Band – In His Own Words"

The Hall Williams Band is the latest super group from the Baltimore-DC area that should be added to your listening queue. The four piece band, made up of Hall Williams (vocals, guitar), Lorenzo Sands (bass), Rodney Dunton (drums), and Justin Taylor (keyboards), recently put out their first album In His Own Words, featuring a special appearance from Jeff Goodman (keys) and Carl Talley (pedal steel). Although the band has played together in various configurations before, it wasn’t until recently that this “sparkly" jam band found their current sound.

Although they characterize themselves as a blend between The Dave Matthews Band, ALO, The John Butler Trio, and The Jerry Garcia Band, their sound is distinctly unique. While there are noticeable elements of inspiration borrowed from other talents, once The Hall Williams band gets grooving, their sound is entirely their own.

Their debut album In His Own Words is a blend of everything — folk, rock, funk, and more than anything, soul. You can tell that the band put their all into their work and thoroughly enjoy what they’re doing.

The lyrics are simple and easily digestible, reinforcing the idea that this is an album to have fun with, to sing along to. This is an album to be shared among friends.

Leading off with the titular track “In His Own Words,” Williams croons soulfully before diving into his role of story teller: “You tell a story/It all ain’t true/I’ll tell the story/That’s what I’ll do.” This first track is breezy, setting the tone for the album, which later on proves to be an uplifting, easy, and enjoyable listen.

The soft cymbals leading into the intro of, “What You Believe,” signals the beginning of a jam. It’s impossible to hear this song without at least bobbing along. And, if you’re like me and get caught up in the music, you won’t even notice the stares of passerby’s as you dance along in cereal aisle at Whole Foods. The vocals echoing the lyric “I will carry you” combined with the accompaniment of the entirety of the band, illustrate that this is a song that would make for a stellar live performance, inviting listeners to sing and dance along.

“Go” is a good come down from the previous track, slowing down the tempo. The band picks their groove right back up with my personal favorite — “Same Man” — a track that leads off with Neil Young vibes. However, the quick introduction of the synthy twangs of the pedal steel guitar and drums twist the song into an original jam piece. The lyrics are playful and reminiscent of a children’s nursery rhyme: “It’s raining it’s pouring the old man is snoring…”. While at times the rhymes can be slightly overwhelming, they pose a sharp juxtaposition to the chorus, which adopt an almost melancholy tone in the lyrics. Positioning the reflective lyrics atop a high tempo beat makes for a compelling mixture, wherein I caught myself feeling an unexplained sense of nostalgia.

“Willie’s Light” builds on the feeling from the previous songs, adopting a hopeful and optimistic tone with the repeated chorus of, “I’m telling you that there is a way.” Although clocking in at just over eight minutes, it doesn’t once drag on, with the jam break in the middle exuding the epitome of experience and supreme talent. The album could have easily ended with this track, with the pedal steel guitar playing us out, however “Movin' Forward” provides the perfect outro for this debut album. Just as the title implies The Hall Williams Band is looking to the future. The heartfelt and optimistic ending has all the right rock ’n roll elements that’ll leave you wanting for more.

In His Own Words is meant to be listened to loud, and ideally live, with room for riffs and elongated musical interludes. Thankfully, The Hall Williams Band frequents the The Depot in Baltimore and is hitting the road to DC among other places soon in the coming new year.

Their debut album was released digitally (iTunes, SoundCloud, Spotify, CD Baby) and on CD last month, and can be purchased at their shows and off their website. - DC Music Review by Abbie Ginis


"Album Review: Hall Williams Band, In His Own Words"

Written by Elise Olmstead

Hall Williams Band from the Baltimore-Washington area is eager to take their “sparkly” heartfelt jam music on the road in 2018, after winning Baltimore’s WTMD’s block party in 2017. The tour is kicked off by the release of their new album “In His Own Words.” Hall Williams’ inspiration for many of the songs that he writes is his wish to uplift people and make them dance.

The influences of Jerry Garcia, Bob Marley, and Tom Petty are made obvious throughout the album, many songs featuring psychedelic electric guitar and introspective lyrics. Most of the tracks are mellow and positive, with different genres shining through each song. “I Will Always Be Here For You” is influenced by blues country, “What You Believe” features lots of funky guitar, and “Go” is a sultry tune with a blues organ singing. “Same Man” is another sentimental tune singing, “don’t you remember me, same man I used to be, why you look at me that way?” and possibly has the most Grateful Dead influenced of any song on the album. “Willies Light” is obviously another Grateful Dead inspired track, and the longest song in the collection, clocking in at over 8 minutes. The last track “Moving Forward” takes the band’s jam skills and turns them up, really getting into a good groove and featuring some fire guitar solos.

Hall William’s wish for a peaceful world is evident through his serene music, and is the perfect music to dance to live on a sunny day. We’re glad the band decided to book a tour in 2018 — keep your eye out for many performances in Baltimore and other cities on their website www.hallwilliamsband.com. - The Jamwich


Discography

Down The Hall - 2019 

  1. Very Same Kind
  2. Do You Ever Wonder
  3. Lost Without You 

In His Own Words - 2017
  1. In His Own Words
  2. I Will Always Be Here For You
  3. What You Believe
  4. Go
  5. Same Man
  6. Willies Light
  7. Moiving Forward
Hall's Recording Prior To The HWB under the name Willies Light 

Whole New Reality - 2012 - Willies Light

Peace Meal - 2010 - Willies Light 


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Bio

Hall Williams Band

Pronounced /hôl/  as in a corridor, a passage, a way ie. hallway

When asked how to describe his music Hall loves to tell a story about how it was once described to him. “Sparkly” Upbeat, Positive, Rootsy, Real; thus, a genre, and a band were born. 

 The Hall Williams Band is based in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. The band’s namesake, Hall Williams, is a longtime guitarist, mandolinist, and songwriter originally from Vermont. His influences span a multitude of genres, and a lifetime of musical experiences. 

 Williams draws from a wide range of subject matters; from rambler stories about peace and love to drug abuse and heartache. His gift lies in his ability to make every song feel positive. The difficult subjects in Williams’ lyrics are not accompanied by dark and dreary melodies. They are not meant to deepen the depression or drag us down. Their timbre is meant to show us that even dark subjects can be approached in a positive manner. They are designed for us to take in the darkness of the message and transform it into a positive energy force to drive us forward. The music itself combines elements of funk, rock & roll, roots and experimental improvisation. The best word to describe the Hall Williams Band’s music is “uplifting” in every sense of the word.

 Williams spent years handpicking his bandmates which has resulted in the current lineup of Lorenzo Sands bass, Rodney Dunton drums, and Taiese Coleman-Pugh on keyboards. They are some of the finest musicians the Baltimore-Washington region has to offer, and Williams is honored every day to have them at his side. Together, the quartet creates a potent brew of talent, experience, drive, fun and pure musical bliss.

 The Hall Williams Band first formed in 1998 after Hall’s touring “Jam” band Everyday People broke up. Hall first met Lorenzo and Rodney in the Jazz clubs of Washington DC. Hall was looking for a new band in which the players offered something completely different from that in which he was doing in the Jam Band scene. The band played until 1999 when Hall’s first son was born. For the next 15 years Hall focused on his family while still playing locally with various groups and artist that came through town. In 2014 thanks to Facebook Hall reconnected with Lorenzo. In need of the right drummer Lorenzo knew exactly who to call. In 2016 the band expanded with the addition of Taiese Coleman. In 2017 they released their Debut CD “In His Own Words” 

 The Hall Williams Band Is releasing three new songs in 2019. Very Same Kind (debut on Relix Magazines Lockn’ festival sampler and is currently available on ITunes and Spotify) Do You Ever Wonder (November Release). Lost Without You (December Release) These three songs address relevant social issues of the day. The political divide in our country, bullying (school shootings and suicide), and the opioid epidemic.   

 With new music at their back and a few notable shows in the books, 2019 - The Opening of the The Reach at the Kennedy Center For Performing Arts, 2018 - Hot August Blues with Marcus King Band and Revivalist, and 2017 -  WTMD First Thursdays with Marcus King Band and The Mavericks, The Hall Williams Band is looking to hit the road and expand their fan base in 2020.  

Band Members