The Black Hollies play Northside Fest 6/25

Sometimes we interview bands and we just scratch the surface. And sometimes we interview bands and really have great conversations that rip down to the core of things. That’s how we felt after our humble, but most interesting conversation with Justin Angelo Morey of The Black Hollies. We started off with the name.. why The Black Hollies? “We came to a point where we had to pick something and we went through a list like everyone does I’m sure”, Justin explains. Scott, who is the band’s old drummer was the one who came up with the name. “It just rolled off the tounge and Black Hollies are a reference to morphemic pills. It just made sense at the time because of what was around”, chuckles Justin. He tells us he writes a majority of the music for the band, but that it’s also a collaborative. “Each member of the band plays an great roll”, Justin says. “I think we just know each other so well, we know what we are trying to pull out of each other.” Justin tells us about his non- conventional way of writing and putting songs together and that it’s easier for him to draw pictures, use colors, or a funny term to describe how he wants something to sound or feel. “Normal people would just laugh”, he tells us. “But the band is just like ‘ok’, this is what he wants this to sound like.” He said they’re actually working on a new song right now that was derived by Justin’s method.  Justin explains he heard rain coming down on a window so hard one night that it inspired him to pick up the guitar and create drawings. And this is how he introduced this song to the guys. Justin also said the band doesn’t use computers or software like protools to edit their music, like most bands do these days. So it’s pretty much them working it out and him going home to ‘sleep on it”. And then coming back in the morning to change stuff around again.

You’ll hear Justin talk a lot about the 60′s and older, obscure, bands and artist that never really had hits during that time. He also talks about how he likes to listen to vinyl and doesn’t own an ipod. Although, he did say he has crossed over into the era of the iphone, which he is still getting used to. The Black Hollies have released 3 full lengths to date and all of them are or were available on vinyl. Their 1st record, Crimson Reflections, is currently out of print, which their label is working on and their 2nd album, Casting Shadows, is sold out. Their latest release, Softly Towards the Light, is available on vinyl. Justin tells us their label, Earnest Jennings, pressed more records this time because of the success of the 1st 2, which is def a great thing.But all of the bands music is available on itunes for download.

We always ask bands what their dream tour would be, whether it’s with artists who are dead or alive. “Well I guess if we were thinking from a business stand point and being able to play in front of a big audience that’s never heard us before and win them over, becuse that’s what we seem to do with our live shows, I’d have to say U2″, says Justin as he laughs. But it would be absolutely amazing to do a 3 week tour in England with Small Faces in the late 66′, early 67′.

Justin also describes to us the days of listening to music before the internet. He says, “It was like listening to music in the dark”. “When checking out music before the internet, you had no idea what it was going to sound like. I kinda’ miss those days”, he says. We asked Justin because of all changes in the industry today, what else he thinks is missing or what about the changes that make it better? He tells us the changes are good and bad. And that it’s great because you can reach so many people globally though the internet and that if they were a band in the 80′s or 90′, they would have really had a hard time achieving what they have so. “But on the other hand it has lead to people really labeling music and throwing you into a box”, Justin explains. He says basically people are making decisions about the music based on what they’ve read before even giving it a listen. But he understands having all that info on the internet in front of you makes it hard for anyone trying to get their project off the ground. As far as the Black Hollies are concerned, he says, “They are very grateful, very fortunate for where they are right now and very lucky to have the people who continue to show their support. The only thing now is to hopefully get more of them. That would be wonderful.”

The Black Hollies play the Northside Festival on Saturday night at Spike Hill – The Soco Lounge -10PM

Courtesy of the band’s facebook page –

Members:

Justin Angelo Morey: Lead Singer, Epiphone Rivoli, Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face, Echoplex.

Jon Gonnelli: Vox Continental Organ, Vox Volume Pedal, Echo Unit, Auto Harp, Epiphone Sheraton, Vox Tone Bender, Shin Ei FY-2, Reverb Box.

Herbert Joseph Wiley V: Gibson SG Standard, Gibson Les Paul Standard, Univox Super Fuzz, Echo, Reverb Box, Back-Up Vocals.

Nick Ferrante: Ludwig Blue-Pearl Drum Set, Ludwig Speed King, Hi-Hat Cymbals, Ride Cymbal.

Genre:

Psychedelic/Folk/Pop/Experimental/Space/Rock

Hometown:

Jersey City, NJ

Record Label:

ERNEST JENNING