Glaswegian mod band The Hollows are currently ripping it up with shots of Maximum RB while looking as classic as they sound. It’s a mod revival with intent which has seen the band play Alan McGee’s gig night as well as supporting The Moons. With ex-Primal Scream Jim Beattie on board as manager things are looking good for the Boys from Glasgow.
A Glasgow mod-inspired group with a big sound and electric performances, sounds like a great combination…
A love of 60s and 70s inspired rock n roll. The loudness of The Who and the sharpness of The Jam.
The website describes it as ‘ram shackle’, meaning like a bit of danger, like anything could happen…
We have an energy when we play live that’s like nothing else. We buzz off each other and let the music take us where it’s going to take us. When we first walk on stage, I think people have preconceived notions about what we’re going to sound like, but when the drums kick in and the riffs start, they take notice.
What’s the state of the music scene in Glasgow right now, is there, like the UK, the makings of a 21st century Mod revival going about?
Glasgow will always have great bands, but we’ve never been part of any scene, we just do it our way. I feel there is a bit of a Mod revival going on, yeah. When you look at Pretty Green and how it’s taken off, you can see that they’re bringing Mod culture to a new generation.
Though it’s all well having some sort of Mod revival it’s more than than that isn’t it?
Yeah, definitely. We love 60s music and wear our influences on our sleeve but our tastes are varied and I think that’s reflected in our music. It’s important not to be one dimensional.
Have you all been in bands before The Hollows?
Well me and William have been in different bands over the years, but when we formed The Hollows with Gregor and Stephen, everything sort of came together.
Tell me about your management. Jim Beattie, founder and original Primal Scream guitarist must be great for a band like yourselves starting out to have someone like him working with you…
As big Scream fans, it was cool to have someone like him say he liked our band. He said watching us play live was better than seeing Dr Feelgood and The Clash in ’78, which was unbelievable. He’s given us a new confidence and pushes us to better ourselves.
Fellow Glaswegian Alan McGee asked you to play his music night ‘Greasy Lips’, as well as supporting bands like The Moons, the band seem to be playing some great spots…
We’ll play any gig anywhere, but to be asked to play these gigs, hopefully, shows we’re moving forward and our hard work is starting to pay off.
How do you lads cope with holding down day jobs and rehearsing, playing, promoting the band, is it hard for unsigned bands these days?
If you’re committed, you’ll find the time. This is our passion. We work full time and rehearse three times a week as well as gigging, which takes its toll, but we know we have to work for what we want. It’s never easy for bands to go all the way. You need to work hard and be committed but a lot of the time it’s down to luck and being in the right place at the right time.
After releasing your E.P in the summer what’s next for The Hollows?
Yeah, we released our ‘We Won The War’ EP in July, which was met with positive reviews. At the moment, we are going back in to record our official debut single which should be out for the end of the year. We’ve got a few UK wide gigs lined up as well so touring will be the main focus for us over the next 6 months.
Keep up-to-date with all things The Hollows over on their official Facebook page.
(Carl Stanley)
