Ashhollow "Ashhollow" 1973 US Southern Rock/Hard Rock/Psychedelic Rock/Acid Rock
Ashhollow were an unusual quintet formed in Oklahoma in the early 1970's, who mixed Hard Rock grit and Psychedelic melody with a rural Southern Rock feel.
Their lone release appears to have been a six song self-titled (bootleg?) CD issued retrospectively by Limited Records in a limited edition of 1000 copies.
According to the scant info in the booklet, the tracks were recorded in 1973 and originally only pressed as an acetate.
At times their music brings to mind early EPITAPH or Muscle Shoals period LYNYRD SKYNYRD with a little WISHBONE ASH mixed in for good measure.
Fellow Okies ASHBURY also come to mind during the quieter passages in their songs, especially in the second track, "Cat's Eye".
The tight and complex jazz-flecked drumming combines beautifully with the taut basswork and subtly psychedelic guitar melodies throughout to give the band's a distinctive sound, that becomes more compulsive with each successive play.
Don't expect wigged out guitar-heavy abandon, this is carefully constructed and artfully melodic stuff, but it does rock, albeit in a slightly woozy late night fashion.
The band appear to have fizzled out by the mid to late '70's, a real pity as they plainly had serious musical chops and songwriting suss aplenty.
Who knows how far they could have gone with the right breaks, a sympathetic producer and a supportive record label.
Gary Bruce returned to playing drums with a new band called ZAZOO in the late '70's.
Zazoo had a song, "Glorify It On The Screen", included on the Various Artists compilation LP, "Oklahoma City Live Vol. 1", released by Backstage Music/Producers Workshop in 1980, but appear not to have released any further music.
Bruce also played on some solo recordings by Bill Kirtley, his former Ashhollow bandmate, in the early '80's.
If you're open-minded in your love of obscure old-school vintage rock music, give Ashhollow a listen.
They're a treat for the ears.
Intruigingly, whilst researching this blurb i found another band called Ashhollow, also from Oklahoma.
Only this 3 piece were formed in 2004 and play grungy Garage Rock, but they have at least one thing in common with their predecessor, a member with the surname Kirtley.
I wonder if this Kirtley is following in the footsteps of his father or uncle, right down to the band name?
Bill Kirtley
Gary Bruce
Mike Hanna
Michael Stewart
Frank Polermo
