Over the past decade, Memphis-born Drew Holcomb has balanced his authentic Americana Rock voice with the experiences that have shaped him as a husband, father and family-man. Holcomb is a passionate duck-hunting, bourbon drinking and first edition book collecting musician full of earnest stories to tell. With a Masters degree in Divinity from Scotland’s University of St. Andrews Holcomb supports the depth and sincerity behind each lyric.
If you like artists like Tom Petty (and the Heartbreakers), Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Neil Young or Wilco, then you will find tranquility in Holcomb’s catalog of earthy Folk lyrics and beautiful melodies. Bruce Springsteen fans will know Holcomb’s roots because while in Scotland Holcomb wrote his dissertation on “Springsteen and American Redemptive Imagination.”
Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors have built themselves on their own terms selling more than 75 thousand records, playing sold out headline shows and have toured alongside Ryan Adams, The Avett Brothers, Los Lobos, Susan Tedeschi, North Mississippi Allstars and Marc Broussard. Their songs have been used on several television programs including TNT’s Emmy Award Winning 2011 Christmas Day NBA Forever spot, which featured “Live Forever” off of Holcomb’s 2011 album “Chasing Someday”. Holcomb and The Neighbors are unstoppable with wife and bandmate Ellie Holcomb on vocals and guitar alongside Nathan Dugger (guitar, keys) and Rich Brinsfield on Bass. Together the band evokes emotion with each passing note and paints a picture of working-class Tennessee in their seventh studio album “Medicine,” released January 27, 2015.
“This is the best tour we have had so far and people are responding to the new material,” said Holcomb. “Half of our set is off the new record and fans have been singing along at live shows.” The first track, “American Beauty,” sets the healing in motion with soft strumming guitar and soothing lyrics: “She was a good companion, eyes like the Grand Canyon / She was an American Beauty,” a sentiment that drags us into the heart of a mature songwriter. On the second track [one of my favorites] Holcomb slowly coerces the listener with steady strumming from his guitar. With an acute sense of dynamics The Neighbors build “Tightrope” through the guitar solo until Ellie sings out in harmony during an intimate outro between husband and wife.
“We recorded this album over the course of eight days in East Nashville in good spirit because we were working local. Getting up, eating with family and going to work made the whole experience quiet pastoral,” said Holcomb. “People are partially defined by the world they live in and in Nashville, we come from working families who love each other. We are personal songwriters, so everything hits close to home,” said Holcomb.
Other tracks like “Sisters Brothers” and “The Last Thing We Do” beautifully contrast the laid-back tempo of the overall album. Syncopated drums and gritty bass on “Sisters Brothers” are complemented by Holcomb’s lyrical intention and hard hitting guitar riffs. “[with ‘Medicine’] I went back to the importance of having something to say, not just rhymes,” said Holcomb. “There’s a fine line between letting the music you love mentor you without trying to be derivative. We need to let people find their own voice,” added Holcomb.