Hollis Brown has been releasing music since 2013 and is about as conscientious and hardworking as a band can get. The Queens, NY group recently announced they are set to release their latest album Ozone Park on June 7 via Mascot Label Group, the first single off the record “Do Me Right” is out now. You probably have heard Hollis Brown’s all-American rock ‘n’ roll before without even knowing it; their blend of Americana, soul, and hard rock has been featured on major television shows, motion picture trailers, designer fashion shows, and more. The group is happy to pave their way toward national recognition with their sound which pays homage to the rock heroes of the past without compromising its contemporary feel. Folk, country, blues, this band juggles these styles with grace and when necessary blends them powerfully. Check out their new video for “Do Me Right” below. - Rene Cobar

A warm folk-rock track that vividly details a rugged life, “Miracle” (streaming below) by Queens quintet Hollis Brown is intriguingly enigmatic. Portraying the intense struggles of a down-on-her-luck heroine, the guitar-curled song off the band’s forthcoming release ‘Cluster of Pearls’ impressively purveys both the forlorn literariness of Dylan’s “Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” and the hopeful, country jive of such Gene Clark tracks as “No Other” while emitting its own rough splendor. ‘Cluster of Pearls’ will be released on Record Store Day (4/16) and Hollis Brown has an upcoming residency at downtown Manhattan venue Berlin in May, playing there every Wednesday. Full details can be found at the band’s Facebook page. – Zach Weg 

Queens-born folk rock band Hollis Brown has a 1960’s heart powered by the seamless recording techniques of 2014, and we love that they’re keeping that rich, old-timey, American folk sound in the contemporary mix. Their latest release “Gets Loaded” nods at the drug-heavy tunes of the 60s by delivering their own rootsy take of The Velvet Underground's classic 1970 album Loaded from back-to-front. From its opening “Oh Sweet Nuthin’,” powered by a blues-based lead guitar line, to it’s closing “Who Loves The Sun,” driven by a truly harmonic chorus, the release is worth a good, listen, as it adds beauty to already powerful songwriting. The band is about to start recording a new album and will be touring the UK this Fall, but be sure to catch them live when they’re back in the local rotation. - Jillian Dooley

We added this song to The Deli's playlist of Best rootsy songs by emerging NYC artists - check it out!

This past weekend, CBGB Festival extended the 4th of July celebration and extra four days. A music, film, and spirits conference, the first CBGB fest in NYC featured a spectrum of artists throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. I was able to catch a handful of the performances, starting Thursday night with edgy, dark and punky quartet, Black Wing Halo at Trash Bar. Southern rockers from NY, Hollis Brown (pictured and streaming below) rocked The Living Room on Friday, July 6. The quintet hit the stage twice in one night, at 9pm and 12am, showcasing tracks off their recent EP, “Nothing & the Famous No One,” and summer single, “Cold City,” which are both available for free download. Not too far away, Bowery Electric hosted the highly anticipated come back of The Virgins, who have only recently returned to the scene to play shows in conjunction with the release of “Venus in Chains.” Saturday afternoon was a scorcher, but that did not stop a record number of passersby from taking advantage of the music in the center of Times Square. Two stages alternated acts, as the audience hustled back and forth. Kicking off the lineup, GLINT, an electro-rock project comprised of its one and only official member, Jase Blankfort, joined forces with orchestral back up to mesmerize with contrasting styles and impassioned vocals. A few blocks up, the other stage erupted with Big Apple veterans, The Hold Steady’s playful heartland rock which was followed by quirky indie synth-pop, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. –Meijin Bruttomesso

The penultimate day of my fourth SXSW was definitely the longest in my history of SX’s. Arriving at 10:30am at the Elvis Presley-themed Beale Street Tavern to host a show, I was out on the town for 16 hours to follow. Opening the morning, Austin’s Indie-meets-retro rock quartet, Ghost Bunny, and solo, blues-rock multi-instrumentalist and loop-master, Walker Lukens, got the ball rolling. Most attendants woke up and arrived for a bevy of Brooklyn bands: Black Taxi, The Courtesy Tier, and The Click Clack Boom. The string of East Coasters was broken by LA- born Vas Defrans (pictured), who put the sound system to the test with pounding drums and intricate instrumental layering. A laid back local favorite, The Naturals, contrasted with the strobe- light and projection illuminated, electro/dance-rock quartet, Kid Savant who followed suit. NYC’s Hollis Brown closed the afternoon with straight up great blues rock and Southern rock sentiments. Yet another Tex-Mex decompression resuscitated me for an extensive evening of street performances. Renegade rocker, Tom Morello, brought the aggressive music of Black Top Demon, Outernational, Anti-Flag, and Wayne Kramer outside the Swan Dive as part of Occupy SXSW. Morello himself marched into the crowd of hundreds for a finale while police swarmed the area. All ended without any blood shed, but it was an night/early morning to remember! –Meijin Bruttomesso