The Past: 1991, Matthew Michael Hollywood drops out of art school in San Francisco and falls in with a renegade crew of rabble-rousers going by the name of The Brian Jonestown Massacre. Over the next few years things waver between brilliant and insane quite often, albums are recorded, tours are toured and Mr. Hollywood learns a lot about life, love and the rather excessive things people get up to when they’re young, wide-eyed and in a rock and roll band.
Meanwhile, further north, Stuart Valentine is learning the ropes himself as the drummer for a country-loving combo called Richmond Fontaine. A born drummer, Stuart keeps time for, tours and records two albums with the band while simultaneously amassing a stunning collection of robots and playing guitar.
After leaving the BJM in 1998 Matt moves to Portland where he becomes acquainted with a long-haired, somewhat shy, young guitar player named Elliott Barnes. The two had met previously while both were living in California and realize they have much in common including a certain occasional social awkwardness which leads to the adoption of the name The Out Crowd. They begin plotting the formation of a band to end all bands and spend several fruitless months attempting to find the right co-conspirators. Eventually they decide to leave things to fate and book a show without having found a drummer yet.
As luck would have it an inebriated Matt is approached by Stuart, who confesses to liking Matt’s songs and playing the drums (both brave assertions.) Hollywood responds by telling Stuart to stop talking and write down his phone number and an audition is scheduled, after which Elliott is heard to exclaim, “I’m in love.”
Moving along, the band is approached after a few shows by Sarah Jane, a local teenager and fan of the band’s music. She convinces them that the only thing missing from their sound is her. The band wholeheartedly agrees and she begins playing tambourine with them, eventually revealing the fact that she can also play guitar and keyboards. The Out Crowd proceeds to record several songs, with two different bass players, which are eventually released as the Go On Give A Damn E.P. by Elephant Stone Records.
After the departure of their second bass player, the band asks friend “Boston” Dave Hicks to join as he has a good ear and a near inexhaustible supply of youthful exuberance. The new addition proves to be just what the band needs as their live energy and songwriting progress to previously unimagined heights. In 2005, Boston Dave moved to the midwest and Caleb Spiegel, former frontman and songwriter for My Regrets, joined in as the group's bassist.
The Present: The band has completed work on new material which has become their album, Then I Saw The Holy City, on The Kora Records. Producer Brian Coates (Dandy Warhols) was brought in to record the new tracks and add his distinctive vibe to the emotional mayhem of the songs with Tony Lash (Dandy Warhols, Elliott Smith, Quasi) putting on the finishing touches in mastering. Says Hollywood, "The Holy City is Love, romantic love that you feel for another human, compassionate love for those who suffer… angry love for those who cause suffering. It's really one long ode to Life, Love, and Freedom."
This is an album that you will want to listen to all in one sitting, and then listen to it again. Sounds and themes are brought in and out of earshot in a masterfully woven tapestry. You will find yourself drawing connections between the songs and hearing questions asked on one track answered on another. It truly is a journey.
The Future: The band continues to do what they do best, writing and recording epic pieces of psychedelic grandeur and precise pop melodies and preparing to take them on the road to share with everyone.
# wj is a contributing author