Bell Hollow
Encyclopedia
Bell Hollow were a four-piece band based in Brooklyn
, New York
, composed of Nick Niles (vocals/keyboards/guitar), Greg Fasolino (guitar), Christopher Bollman (bass), and Todd Karasik (drums). The band's music is often categorized as a blend of atmospheric 1980s post punk and dream pop
. The band's influences included The Chameleons
, The Smiths
, Radiohead
, Cocteau Twins
, The Comsat Angels, Slowdive
, and Echo & the Bunnymen
.
The band's songs and live show won over several reputable publications, including The Big Takeover
, The Deli, and New York Press
, as well as Post-Punk.com and veteran UK music journalist Mick Mercer
. Bell Hollow were interviewed on several New York radio stations, including East Village Radio and BreakThru Radio, and Detroit podcast "Most People Are DJs." Over the course of their career, Bell Hollow performed with New Model Army
, Bush Tetras
, The Prids
, Longwave
and Lene Lovich
, among others.
, who had briefly reunited during 2002. In 2005, singer Nick Niles joined the band, filling out the sound and solidifying their direction. Along with original drummer Hayden Millsteed (also a member of Lubricated Goat
), the band recorded their first EP, Sons of the Burgess Shale, freshly signed to five03 records.
In 2006, Todd Karasik (formerly of acclaimed NYC indie-pop band My Favorite
, and also a member of The Secret History) replaced Millsteed. In 2007, the band released their first proper full-length record, Foxgloves, recorded by producer/engineer Hillary Johnson, who soon became the band's live keyboard player (and eventually, manager).
Bell Hollow toured the Southeast and Midwest during 2008. That summer they signed with online music purveyors RCRD LBL
, releasing five free remixes from Project Jenny, Project Jan
, hip-hop producer/remixer Phofo
, Nine Inch Nails
remixer Halo33, Cruel Black Dove, and Peter Du Charme (aka Master Cylinder, of "Jung at Heart" fame). "Copper Crayon (Project Jenny, Project Jan Remix)" was featured in the NBC television series Kath & Kim
.
The remixes were packaged with three outtakes as digital-only EP Foxgloves Extras, released in December 2008. Vocalist Nick Niles departed at this time in pursuit of other musical endeavors, but it was not until February 2009 that Bell Hollow formally announced its dissolution, citing Niles' departure as the reason.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, composed of Nick Niles (vocals/keyboards/guitar), Greg Fasolino (guitar), Christopher Bollman (bass), and Todd Karasik (drums). The band's music is often categorized as a blend of atmospheric 1980s post punk and dream pop
Dream pop
Dream pop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s, when bands like The Passions, Dif Juz, Lowlife and A.R. Kane began fusing post-punk and ethereal experiments with bittersweet pop melodies into dreamy, sensual soundscapes. The term was almost...
. The band's influences included The Chameleons
The Chameleons
The Chameleons were an English post-punk band that formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester, England in 1981. They consisted of singer and bassist Mark Burgess, guitarist Reg Smithies, guitarist Dave Fielding, and drummer John Lever...
, The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
, Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals...
, The Comsat Angels, Slowdive
Slowdive
Slowdive were an English shoegaze band that formed in 1989. The band formed in Reading, Berkshire and primarily consisted of Nick Chaplin , Rachel Goswell , Neil Halstead , and Christian Savill...
, and Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen are an English post-punk band, formed in Liverpool in 1978. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bass player Les Pattinson, supplemented by a drum machine. By 1980, Pete de Freitas had joined as the band's drummer, and their debut...
.
The band's songs and live show won over several reputable publications, including The Big Takeover
The Big Takeover
The Big Takeover is a bi-annual music magazine published out of New York City since 1980 by critic Jack Rabid.-Overview:The Big T usually appears in June and December, with most recent issues coming in around 200 pages. The review section, featuring Jack’s Top 40 for the issue, is regularly 60-80...
, The Deli, and New York Press
New York Press
New York Press was a free alternative weekly in New York City, that was published from 1988 to 2011. During its lifetime, it was the main competitor to the Village Voice...
, as well as Post-Punk.com and veteran UK music journalist Mick Mercer
Mick Mercer
Mick Mercer is a journalist and author best known for his photos and reviews of the goth, punk, and indie music scenes. He has photographed the bands Tragic Venus and Blondie in the UK and Europe.He publishes a monthly online magazine called "The Mick"....
. Bell Hollow were interviewed on several New York radio stations, including East Village Radio and BreakThru Radio, and Detroit podcast "Most People Are DJs." Over the course of their career, Bell Hollow performed with New Model Army
New Model Army
The New Model Army of England was formed in 1645 by the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War, and was disbanded in 1660 after the Restoration...
, Bush Tetras
Bush Tetras
Bush Tetras are an American post-punk band from New York City, popular in the Manhattan club scene in the early 1980s but never achieving much mainstream success. Their music combined funk rhythms and dissonant guitar riffs.-History:...
, The Prids
The Prids
The Prids are a band from Portland, Oregon. The quartet's music can be categorized as a blend of noise pop and post-punk, influenced by Sonic Youth, Built to Spill, The Smiths, Unrest, My Bloody Valentine and Wire....
, Longwave
Longwave
In radio, longwave refers to parts of radio spectrum with relatively long wavelengths. The term is a historic one dating from the early 20th century, when the radio spectrum was considered to consist of long, medium and short wavelengths...
and Lene Lovich
Lene Lovich
Lene Lovich is an American singer based in England, who first gained attention as part of the New Wave music scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Her most popular hit single was "Lucky Number", first released in 1979.-Early years:...
, among others.
History
Bell Hollow was formed in 2003 by Fasolino and Bollman, both members of influential 1980s NYC outfit The Naked and the DeadThe Naked and the Dead (band)
The Naked and the Dead were a short-lived but influential gothic rock/deathrock band from New York, founded in 1985. They split up after issuing one eponymous four-song demo cassette in September 1985....
, who had briefly reunited during 2002. In 2005, singer Nick Niles joined the band, filling out the sound and solidifying their direction. Along with original drummer Hayden Millsteed (also a member of Lubricated Goat
Lubricated Goat
Lubricated Goat was an Australian noise rock band of the 1980s.They achieved brief notoriety for playing on a television program naked, wearing only their instruments and shoes...
), the band recorded their first EP, Sons of the Burgess Shale, freshly signed to five03 records.
In 2006, Todd Karasik (formerly of acclaimed NYC indie-pop band My Favorite
My favorite
My Favorite was an independent indiepop band formed in Long Island, New York in the early 1990s, who eventually migrated to the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York City. They released two full length CDs: Love at Absolute Zero and Happiest Days of Our Lives, three e.p.s, and a few limited...
, and also a member of The Secret History) replaced Millsteed. In 2007, the band released their first proper full-length record, Foxgloves, recorded by producer/engineer Hillary Johnson, who soon became the band's live keyboard player (and eventually, manager).
Bell Hollow toured the Southeast and Midwest during 2008. That summer they signed with online music purveyors RCRD LBL
RCRD LBL
RCRD LBL is the premier online destination for free, curated, legal MP3 downloads from the hottest marquee and emergent artists. RCRD LBL delivers free music downloads and more directly to readers with multiple personalized email properties, including the RCRD of the Day email newsletter, RCRD...
, releasing five free remixes from Project Jenny, Project Jan
Project Jenny, Project Jan
Project Jenny, Project Jan is a laptop rock band from Brooklyn, New York. The band consists of singer Jeremy Haines and programmer/keyboardist Sammy Rubin. Formed in late 2004/early 2005, they have released an EP called EP in 2005 and an album, XOXOXOXOXO in 2007...
, hip-hop producer/remixer Phofo
Phofo
Phofo is a music producer from New York . He is best known for composing 52 episodes of Sushi Pack, a Saturday morning cartoon on CBS , the animated feature film, "Los Campeones de La Lucha Libre" for Fwak! Animation and Shep & Tiffany Watch TV...
, Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
remixer Halo33, Cruel Black Dove, and Peter Du Charme (aka Master Cylinder, of "Jung at Heart" fame). "Copper Crayon (Project Jenny, Project Jan Remix)" was featured in the NBC television series Kath & Kim
Kath & Kim
Kath & Kim is a Logie Award-winning character-driven Australian television situation comedy series. The series was created by, and is written by Jane Turner and Gina Riley who play the title characters: a suburban mother and daughter with a dysfunctional relationship...
.
The remixes were packaged with three outtakes as digital-only EP Foxgloves Extras, released in December 2008. Vocalist Nick Niles departed at this time in pursuit of other musical endeavors, but it was not until February 2009 that Bell Hollow formally announced its dissolution, citing Niles' departure as the reason.
External links
Interviews/Reviews
- Most People Are DJs podcast (2008)
- BreakThruRadio.com (2008)
- Gearwire (2008)
- Gearwire (2008)
- New York Press (2007)
- [ Allmusic] (2007)
- Denver Westword (2007)
- Anti-Mag (2006)