June 29th (Hollywood, CA)- Peering at the Hotel Cafe audience over the thick black rims of his glasses, musician Collin Herring was clearly aware that he was a long way from home. The Fort Worth native's face was a combination of shyness and nerves as he faced a crowd full of unfamiliar, expectant faces. However, whatever inhibitions he may have had seemed to melt away as soon as he strummed the first few chords on his guitar.
Collin hard at work writing a song
With his first album, Avoiding the Circus, being celebrated as 'one hell of a debut' by Harp Magazine and 'Album of the Year' by the Fort Worth Weekly, Herring made his way to the land of the cynics-Los Angeles- to see if his sophomore album, The Other Side of Kindness, would resonate with the same fervor far from his hometown roots.
A true texan
Based on the reaction from the Hotel Cafe crowd, Herring has nothing to worry about. The audience were tapping their swizzle sticks to the eclectic beats of his songs, laced with elements of rock, pop, alt-country, post punk and psychdelia, and chuckling at his many jokes and stories revolving around the wild mix of people including his father, a 6'2 bassist and the two former landscapers that made up his band.
Bassist Jeremy Hull
The ability to win over a crowd is clearly the litmus test for the success of a band and in this respect, Collin Herring is clearly a winner. However, the lack of variety in his songs led to a certain monotony that became wearing after a while. Although each of the songs would have been good on their own; when played all together in a set they began to run into each other. If it hadn't been for the quirky stories he inserted in between songs it would have been difficult to discern when one ended and the other began.
Billy Walters on Drums
While at times it was hard to tell that it wasn't REM on stage, Herrings inclusion of a pedal steel to his repertoire of instruments did indeed give his sound a Southern twang that, when combined with the other more urban elements of his music, gave merit to the claim that his band possesses a unique edge that sets them apart from other Texan acts.
The pedal steel adds a certain touch
Forget New York; If you can make it in LA you can make it anywhere. Herrings success at the Hotel Cafe leaves no doubt of his worth as a musician and his potential to sell out crowds, be it at home in Texas, or in cities that may not seem as welcoming. Best of luck to the up and comer and may his music continue to grow and evolve.
For more information about Collin Herring visit www.collinherring.com
