Barry Holdship

Barry Holdship is one of those artists who seem so out of step with the sounds of the current Top 40 that his style becomes more timeless and timely than anything else you'll hear on the radio this or any other year. Blending the seemingly innocent charm of Bobby Fuller, Gene Pitney, Elvis, and Buddy Holly, then mixing in a dash of Lennon and McCartney and tossing in a few slices of country and power pop, Holdship is definitely a man of the moment, but that moment could have been at any stage during the 50-plus years since rock 'n' roll was born.

Leaping into the music scene in the early '80s in Detroit, Barry formed the quintet Let's Talk About Girls with his brother Bill. The band was a huge regional success, garnering praise and awards all over Detroit and the Midwest. The band released its brilliant self-titled EP on Holdship's own Bad Axe Records and supported name acts such as Gang of Four, Dwight Yoakam, the Replacements, and others. "I Really Wanna Know," one of the standout tracks on the EP, was featured in the hit movie Basic Instinct. At the time, they were managed by the legendary John Sinclair. Although their sound was traditional pop and rock 'n' roll, they were considered too "rock" for labels searching for the latest trendy "new wave" sounds and, sadly, were not snapped up by a major label.
With his sights set on expanding his musical vision, Holdship and the band moved west to California, following his brother Bill, who had left the band to work for the legendary Creem magazine. After a few years, members of the band drifted back to Michigan, leaving only Barry remaining from the original lineup. Let's Talk About Girls' track on Melody Fair: A Tribute to the Bee Gees was actually a Holdship solo recording yet remains the final release under the band's name.

The Jesse Garon Project, Holdship's stunning first solo album (billed to the Barry Holdship Four, a nod to one of his heroes, Bobby Fuller) was released in 1997. A brilliant mix of traditional rock, country, power pop, and soul, Holdship was accepted by many of the trendy L.A. scenes and became an important player in all of them. Ruff Trax, his second solo release, hit the shelves in 2004. Every much the equal of his debut, Ruff Trax was the more emotionally powerful of the two and remains a favorite with his fans.

Stephen SPAZ Schnee/All Music Guide

Critically Speaking:

“Here’s a guy who hasn’t forgotten what real rock ‘n’ roll is about.” HARP Magazine
"Smart pop..." Pasadena Weekly
"My Brother would've truly dug you!" Randy Fuller (Bobby Fuller Four)
"Spirited, passionate, soulful rock 'n' roll!" Los Angeles Times
“…Ruff Trax, …a real singer with strong songs and heart & soul.” LA Weekly
“If you don’t think anyone can pull off this kind of unaffected rock ’n’ roll anymore, dig 'Where to From Here?', 'We’d Be Good Together' (rockabilly-meets-gum) or the instantly classic 'A Fractured Lullaby' and think again.” catalog-of-cool.com
"One of best undiscovered Artists in America...razor-edged power pop & great original songs." Rock & Rap Confidential
“Chock-full of catchy pop ditties, ... stamped with vintage melodies…” Scram Magazine 21
"...takes elements of classic rock 'n' roll and pure pop and combines them in a unique manner!" Launch Magazine
"Embraces the conviction of John Lennon w/the virtue of Buddy Holly." Chicago Sun Times
“The consistency comes in the performance and the character of the songs. This makes the record an uplifting piece of entertainment. Holdship is keeping rock tradition alive. Alive and Kicking.” Fufkin.com
“Great stuff all the way! Extremely highly recommended." Not Lame Magazine
"He’s a little bit Buddy Holly, a touch of Roy Orbison, a smidgen of Bobby Fuller, but not really retro at all. And one hell of a songwriter and vocalist.” Amplifier Magazine
"Barry Holdship is one of LA's hidden treasures." Santa Monica Mirror
"Combines the best elements of power pop, rock 'n'roll & rockabilly." IPO Magazine
"...sounds just right." Brian Wilson
“Holdships’s catchy melodies, lead vocals and well planned songwriting stand out strong.” Chicago Gigs.com
"Holdship's local reputation as a talented songwriter is due for more than local stardom. Highly Recommended!" The River Reporter
"Holdship possesses a classic dimension that reminds one of Del Shannon, Buddy Holly or even Elvis, without seeming derivative." Detroit Metro Times
"Direct, honest, fun-spirited...pure pop to pure soul...emotions dripping sweet nothings down the back of your neck." Detroit News
"Heart -stomping roots rock. Holdship's vocal abilities reflect the influences of Elvis with panache." Western Beat Magazine
"Carries the honesty & urgency of bands like the Replacements & combines it with songwriting that would make Lennon & McCartney proud. Straight ahead rock 'n' roll doesn't get much better than this." BAM
".... Truly dreamy, sounding like a meeting of 50's crooner-era Elvis and the Flying Burrito Brothers. As Holdship continues to look further back, he continues to move artistically forward, neither a revival act nor a historically bankrupt one. " Los Angeles New Times
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