Meeting Jon Howard and Perry Brubaker of Hollow Down felt more like catching up with old friends than a formal interview. They instantly put me at ease with their quick wit and warm personalities. We talked about the band’s upcoming new music, their journey so far, and where they’re heading next. It’s an exciting time for Hollow Down, and I feel fortunate they carved out a night in their busy schedules to chat.
Perry Brubaker, bassist and vocalist, started Hollow Down in California in 2013 as a rock-and-roll punk band. In 2017, Perry toured the Pacific Northwest, performing solo versions of Hollow Down songs alongside Trash Slam poet Wil Gibson. After a literal twist of fate—when the tour bus went up in flames on the side of the road in Peoria, Illinois—Perry decided it was time to settle down.
By this point, Hollow Down’s sound was evolving. Rock and punk remained at the band’s core, but bluegrass and folk influences began to shape their music, resulting in a beautiful blend of styles, drawing inspiration from artists as diverse as Linda Perry and Les Claypool.
“Venues have a hard time labeling us. We fit into a lot of different genres. But it does allow us the freedom to play all kinds of different shows,” Perry said.
Perry went on to explain how meeting Jon brought even more of a bluegrass influence to the band. “We met while playing some form of bluegrass in 2019, and by the end of that year or early 2020, Jon was playing with Hollow Down full-time. Now we’re recording an original album together and have released two singles from it so far.”
The first single, The Harvest, is a haunting ode to the Midwest. In the song, Perry growls, “Corn stalks speak sweet whispers - their tassels whiplash, intertwine, and anxious.” His deep vocals, paired with Jon’s pick drags, pull listeners into the heartland, evoking images of crops, howling winds, and storm sirens. Perry continues, “The dry precipitation clogs noses and mouths for miles and hours - One day it’s gonna feed millions - But for now, we choke.”
“The lyrics to The Harvest were a birthday gift from my good friend Wil,” Perry shared. “He told me to take it and make it our own—give it life. As soon as I read it, I knew it was going to be special.”
Hollow Down closed out the acoustic stage at Peoria Music Live’s Takeover on October 20th.
The second single, Beautiful, written by Linda Perry and popularized by Christina Aguilera, has been reimagined by Hollow Down. Perry’s vocals bring both vulnerability and strength to the track, carrying its message powerfully yet without oversinging, keeping the heart of the song intact.
“Everyone feels self-conscious from time to time, and it’s important to remember that you’re beautiful not despite your differences, but because of them,” Jon said. “That’s what drew us to the song.”
Hollow Down plans to release more singles as they continue work on their next album, which is expected to be completed by spring. The album cover, created by the talented Jullia Finkelstein, embraces vibrant colors that signify the band’s musical evolution. Eric Block, who recorded and mixed both singles, will continue collaborating with Hollow Down on the rest of the album.
Hollow Down’s next live show will be with Sweet Cheeks on November 16th at Red Barn. Following that, they’ll play on November 23rd at Sullivan’s, December 13th with Angelust at the 808 Room in East Peoria, and a New Year’s Eve show at Jacks on Adams. Meanwhile, catch their new singles on Facebook or HollowDown.com. Their songs are available for purchase on Spotify and Apple Music, and keep an eye out for a limited vinyl release featuring The Harvest and Beautiful coming soon.
Thank you again to Jon and Perry for sharing their world with me. It was an honor, and I can’t wait to see what comes next—including a new single from a surprising source… sshhh!