Chad Hollister Band

Leave it to a rootsy pop-folk four-piece from Vermont to resurrect the simple, meaningful pleasure that a pop song from the heart can evoke. Chad Hollister Band – crisscrossing the country in an attempt to return audiences to a sense of purity – have journeyed this course for more than a decade. By melding folk’s community-based, everyman sensibility with acoustic pop’s brassy, upbeat melodies and hooks, Chad Hollister Band is building something beautiful.

Staying true to himself and creating straightforward, lyrical poetry about the peace and freedom offered by the world, vocalist and rhythm guitarist Chad Hollister is seeing years of grassroots effort pay off. He’s recently had the pleasure of opening for such luminaries as Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Paul Simon and Violent Femmes, and shared stages with Phish, Blues Traveler, Giovanni Hidalgo, Little Feat, The Samples, Pat McGee Band and Merl Saunders. The single, “Grow,” from the Burlington native’s self-titled fourth LP, was awarded the #1 spot in Indie-Music.com’s prestigious Top 25 for 2009, ranked #24 in the New Music Weekly Top 100, and maintained the #26 spot in New Music Weekly’s Top 40 for nationwide radio play. The single, “Jesus, Bon Jovi and Tarzan,” from the second album, “Life,” took first place in the national Billboard Songwriting Contest. There are certainly waves to be made. In keeping with the spirit of his roots rock influences, Hollister regularly engages philanthropic goals with his concerts; he’s headlined Boston’s One Earth One Climate Day in 2007, targeted his 2009 album release party toward Washington County, Vt., fundraising efforts for garden planting at schools, and led songwriting workshops for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America.

Hollister’s team of players is Jeremy Goldsmith on lead guitar and vocals, Jared Johnson on bass and vocals, and Drew McKeon on drums. Frequent collaborators include Paul Wolstencroft of Slightly Stoopid and Melvin Sparks on organ and piano, Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention and Paul McCartney fame on drums, and Jeff Poremski, a well-known Vermont virtuoso, on lead guitar. Originally a drummer, Hollister picked up the guitar shortly before the band’s formation, and brings a percussive element to his playing that further distinguishes the music.

Through four albums – 1998’s “Chad,” 2003’s “Life,” 2005’s “Spirits” and 2009’s “Chad Hollister” – the band has maintained a deeply wrought optimism that echoes clearly in anthems for a better world such as “One World Free” and “Laugh.” Renowned producers John Alagia (Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer) and Anthony J. Resta (Elton John, Duran Duran) have helped Hollister hone the acoustic simplicity and shining appreciation for life that he brings to his music.

“What it all comes down to is the song,” says Hollister. “You can put on a great rock n’ roll show and get people up dancing, but the essence of it all is songwriting. I like to really say something and make people think about being kind, taking care of Mother Earth, being good to people and loving themselves. If a piece of my music can inspire someone, it’s doing something right on planet Earth.”