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San Jose-based The Holdup just makes me smile. The lead singer Mike Garmany reminds me of that kid from the movie Alpha Dog. The fresh-faced lead man raps/sings gangsta-style lyrics over island beats. He also wore his Ray Bans on stage even when the show moved indoors after city curfew. I can’t help but shake my booty to their fun sound. Anyone who watches feels invited to have a good time with them.
DOIN IT WELL: “Sublime with Rome” is headlining this year’s BFD show at the Shoreline Amphitheater Sunday. Tickets are on sale for $32.50. You can also check out Dirty Heads and the Holdup there for yourself. Hopefully the California Roots festival comes around again next year. They make a donation to the Boys and Girls Club’s Music maker program, paving the way for more great music.
Marika Krause
Producer of NBC Bay Area Mornings. She works overnights, so she crams more fun and Bay Area adventures into the weekend than most people do in a week. You can catch her weekly blog right here on NBC Bay Area.
- NBC NEWS: Marika Krause
"The Holdup kept blunts going around with solid reggae sounds that deserved them an encore they unfortunately didn’t follow through. But it was interesting enough watching girls’ faces turn red from screaming for the group as they threw shirts and... love notes on stage".
-Audio Philes - The Audio Philes Music Blog
"One thing is for sure, put on The Holdup and the party will come. These guys know how to make music built for drinks on the beach with the hunnies".
Jeff Longo
stubblemusiczine.com The New Growth in Music - Stubble Musiczine
The band is currently in Dub Rock Studios with vocalist/guitarist Mike Garmany producing and Clev Stiles acting as Executive Producer. The album will drop in late Spring.
What can we expect: The Holdup sophomore release will pick-up where the last album (Stay Gold) left off, with a strong reggae influence, but no definitive sound in terms of genre. The band is still very young and constantly changing. The Holdup camp says, "It finds it best to mix up multiple styles and genres to keep from getting bored with one specific sound. One thing is for certain, the sound will be unique and the quality will be much more consistent then the last album."
Why The Pier is excited: Stay Gold was an impressive debut album. While The Holdup wore its influences on its sleeve the music was undeniably fun. The first single, Wake Up, from they yet to be released album already showcases how the band is progressing fast! - The Pier Reggae Rock Ezine
The Holdup - Stay Gold
It is kind of scary how good the debut release from The Holdup is, especially since the guys are just young kids.
At its heart Stay Gold is simply a fun summer party album; filled to the brim with big beats and free flowing rhymes about all the pleasures in life. However, the band took its time to ensure the highest of quality; believably over a year was spent on crafting these songs.
The album’s title track and songs like Selfish Man and Girl’s a Freak are made for bright sunny days partying on the beach with a Corona in one hand and a girl in the other. There is also a refreshing honesty in Mike Garmany's lyrics, especially when it comes to the opposite sex. Girl’s want to know what guy’s really want or think? Forget those ridiculous chick flicks, just take a listen to Hunnies and Sometime’s (They’re Bitches).
There is no denying there is a strong Slightly Stoopid influence present in the band’s sound, particularly on tracks like The Chronic Song and Wild Child with its reverb guitar work. Yet when you get to songs like Demon, Good Times and Sometime’s (They’re Bitches) it’s a more mature sound that leaves a longer lasting impression. So much so, these three songs contribute greatly to the album’s overall impact. Especially Demons and Sometime’s coming in at the album’s end, their originality is a strong indicator that more original growth is just around the corner.
Stay Gold will be hard to beat as debut album of the year, currently just edging over Jon Wayne and The Pain’s great new release. All new bands take note, the standard has been set.
Reviewed by Pilipo
Stay Gold can be purchased online here
The Holdup
Stay Gold
Dub Rock Records - The Pier Reggae Rock Ezine
Well its pretty clear that after one listen through Stay Gold that this is easily my favorite reggae/rock album of the year so far. This album prompts you to realize how good the reggae/rock scene has been of late. With groups like the Holdup and The Movement, the future is looking pretty good for the budding scene (you know what scene I'm talking about). Just listen to Chronic Song and BOOM your a fan of The Holdup, yes its that easy. Grab the digtal album off of CDbaby right now for 10 bucks.
For fans of Slightly Stoopid, The Movement, Dirty Heads.
- Chad Hillard - HillyDilly.com (Music News)
7 reasons why the Bay Area local music scene rules.
The Holdup, local San Jose band!
Fun Band Facts: Slightly Stoopid are currently looking for a new unsigned band to take on tour as support this summer and are asking their fans to decide: as of last week The Holdup were in first place with over 70,000 votes!
Recommended for fans of: Sublime, Rome, Dirty Heads, Rebelution, Pepper
-Aaron Axselson
Live 105 Music Director - LIVE 105.3 FM (www.live105.com)
Live 105 listeners are regularly treated to copious amounts of excellent new selections from the Bay Area music scene each Sunday evening on Radio Soundcheck, however, as of late, the resurgence of local music emerging out of the South Bay is quite impressive and deserves some serious accolades!
The San Jose music scene also harbors a promising and compelling roster that includes the reggae-dub collective THE HOLDUP!
-Aaron Axselson
Live 105 Music Director - LIVE 105.3 FM (www.live105.com)
The Holdup first garnered attention in the summer of 2008 with the release of their first EP. The band was signed by independent label Dub Rock Records shortly thereafter. They opened for Afroman at the Shattuck Down Low on 4/20 and are playing a show on 4/30 with Eek A Mouse at the Rockit Room in San Francisco.
Elizabeth, Live 105 intern - LIVE 105.3 FM (www.live105.com)
The Holdup was awarded as one of the top 5 Local Bands in the Bay Area by Live 105's Aaron Axselson.
Live 105 - LIVE 105.3 FM (www.live105.com)
Discography
The Holdup - Stay Gold
Photos
Bio
The Holdup formed in early 2008 when drummer Danny Flores and lead vocalist Mike Garmany recruited local bassist Kyle Christensen. They began writing songs and performing small local venues around town. It wasn't long before a fanbase gathered and the request for an album began to spread. Not having any recorded material the band decided it was time to hit the studio to record their first EP. Later that Year, the band recruited Clev Stiles as DJ/Band Manager, the chemistry and fit were undeniable and The Holdup was finally complete.
The Holdup released their first EP in the summer of 2008, and instantly sold a thousand copies. The EP was a huge hit and got the attention of the local independent record label, Dub Rock Records. A few weeks later, The Holdup signed exclusively with Dub Rock and began recording their first full length album “Stay Gold”. In March 2009 the long awaited album “Stay Gold” was finally released on Dub Rock, and debuted at an impressive number #34 on the Top 100 Reggae Albums on iTunes. The Album’s success on iTunes helped launch “Stay Gold” on to the iTunes “What’s Hot” List for 6 weeks and even made the top Reggae Albums on CD Baby.com. Since its release “Good Times” the Single off the “Stay Gold” album has seen been on rotation on multiple college radio stations such as KSCU 103.3FM and even landed on the Bay Area's biggest Alternative mainstream Rock Station Live 105.3FM
The Holdup creates a new style by blending multi genre influenced production into each song. From Hip Hop, Reggae, Dub, Soul, Pop and Rock, you find each song different from the next with its own unique sound. With hit songs like, “Hunnies”, “Sometimes”and the ever growing popular hit, “Good Times", The Holdup’s music is destined to be heard over airwaves and venues across the world. Combine a distinctive combination of music with ear catching melodic lyrics, and you get The Holdup: An energetic, hardworking group that defines a new unique style of Music.
Past Performances with: Sublime w/ Rome, Hole, Silversun Pickups, Against Me, Dan Black, The Temper Trap, Rebelution, Dirty Heads, The Aggrolites, Steel Pulse, Yellowman, Inner Circle, Soja, Beenie Man, Eek-A- Mouse, Junior Reid, Tribal Seeds, Collie Buddz, Passafire, Tomorrows Bad Seeds, Badfish, Lee “Scratch” Perry, The Pack, The Movement, Afroman, The Expendables, Iration, and more.
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