Five Firsts: Rob Morrison of the Hollows

NAME: Rob Morrison
BAND AFFILIATION: The Hollows
INSTRUMENT: Mandolin, acoustic and electric guitars, slide guitar

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … I don’t have any recollection of what the very first album I ever bought was, but I do remember that the very first CDs I ever owned (though I didn’t buy them myself) were a James Taylor live album and R.E.M.’s Monster. I got really embarrassed when I saw the phrase “secret to f*cking” in the liner notes of Monster, and consequently felt too self-conscious to play the album at home where my parents might decide to look at the jewel cases. But I absolutely dug the dirty, churning guitars of that album. I had no idea that it was an atypical sound for R.E.M. I only bought the album because my initials are R.E.M., and kids were always pointing out this mystical connection.

2. THE FIRST CONCERT THAT I EVER SAW WAS … Billy Joel! If I remember correctly, he went up on the lyrics of “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant” despite having a TV monitor of lyrics in front of him ON the piano. (“Bottle of white/bottle of…..white”)

3. THE FIRST MUSICAL INSTRUMENT I EVER OWNED OR PLAYED WAS … Other than toys, the first real instrument I played was alto saxophone. I picked it up in elementary school and played through high school. I’ve played sax a few times since with the Hollows, but it’s been phased out. Originally, I was wooed to the instrument by a particularly cool California Raisin character. I’m really susceptible to claymation.

4. THE FIRST SONG THAT I EVER PERFORMED IN PUBLIC WAS … The first song I ever performed in public was titled “Goo Goo Gah Gah (Suite in E Minor)”… which is my sarcastic way of saying I don’t remember. I do remember having a musical number as one of the turkeys in my kindergarten Thanksgiving pageant…

5. THE FIRST BAND I WAS EVER IN WAS … The Communist All-Stars! Our “album” (the one that existed in my mind) was titled Hiroshima Twinkie.

Rob Morrison straps on his guitar to join the Hollows in concert at Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs on Thursday (February 13). Local 518 faves Bear Grass open the show at 9pm. Admission is FREE.

ALSO READ:
Five Firsts: David Paarlberg of the Hollows