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August 30, 2005
Holly Williams @ The Mint: August 28, 2005
Look into the eyes of singer/songwriter Holly Williams and you’ll see a look that tells she is haunted by her family legacy.
Holly’s the latest ‘breakthrough’ artist in one of country’s most celebrated dynasties; one of those dynasties that’s able to refer to its members by their first names only. Holly’s grandfather is none other than Hank, Sr. Her father, Hank, Jr. Her half-brother, Hank III. He has the same haunted expression in his eyes, too.
It can’t be easy to bear that legacy. For every potential listener whose interest is piqued by “Hank, Sr.’s granddaughter / Hank, Jr.’s daughter”, there’s that many more listeners who immediately discredit them as not being able to live up to that potential.
Instead of being a carbon copy of his grandfather, Hank III adds his own attitude to his roots in country music. His notorious punk rock sets draw just as many fans as his ultra-traditional country sets.
Holly Williams takes the opposite approach. Her mellow, pop-influenced ballads seem almost ethereal, rather than hard-core country, and just barely fit the definition of “Americana.” Her inclusion of a John Prine tune in her set and a reference to her grandfather in one of her songs are the only indicators of her country background. She lacks her grandfather’s twang, her father’s rowdiness, and her half-brother’s rambunctiousness.
That doesn’t mean at all that her set wasn’t enjoyable. Her stunning beauty is matched by the power of her voice, her exquisite songwriting, and the passion of her delivery. What I see in Holly Williams is the next generation of country.
Posted by darlin at August 30, 2005 9:12 AM
