Reviews from 2007 to 2009

"McGee approaches the country and punk genres with class and care, penning tunes that satisfy both genres, but that don't sell out to either one "
- Asheville Citizen Times

 

"If you took the gritty charm of old-school country and injected it with the drive of punk rock, you might well end up with something very close to the music of Brian McGee and The Hollow Speed."
- Mountain Xpress
 

"McGee’s reedy tenor stretches out over the proceedings...comparisons to the acoustic efforts of Uncle Tupelo could easily be made on songs like “That’s When The Night Comes On,” while the dark honky tonk shuffle of “Hell Is Open All Night” sounds like it could be a lost Hank Williams cla"
- Dave Brewer, High Country Press
 

"He held it all together under a rough, raw-souled vocal, howling, growling and wailing style that suited roadhouse blues as well as brokenhearted country. They made the audience wonder who was having more fun, the crowd or the band rocking in the groove of guitar and bass and hypnotizing fiddle. "
- The Wire
 

"On this superb debut, Brian McGee seamlessly blends the attitude and angst he honed as front man of the punk rock trio Plow United with the timeless authenticity of old country and blues. The self-titled disc consists entirely or originals written by McGee, and while many pay unspoken homage to masters like Johnny Cash ("The Turnaround") and Elvis ("Built For You"), the stories and whiskey-soaked voice howling them are uniquely his own. "
- Mountain Xpress
 

"He keeps a consistently down-home sensibility that makes it hard not to start seeing the world from his country-fried angle...this album is for hootin' and hollering, drowning your sorrows in booze or two-stepping with your little lady-all with a little bit of punk attitude thrown in. "
- BOLD LIFE
 

"Brian McGee and the Hollow Speed’s self titled debut album combines Americana, a little anger, and a couple saloon doors to hell. The aggressive delivery of the music with the sweet old fashioned title, make you want to invite the whole band over for lemonade spiked with vodka."
- Southcoast 24/7
 

"This CD has that, greaser, punk rock, beer drinker holding up his bottle from the back of the room feel. “Hawk On The Highway” is a song that is covered in dirt and has the feeling of a shot of whiskey. If you like the country meets rockabilly sound, try this."
- FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION (F.O.E.)