The message of the Blake Bollinger Band is simply this: the young people of our generation can have a hope and a future. There is more to this life than the here and now in the pursuit of self. We can truly know our destination and have a purpose for life on earth. This is the Blake Bollinger Band.

Patience is a virtue and Blake Bollinger has practiced the art. As a college student into the college music scene, Blake soon found out that it would be very easy for music to overtake education. There were shows, tour dates and fans. In between, there were classes, term papers and exams. The balance of the two became very difficult to maintain. It was time to take a breath. Blake and his band members stepped back a little from the music, finished college, and then pursued their craft and love. This was part of Blake's intended plan. As a result, I can share with you an awesome CD that is the product of his incredible purpose.

No Holiday is a musical journal for the listener. This contemporary pop-rock project doesn’t hide behind mysterious meanings or private reflections. Blake Bollinger has written songs that tell stories that are timeless and truthful. Some of these same stories may be found in our own private journals.

My Favorites:

No Holiday – I love the opening line: My mind is gone again, don’t know when it’s coming back. The lyrical work on this piece is amazing.

Glitter – The opening rift of this piece is a pure rock sound that tempers down into a rhythmic beat that gave my ear’s eye the picture of small silver lights floating quietly until the music lifted again.

Weight – I play a mean air guitar on this song.

Here I Am – I’m in awe, not just about the writing of this piece, but the performance. When I read the lyrics through I couldn’t imagine how Blake would perform them. I mean, this song has some very introspective lines and I wasn’t sure how they would sound with music. Blake does an incredible job. Nothing is rushed; the lyrics are paced with the music perfectly. I found a message of spirituality – This Life Is Not Your Own.

This CD was an excellent presentation of subtle stories told in song about struggles, life, loss and love. There is no lecture, simply a man – Blake Bollinger – sharing his love of music, his love of writing, his talent for singing, and his own lessons learned.

My husband and I host several dinners during the holidays and I always work hard to put together a great mix of music that is fun, upbeat and thought provoking to go along with our traditional holiday music mix. Although titled No Holiday, this piece is perfect for the season!

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No Holiday
Blake Bollinger
*All songs written and performed by Blake Bollinger
Additional Musicians:
Chris Rocha – bass & electric guitars
Jordan Critz – guitars and piano
Tim Jones – drums
Jozef Bobula – bass
Jody Smith -- cello

1. Falling Faster
2. Time
3. No Holiday
4. Glitter
5. Tell the World
6. Free
7. Weight
8. Say The Lines
9. To Say I Was Wrong
10. Close Enough
11. Here I am
12. Take It All
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Check out Blake’s MySpace page to buy the CD and get the scoop on tour information. It’s posted in the related links at the bottom of the article.

Have a great week!
Chel