It’s amazing what a little clarity and a lot of hard work get you in the music industry. That so-called “clarity” has landed Midwestern pop-punk band on the national radar (they’re heading out on a tour soon with Forever Came Calling and In Her Own Words), and that hard work landed them a recording deal with Hopeless Records late last year. On their recent EP, I’ll Never Go Back, the band combines catchy pop hooks with all the energy you’d expect out of the best bands of the genre, too.
What sets Hold Close apart from their peers, though, is introspection. Ultimately, the best pop-punk bands are the ones that communicate inward feelings, outwardly. It’s one thing to write songs about how you hate your job and/or hate your significant other, but it’s another idea entirely to tell stories with metaphors that aren’t totally hackeneyed. Hold Close arguably pull this off to great effect on standout track “Blue Dream”.
Perhaps streaming the entire EP on our curated Spotify playlist, NRG, would be the best course of action. If you like what you hear, catch Hold Close on tour at a venue near you. Dates below – you won’t want to miss out.
