Brian is a freelance music journalist and an interviewer of legendary and up-and-coming musicians, primarily guitarists. With the intention to enlighten others to guitar playing brilliance, his published articles and CD/DVD reviews are in numerous print and online magazines. Recently completing his first novel, Brian also writes short stories of profound fiction and plays the guitar. He resides in Massachusetts with his wife Nancy and their two children. This site is devoted to the artists he has had the pleasure to write about, as well as many others.

"Quality music isn't always heard on the radio in 'popular' formats. It's often hidden, sometimes in the shadows or underground, like treasure. Once it's discovered and recognized it becomes an invaluable fortune that lives on forever in our hearts and minds. Discovering it is an obsession of mine. I'm then The Messenger." - Brian D. Holland

 

 

 

 

Featured Music

Featured Music of the Month - July 2009:

"Rufus Huff"

by Rufus Huff

The link to Brian's Modern Guitars Magazine review of Rufus Huff will be listed below in CD/DVD Reviews soon.

Featured Music of the Month History

Listen to more music relative to

Brian's recent reviews and articles.
Click play below:

 

 

 

Relevant Videos

 

New! Added July 1, 2009:

Rufus Huff, featuring guitarist Greg Martin of the Kentucky Headhunters, recently released their debut CD of the same name. Here they are below in a music video of "13 Daze", the first song on the CD.

 

 

 

 

 

Added June 9, 2009:

Chickenfoot released their self-titled debut on June 5th 2009. "Sexy Little Thing", the third track  on the CD, is what you hear in the video below. Brian's review is below in Links.

 

 

 

 

 

Added May 23, 2009

Below are Irish rockers The Answer opening for AC/DC in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Brian's interview/article with guitarist Paul Mahon was recently published in Modern Guitars Magazine, linked to below in Links and Select Articles.

 

 

Links and Select Articles

(Below are links to articles, reviews, and interviews written by Brian D Holland)

Recent Published Interviews (click underlined link):

Paul Mahon (The Answer): Modern Guitars Magazine - May 20th, 2009

JJ Grey: Modern Guitars Magazine - April 6, 2009

Steve Lukather: "Steve Lukather's 7 Ways to Tonal Bliss" - EQ magazine - Feb. 2009

Steve Cropper: Modern Guitars Magazine - Jan 13, 2009

CD/DVD Reviews and Music Related Articles:

New! "10,000 Feet" by David Grissom - June 22, 2009

"Chickenfoot" by Chickenfoot - June 9, 2009

"Living In The Light" by Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters - May 29, 2009

"Returns"  by Return To Forever - May 18, 2009

"Chicago Blues - A Living History" - May 2009

Select Published Interviews/Articles:

 Sonny Landreth Interview

 Warren Haynes Interview 

Steve Cropper Interview

 Ronnie Earl Interview

 Guitar Shorty Interview

 John Mayall Interview

 Robben Ford Interview

 Gary Moore Interview

 Duke Robillard Interview

 Joe Bonamassa Interview

 Joe Satriani Interview

 Andy Powell Interview

 Coco Montoya Interview

 Zakk Wylde Interview

 

Recent News

Chickenfoot is everywhere!

The Foot is:

Sammy Hagar: vocals

Joe Satriani: guitar

Michael Anthony: bass, background vocals

Chad Smith: drums

______________________________

Brian's article/interview with guitarist Paul Mahon of The Answer was published May 20th, 2009, in Modern Guitars Magazine. (Click photo for article)

 

Paul Mahon

 

 

 

Paul (holding bottle) and the band posing with friend and admirer Jimmy Page.

 

Publications & Related Info

(Below are links to some of the most informative guitar and music related magazines and e-zines around today.)

Modern Guitars Magazine - An all encompassing internet guitar site with a reputation of quality and professionalism.

Home and studio audio recording

Boston Blues Society

  Chicago blues - Blues Blast!

Blues Review - The world's largest print magazine devoted to the blues

Everything gear and performer related

Everything current in guitar rock

Rock around the UK

Old guitars keep getting better

Guitar World

John Nunziato - Photographer

Select Artist Sites

(Though Brian has interviewed and reviewed many of the performers below, other favorites worth sharing are listed too.)

Of Special Interest

Al Di Meola - The most prominent contemporary jazz guitarist in the world.

 

Charlie Christian - "Solo Flight" - Jazz guitar pioneer

 

Django Reinhardt - Considered by many to be the greatest guitar player in history.

 

It Might Get Loud - A documentary on the electric guitar from the point of view of three rock legends. 

 

Jason Becker - A true guitar hero

 

Jimi Hendrix - Experience Hendrix - The Official Jimi Hendrix Online Magazine

 

Michael Bloomfield - An American Guitarist - Discography and related info of one of America's greatest blues guitarists.

 

Bloomfield's Doomed Field by Al Kooper (Gadfly Online)

 

Peter Green - The British blues great who fronted the original Fleetwood Mac.

 

Stevie Ray Vaughan:

 

Syd Barrett - Dedicated to the founding member of Pink Floyd.

 

Wes Montgomery: A true innovator and jazz great: Bio Discography

 

(Most of the players below are acclaimed enough by name alone. However, further description has been added for those unaware.)

 

Over the past few years, Brian has interviewed:

 

Al Schnier - moe

Albert Cummings - bluesrock artist

Alexi Laiho - metal, Children of Bodom

Andy Powell - Wishbone Ash

Arlen Roth - the 'master of the Telecaster'

Buz McGrath - metal, Unearth

Chris Duarte - bluesrock artist

Chris Goss - Masters of Reality, producer

Chris Poland - Megadeth, Ohm

Chuck Garvey - moe

Coco Montoya - bluesrock artist, the Bluesbreakers

Cristiano Migliore - metal, Lacuna Coil

Duke Robillard - living blues encyclopedia, Roomful ...

Dweezil Zappa - solo prog - Zappa Plays Zappa

Earl Klugh - contemporary acoustic jazz

Eric Johnson - solo progressive rock

Gary Hoey - solo prog rock

Gary Moore - hard rock, blues

Guitar Shorty - blues artist

Jack Grassel - jazz

new! Jimmy Herring - Widespread Panic, Jimmy     

        Herring Band, Allman Brothers Band

JJ Grey - JJ Grey & MOFRO

Joe Bonamassa - solo hard rock & blues

Joe Trohman - Fall Out Boy

Joe Satriani - solo prog rock

John Ashton - The Psychedelic Furs

John Connolly - Sevendust

 

John Mayall - and the Bluesbreakers

John Petrucci - Dream Theater

Kerry Livgren - Kansas

Laurie Morvan - blues artist

Marcus Henderson - Drist, Guitar Hero series

Mark Farner - solo artist, Grand Funk Railroad

Monster Mike Welch - blues artist

Nick Moss - blues artist

new! Paul Mahon (The Answer)

Popa Chubby - bluesrock artist

Ronnie Earl - blues artist

Robben Ford - contemporary soloist

Ross The Boss - the Dictators

Robin Trower - solo rock artist, Procol Harum

Rob Arnold - metal, Chimaira

Sonny Landreth - Cajun spiced bluesrockin' slide

Sonny Mayo - Snot, Sevendust

Steve Cropper - Booker T & the MGs, everything Stax

Steve Lukather - solo prog rock, Toto

Taz Taylor - solo prog rock

Tom Principato - contemporary and blues

Ty Tabor - King's X

Vivian Campbell - Def Leppard

Walter Trout - bluesrock artist, the Bluesbreakers

Warren Haynes - Allman Brothers, Gov't Mule

Zakk Wylde - Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society

 

 and more. The list grows continually.