Troublesome Hollow Releases Fifth Album, 'Old School'

Watch "Worrisome, Oh Worried Me" HERE

Troublesome Hollow is back with their fifth album, following an 18-year hiatus from recording and 17 years apart.
 
The East Tennessee bluegrass/Americana trio’s “Old School” (Fat Dog Records) is comprised of 17-tracks— seven original songs and ten covers and traditional tunes, some sad; others humorous. “Penny Song” is an original tune about growing up poor, while “Worrisome, Oh Worried Me” explores financial problems with a wink and nod.
 
“We jokingly dedicate that one to musicians, because it’s about having trouble paying your bills,” said singer/songwriter Tim White, who plays guitar and banjo on the album. “It’s about struggling to make ends meet, which a lot of people can relate to.”

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White’s bandmates are brothers Donnie Ollis (guitar, vocals) and Garry “Bear” Ollis (upright bass, vocals), who founded Troublesome Hollow in 1976, with White joining in 1978. The band broke out up 1997 when Donnie moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to take a job and Gary decided to take a break from performing. At that time, White formed a different band, The VW Boys. He also began hosting the nationally syndicated radio program “The Tim White Bluegrass Show” and the nationally syndicated public television concert series “Song of the Mountains,” both of which he continues hosting. Troublesome Hollow reunited in 2014 and resumed touring.
 
“Old School” is mostly, but not exclusively bluegrass. Some songs have an Americana feel. In addition to poverty, subjects covered on the album include faith, death, love, patriotism and even possums. “Forever More,” written by Gary “Bear” Ollis, is a broken-love song, with guest artist Steve Thomas sitting in on fiddle and mandolin, as he does on several of the newer songs on the album. The band takes a traditional bluegrass approach to the classic gospel song “Working on a Building.”
 
Perhaps the two most unusual songs on the album were first recorded by Troublesome Hollow in the early 1990s but were previously available only on cassette. “Five Pounds of Possum” and “Possum on the Run” are a humorous tribute to the country critter known for rummaging through garbage cans and dodging traffic. It is worth noting that veteran fiddle player Tim Laughlin and dobro player Tim Harkleroad are featured on both “possum” songs.
 
The album concludes with a solo-banjo instrumental version of “Star Spangled Banner.”
 
“I thought it would be a neat twist to do it with just a banjo,” White said. “We’re not trying to get political, but we’re all country boys and we swell with pride, when we hear that song.”
 
Troublesome Hollow’s “Old School” is available on iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby and Spotify. For information about the band, visit www.TroublesomeHollow.com.
 
Tracks
 
1.Forever More
2.Speak Softly
3.Sittin’ On Top of the Blues
4.Over Yonder in the Grave
5.Penny Song
6.Portrait of the Blues
7.Jimmy Brown
8.Goin’ Home
9.Columbus Stockade Blues
10.True Love
11.Worrisome, Oh Worried Me
12.Lookin’ Down Below
13.Working on a Building
14.Lonesome Feeling
15.Five Pounds of Possum
16.Possum on the Run
17.Star Spangled Banner