This year marks the 20 year anniversary for the legendary show The Sopranos. There will be a prequel movie released for the celebration.
Sleepy Hollow Band was formed at the same circa. Joe Dell had met Dan Castiel. Joe had just left Spectrum Green and Dan Thrill Seeker. They saw similarities in their music tastes though their prior bands held different musical directions and ideas.
Enter Frank Melick into the mix, a diverse drummer who had just left the face painted U.S. Bandit.
The final element would be Matt Schwarz. The Brian Jones of the band.
In late 1999 the foursome would release their 8 song demo (4 songs of which ended up on the ground breaking 2000 Soundwell E.P. and the other 4 on Legend in 2010) and then embark on a series of live shows including headlining a Woodstock festival and NYC legendary Limelight.
This unique combo produced a very unique music style along with a very entertaining live show.
While other bands were following the Hard Cor Punk and Alternative fads of the time, as stated from Megaforce recording artist Ronnie Ace, Sleepy Hollow Band came out of nowhere with hints of their influences but sounding like none.
Their extremely diverse stylings prevented landing a label; labels at the time wanted to pigeon hole bands with 1 sound and Sleepy Hollow had no interest in being caught in a hamster wheel. They wanted the artistic freedom of being able to create any and every song they wished.
Unfortunately, friction at the time caused the break-up of the original Sleepy Hollow band in 2001.
The Sleepy Hollow Band's sound and influence can be heard in many bands some contemporaries and some who would come later.
Songs like From Above opened the doors for many Space Rock bands while the Sleepy Hollow track changed the prog and art rock for the new Millennium.
Goin' Over, while Joe Dell admits was influenced by Iced Earth Horror Show when it came to sound and production of the album can easily seen as an influence on Iced Earth and Opeth in way of Hammond Organ showed up on both band's albums that would be released after Goin' Over.
The Lazarus Project was hailed for teaching kids about Heavy Metal by producing 4 decades of styling on 1 album.
Sleepy Hollow Band Legend would be the bands finest hour, or shall we say 2 1/2 hours. Financed completely by the band, it would be engineered by Bob Both (James Brown & Mutha Records) along with Ken Kelly (Rainbow Kiss Manowar) artwork on the cover.
Legend broke so many barriers with its diverse sounds and styles, complex arrangements and artistic production.
Legend's influence can be heard on Opeth's track Slither which beginning riff and guitar sound come straight out of Mole's guitar lead in Aristotle's Lantern. Tori Amos took a page from the Sleepy Hollow Band book with her next release titled Night of Hunters.
Sleepy Hollow Band can be heard in many more bands when one does the homework.
As far as a new release and tour. The band no longer have the funds to produce self releases and promotions. But, Dan and Joe have been talking and there is a buzz. If the right opportunity arises, the original line-up would be inclined to re-unite. Fans would love to see what this eclectic group of musicians would produce now, 20 years later. One can be assured, it would NOT sound like anything else out there...as usual....
...but for now...we can be thankful for their contribution to the world of rock music and opening the doors in the tri-state area along with the rest of the world for other bands who do not want to be trapped in a prison cell of redundant sound and style, allowing them to express themselves from the soul rather than pop culture.