Holy Rolling Empire lacks piety, packs rock and roll

Tuscon, Arizona rock band Holy Rolling Empire in performance at the Railyard Nov. 11, 2009.
Ian Carstensen, guitarist and vocalist for Holy Rolling Empire
Ian Carstensen, guitarist and vocalist for Holy Rolling Empire

In a second appearance in Billings, Holy Rolling Empire brought its rock permutations to the doorsteps of the Railyard. In similar fashion to the religious fanatics the band is named for, the Tuscon, Ariz. rockers frothed and groveled their message in song.

A spry and lively lead singer, Orin Shochat wailed conversational and clever lyrics through the band’s pop-meets-psychedelic rock.

Holy Rolling Empire has been gathering a following in the Southwest and released Gigantis in May, the band’s first full-length. The album iscomprised of such witty songs as “Bipolar Bear Mania,” “If You Can’t Beat it…”, and “This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things,” all centered on their catchy indie pop rock fusion with classic rock of the 60s and 70s.

Flowers From Her in performance at the Railyard Nov. 11, 2009.
Flowers From Her in performance at the Railyard Nov. 11, 2009.

Local indie rock band Flowers From Her opened the show, sporting a newly recorded EP.

Created at studio 712 in Billings, the release features four of the band’s newest songs. They’re working on a slew of new songs and plan a full-length recording in the spring.

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