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There's something about Tony Holiday that draws people together. In fact, community has been at the core of Holiday's young career from the beginning. Since relocating from Salt Lake City to Memphis in 2017, Holiday has been at the center of a soul blues revival in Memphis, anchored by a contingent of young, savvy well-schooled musicians with a Inchfamily-likeInch attitude and a strong belief in one another. Mentored by past legends, Holiday and this loose Memphis collective are building on the city's rich traditions and carrying them forward. Motel Mississippi, Holiday's 2nd solo album, was recorded about an hour outside Memphis in Coldwater, Mississippi, at Zebra Ranch, the studio of the late great Memphis legend Jim Dickinson (The Rolling Stones, Big Star). Combining the sounds of North Mississippi Hill Country, Delta Blues, and Memphis soul, Motel Mississippi is equal parts hypnotic blues, driving soul, and juke joint stomper. The album consists of six originals and two covers, InchRob & StealInch by Paul Wine Jones and InchNobody But YouInch by Asie Payton. Like with previous projects, Motel Mississippi began as a collaborative effort, this time between Holiday, guitarist/songwriter A.J. Fullerton and guitarist/producer Dave Gross who shared production duties with Fullerton. Rich sonic layers provide a forward-thinking quality to these productions, conjuring up a vibe that's modern and retro at the same time. The drone and drive of songs like InchRob & StealInch and InchGet ByInch contrast with juke joint grooves like InchJust As GoneInch while diving into new territory with the Cajun-infused double harmonica instrumental InchYazoo River.Inch The album was recorded by another mainstay of recent Memphis recording, Kevin Houston (Southern Avenue, North Mississippi Allstars, G. Love). Other musicians on the album include Lee Williams Jr. On drums, Terrance Grayson
