Name: Pat Pollifrone
Birthplace: Salem, VA
Current Residence: Nashville, TN
Music Style: Country with southern rock roots
Website/Social Media Links: @miller.holler on IG, @Miller Holler on Facebook @MillerHoller on YouTube

Tell us about your newest project. What was the inspiration behind it and where can we check it out? 

Our newest project is currently out, on YouTube, and all streaming services. “Don’t Sell the Farm” is a song we are proud of because of its advocacy for the American agricultural community. In shorthand “farmers”. We have toured all over the midwest for the last 15 years and it has opened our eyes to the agricultural lifestyle. Farmers do one of the most important jobs on the planet, which is to provide the food that nourishes our body, and so often they are demonized, penalized, and priced out of their way of life. The music video for “Don’t Sell the Farm” has reached over 176k views on YouTube and we are spreading this message a little further everyday. God Bless the American Farmer.

How would you describe your music?

The sound for Miller Holler has always started with southern rock influences like Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Van Zant but also has a modern feel. The sound is constantly changing. If someone has an idea we play it out and if we like it, we release it. It’s the most satisfying feeling to perform something you created with your friends and having other people, who might be hearing it for the first time, rocking out and singing the words by the last chorus. 

How did you get started?

My dad is a musician. Back home in VA he would play all over town and sometimes out of state when I was growing up, and when he would come home at 3 am after a gig, guitar in hand, he might as well have been Slash. It was the coolest thing for me, so when I turned 7 I got a guitar. When I turned 12 and started trying to impress girls, I asked my old man to teach me how to play it. I had a band at 13 while performing every Sunday at church, and at 15 I played my first paid road gig with my dad. A Christmas party for the owner of a Cadillac Dealership in West Virginia. These are the bullet points for the moment I knew I wanted to pursue music as a career. I got to play on stage and travel with my dad. Scored a whiskey sour from the bartender at this extremely fancy party, because I’m “in the band”. Danced with a girl who was older than me and way outta my league. Got paid $50 bucks and a Rally’s Big Buford, and it was at this moment in time that I realized I would be a fool to attempt any other life path. 

Who are your biggest musical influences?

My dad turned me onto all kinds of what is now classified as “Dad Rock”. Skynyrd, .38 Special, Stevie Ray Vaughn, ZZTop, and the list goes on, but that’s what was playing through the speakers of his ‘78 Buick (pulled up in that lead sled to the first day of school in 1996 blaring “Slow Ride”). Then later on I discovered metal and one of the biggest influences in my teen years was Metallica. But as far as music that I like it is fairly eclectic. We will be riding down the road listening to Metal and then someone says “Play War Pigs by T-Pain!” And now we’re down an early 2000’s autotune rap rabbit hole, complimenting the vocal ability and instrumentation of songs we heard as kids. If it’s good it’s good no matter the genre (look up “Indian Throat Singing”… you’re welcome) But classic rock, southern rock, heavy rock, and country were always staples when I was learning songs and writing. 

If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be? 

The music industry is such a broad scale term these days. Record labels still exist and play a major role as far as radio goes, but there are so many artists blowing up independently that it eliminates the need for radio and a ton of money on the front end. I think the industry itself is changing so frequently that if I tried to change anything it would be something else by the time I got done. We just try to make good music, play as much as we can and make people smile. 

What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?

What sets Miller Holler apart is our diversity in taste. We love and study so many types of music that you never know what will spark the next song idea, and we really don’t inhibit our creativity with genre guidelines. If it needs a crunchy heavy guitar and drums we put it on the track. If the song needs a laid back country feel we do that. We just try to keep it simple and let the good songs win. 

What is it about music that makes you feel passionate?

Music, especially in a live setting, is a transfer of energy. When the music sounds good we are having a good time on stage. And when it sounds good and we are having a good time, the listeners are having a good time. Life is short and I’ve pissed off a lot of people, but the amount I have made smile, laugh, or scream the words to their favorite song has to be more. If not I’m going to do my best to keep making folks leave in a little bit better mood than when they got there. 

What’s next for you?

I’ve been thinking about starting a solo project and releasing some amazing songs that are geared more toward radio country. I have always been a writer and I have a few friends on music row that have been urging me to start a solo project cutting some amazing songs and writing with some even more awesome writers. I will continue to tour with Miller Holler and write songs but I have a new passion and excitement for being on music row .

What are your career goals in the next five years?

In the next five years we plan on doing multiple farm tours and performing for our blue collar communities across the country. I hope I can continue to do what I love while putting food on the table for my family. I plan to bring my wife and 1.5 month old son on the road so I don’t miss him growing up. If I’m lucky we might be able to buy a nicer van and a PRS guitar, but if not, as Joe Walsh says, “life’s been good to me so far”.