In The News
Journey down the road with New Holland Rd - Aiken Standard, July 7, 2016
Before he was a musician, Colton Mason was a kid living in New Holland off New Holland Road.
Since 2007, he’s played guitar and sang in the Aiken band, New Holland Rd, or NHR.
Also in the lineup are bassist and vocalist Casey Mason, drummer Ben Collins and bassist and backing vocalist Matt Lewis.
“New Holland (Rd) has developed a very unique and polished sound that is pleasing to a widely diverse audience,” says its website. “Their sound has been described as a cross between southern rock, blues, country, and reggae. They have two important band rules – have fun (and) love what they play and play what they love.”
Colton met Collins through a slightly unusual circumstance.
“His cousin is my godbrother,” Colton explained.
They’ve known each other for about 24 years.
“We were at baseball practice; we use to play baseball together. I played drums, and he played guitar. He didn’t know about it until my cousin told him. We just got together and started playing,” Collins said.
The band officially started in 2007.
Casey and Colton are married and have been together for almost 10 years.
“More recently, I’ve been watching them play rather than actually playing with them,” Casey said, who is currently pregnant.
Lewis is the newest member.
“We’ve had ups and downs throughout the years and have had multiple members come and go. But through and through the meat remains ... Colton, Ben and Casey,” as posted in February on the band’s website. “With the help of Matt, NHR has the ability to go faster and further than ever before.”
New Holland Rd has played at several venues, such as Hotel Aiken, and events, including this year’s Wagons to Wagener Festival, throughout South Carolina and Georgia.
“I would love to tour,” Colton said.
Coming to the group with their own musical interests, the musicians cover songs from artists including ZZ Top, Bon Jovi, Alice in Chains, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Guns N’ Roses.
“We steadily add new stuff,” Colton said.
Also in their collection are a set of original songs.
“I come up with the base idea, and, as a band, we form it together,” Colton said. “If we don’t have lyrics, me and Ben will keep playing the riff and building on it until we get a basic outline of a song, and we kind of go from there.”
