Draft:Arnold Hill (band)

Arnold Hill (2011-Present) is an alternative rock out of the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. Identified by their lyrical storytelling, rich three-part harmonies, and dynamic instrumentation, Arnold Hill brings presence and energy to every stage they play. Arnold Hill utilizes influences across multiple genres to bring listeners an exciting rock & roll experience.

To date, Arnold Hill has released three albums, Back To Life in 2019, followed by How To Run in 2021. In 2023, Arnold Hill released their third album, Controlled Burn, featuring the band's first recorded cover song, a rock and roll rendition of Seminole Wind by country music legend John Anderson.

Arnold Hill consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Mike Yow, bassist and vocalist Sam McCarson, drummer and vocalist Heath Brown, & lead guitarist Adam Blythe.

Career
Arnold Hill was formed in 2010 at Western Carolina University by Yow, McCarson, and Indie singer-songwriter and pianist Briton Malcolm Bennett. The trio began as an acoustic Americana music group, playing in their spare time for friends at the WCU Wesley Foundation.

Several months after initially forming, the trio was introduced to drummer Heath Brown through a mutual friend during a one of the band's regular jam sessions. Brown sat in with the trio and was invited to join the band after playing one song with them.

The now four-piece band named themselves Arnold Hill & the Medicine Man, coined after the road that Yow and McCarson lived on during their time at WCU and Bennett's pursuit of a career in the medical field.

In 2013, Bennett left the band to continue his academic pursuit in medicine. After Bennett's departure, Yow, McCarson, & Brown shortened the name to Arnold Hill and continued playing venues as an Americana group, enlisting lead guitarist Adam Blythe to fill in occasionally. Blythe, alongside Yow and McCarson were also bandmates in a top 40 country band, managed by Brown.

Arnold Hill temporarily disbanded from 2015-2018 as the members were committed to other musical pursuits.

In 2018, Yow, McCarson, and Brown reformed Arnold Hill as a three piece Aggressive Americana band, pulling influences from artists such as Jason Isbell, Ryan Adams, and Levon Helm. Although Blythe would still fill in occasionally at live shows, his relocation to the Raleigh area prevented him from playing with the band full-time.

After reforming, the band began working on original material, setting a goal to produce a full length original album. Working with Andy Bishop at Giraffe Studio in Hendersonville, NC, the band recorded and released Back to Life in 2019.

After Arnold Hill's debut album, the onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020 encouraged the band to began work on more original material, releasing How to Run in 2021. This would mark lead guitarist Adam Blythe's first studio appearance with the trio as a guest musician on several tracks.

In 2022, Blythe moved back to Western North Carolina and immediately joined up with Arnold Hill as full-time lead guitarist. The now four-piece group began working on new material, becoming more of an Alternative Rock band, releasing Controlled Burn in the Fall of 2023.

Arnold Hill continues to play regional shows around Western NC, bringing high energy and rich harmonies to every stage.

Arnold Hill is built on a wide array of individual musical backgrounds, being collectively influenced by the Grunge Music movement of the 1990's and early 2000's.

Members
Mike Yow

Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Mike Yow was born in Stanfield, NC and is known for his Southern Rock style vocals and rock guitar influenced by Classic Country, Blues, and Bluegrass music. Yow's original song Until I See You Again was featured on International Bluegrass Music Association award winning group Balsam Range.

Yow had a musical upbringing from a young age, playing in several family bands, Comtemporary Christian bands, and Bluegrass bands. Yow was also active in middle school and high school band, playing trombone, euphonium, and bassoon.

During his early years at Western Carolina University prior to founding Arnold Hill, Yow played Dobro and fiddle with WCU student Bluegrass Band Cullowhee Creek, and lead guitar with Contemporary Christian Rock group Damascus Highway. Yow also played alongside bassist Sam McCarson and lead guitarist Adam Blythe in Top 40 Country music band, The Buchanan Boys, as steel guitarist and keyboardist.

Yow is a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, resonator guitar, bass guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, piano, steel guitar, and harmonica.

Sam McCarson

Bassist and Vocalist Sam McCarson was born in Yadkinville, NC. McCarson's funk influences have brought him into the likes of Joe Dart of Vulfpeck and P-nut of 311

McCarson originally learned guitar while in high school, but was quickly recruited as bassist for a local youth band. McCarson also played trombone during his high school years. In 2005, McCarson auditioned for and was made bassist on the Soul Train of Western Carolina University's Pride of the Mountains marching band.

McCarson, alongside Yow, played bass guitar for Contemporary Christian group Damascus Highway. McCarson and Arnold Hill's lead guitarist, Adam Blthye, were founding members of Western Carolina University-based Alternative Rock bands Spero and Almost Kinetic.

McCarson also plays guitar, mandolin, and vibraslap.

Heath Brown

Drummer and vocalist Heath Brown was born in Rural Hall, NC and is known for metalcore influenced stylings comparable to Matt Greiner of August Burns Red and former Fit for a King (band) drummer Jared Easterling. Brown is also known for his "high lonesome" tenor harmonies on stage with Arnold Hill.

Brown marched on snare drum and tenor drums in high school. In 2009, Brown auditioned and played for the Soul Train of the Pride of the Mountains marching band as drumset drummer, later becoming section leader in 2010 and 2011.

Upon joining Arnold Hill in 2011, Brown also joined Yow and McCarson as drummer for Contemporary Christian group Damascus Highway. In 2015 Brown, alongside McCarson and Blythe, founded Progressive Americana group PreyBird and experimental rock group Cabin Smoke with singer-songwriter Keith Laguna. PreyBird and Cabin Smoke were active from 2015-2017. Brown served as artist manager for The Buchanan Boys from 2014-2018.

Brown and Yow have also supported Maggie Valley, NC based Appalachian Rock duo, The Maggie Valley Band.

Adam Blythe

Lead guitarist and composer Adam Blythe was born in Burlington, NC. Blythe pulls influences from a wide range of guitarists and genres, such as Mike Campbell (musician), Keith Richards, Mark Tremonti, and progressive metal group Sleep Token. Blythe also produces ambient music, using atmospheric guitar sounds in his production.

Blythe served as lead guitarist in Spero and Almost Kinetic with McCarson, The Buchanan Boys with McCarson and Yow, and PreyBird and Cabin Smoke with McCarson and Brown. From 2018-2022, Blythe served as lead guitarist with Indie Rock group The Brendas.

Blythe is a founding member of The Summit Band, a Contemporary Christian and Rock band out of Sylva, NC. Blythe shares the stage with Yow and Brown as part of The Summit Band.

Other Projects
Yow, McCarson, Brown, and Blythe are founders of Waynesville, NC based 1990's Alternative Rock cover band Smashing Mouths, playing 90's themed parties and events.

The four-piece also provides backing support for 1990's Country Music act The Borderline Band

Mike Yow is an active singer-songwriter solo artist based out of Jackson County, NC.

Yow, Blythe, and Brown currently play with The Summit Band of The Summit Church in Sylva, NC with Yow on bass guitar, Blythe on lead guitar, and Brown on drums. The three share the Summit stage with local Texas Country artist Chris Pressley and Soul Music artist Shelly Vogler of Sylva Soul.