The Rafe Hollister Band was born in 2005 in the mountains of Maggie Valley, N.C. After a year of looking for additional musicians, rehearsing and recording; the final line-up came together. The members are: Mark Moser- Mandolin, Michael Dux- Drums, Jeff Mendenhall- Fiddle, Brooks Butler- Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals, Joseph Massie- Bass/Backing Vocals and Sam Brinkley- Lead Vocals/Guitar. Most of the band members spent their early years in rock bands which now gives Rafe their own unique style that they call "mountain rock." The music has also been described as new grass because of the way they use traditional bluegrass instruments to create their southern rock sound.The new album entitled "Stimulus Package" is an eclectic mix of original songs ranging from bluegrass, rock, folk, blues and country influences. In the lyrics you'll hear tales of heartbreak, moonshine, scarecrows, lard, Nascar, gospels, albiners, poking things with a stick, cows, parole, missing teeth, illiteracy, staring at stuff, possums, hoedowns, tractors, pig fights, hollerin', ignernts, chicken spit, farming, mud, trucks, city folk, family trees that don't branch, trailers, dogs, rocks, bigfoot, fatback, food stamps, uncle daddy, Skoal rings, front butts, dirt naps, bootleggers, Ford vs. Chevy, overalls, mullets, fancy book learnin', hair loss, The Confederacy, gibberish, manual labor, inbreds, squirrels, forest brides, pocket knives, feuds and various other subjects that make up life in rural Appalachia. Rafe Hollister has a reputation for high energy performances and mighty fine original music.