Hootie & The Blowfish's Mark Bryan On "Popped," Van Halen & More - "Paltrocast" Exclusive

Photo byHootie & The Blowfish cofounder Mark Bryan

As co-founded by Mark Bryan in 1986, Hootie & The Blowfish is one of the most beloved bands of all time, with sales of over 26 million in the U.S. alone. That statistic includessuch record-setting releases as 1994’s 2x RIAA Diamond-certified blockbuster, Cracked Rear View, and classic top 10 hit singles like “Hold My Hand,” “Let Her Cry,” and #1 pop smash “Only Wanna Be With You,” all co-written by Bryan. In 2019, the band reconvened after a decade-plus hiatus, uniting for a sixth studio album and a series of sold-out tours which have seen them performing to a legion of devoted fans that now encompasses multiple generations. Currently, Hootie & The Blowfish is out on the road playing arenas and stadiums alongside Collective Soul and Edwin McCain on the 45+ city Summer Camp With Trucks Tour, as co-promoted by Live Nation.

Last month, Mark Bryan released a new solo single, "Ain’t Nothin’ Better." Set to be part of a full-length album of original songs due out this fall, Popped, Vere Music is the record label behind "Ain't Nothin' Better." The upbeat new song tags on the heels of the well-received second single, an infectious a capella nugget, "To You, My Friend." Both songs follow the lead single, a Beach Boys-inspired tune called "Coastin’." Solo career and Hootie aside, Bryan remains active with Carolina Studios, a nonprofit helping educate the next generation of recording engineers, and the College Of Charleston, having served as a professor and artist-in-residence.

In July 2024, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mark Bryan via Zoom, as embedded above and set to air via the Long Beach, New York-based Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz television series. Beyond Popped and the Hootie tour, we talked about Van Halen and how Hootie is connected to They Might Be Giants.