The Hollies - Concert Review

Crawley The Hawth, 12^th February 2004 - by Rob Bird

It was with some anticipation that I made my way to Crawley to see The Hollies. I was thoroughly looking forward to it...the only thing that concerned me was that I was bringing along 6 other friends who had yet to witness The Hollies live in concert - one of them being my housemate who I thought well and truly sick and tired of hearing Hollies and Move songs for the
last 16 months!

Arriving at The Hawth, there was a quick stampede to the bar which was shortly followed by the announcement that the night's performance would start in 5 minutes - a moment I always enjoy as it is then just a moment of time before the night is off and running.

Locating our seating, there was a buzz in the theatre as the lights dimmed.... we were soon on our way as they launched into I'm Alive. A quick check of my chums revealed feet tapping and heads nodding - a perfect start!

Carl almost immediately started working the crowd as I have seen him do many a time before - a hello and a nod here, a wave to the balcony there - a quick point to let some of the audience know he thought they weren't joining in on the singing front, all well received.

The set list was the same (understandably) as Hayes on the opening night.

The old 60's sounds of I'm Alive, Here I Go Again,Jennifer Eccles, (Carl's favourite) Yes I Will and On A Carousel were quickly dispatched with consumate aplomb giving the audience hardly anytime to catch their breath - when my housemate remarked "they're good", I knew this was progress!

The tempo was subdued slightly as they then did Sandy, a personal fave of mine. Carl has a very effective way of singing this, lingering on some of the words for pronounced effect and giving a very emotive vocal.

His reward for his display was a quick break and the chance for bassist Ray Stiles to join Tony Hicks and Alan Coates at front. They then proceeded to do a beautiful rendition of Listen To Me which featured a spine-tingling accapella opening and great harmonies throughout. I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top followed with a faithful piano offering from Ian Parker.

Carl reappeared and the band went back to basics, reeling off I Can't Let Go and We're Through - the latter causing some confusion amongst my friends when they spotted Ian on walkabout with his miners lamp! Carl did his traditional bit of keyboard playing on this one.

There was a new stage set up which featured a projector beaming various images on to a backdrop behind Bobby Elliott which allowed you to see what Carl was playing which added another dimension to the performance.

Tony rightly paid tribute to Carl's own 60's achievements with The Move...which led rather nicely into a brilliant version of Fire Brigade. I wasn't sure how they would follow that, but they, if anything, topped it with a cracking version of Look Through Any Window...this version starts off with a lazy Sultans Of Swing type chord start but halfway through dramatically changes tempo with Tony Hicks delivering a frenetic guitar solo that goes to prove how much of an underated talent he is.

Carl then led us into the last song of the first half - Blowing In The Wind - 'the break is for you' he said, 'we don't need one'. Bob Dylan was credited with yet another birthplace...this time he was Crawley Bob. Carl rounded off the humour by saying 'I can see the question on your lips....just how old are they...?' - very drole!

Carl, not for the first time that evening, delivered a very powerful vocal, complimented by the musicianship of the his bandmates around him...and then it was the break.

Thumbs up from my friends who were looking forward to the second half...

This duly started with Long Cool Woman which had everybody reacting positively and was followed at almost breakneck speed by Sorry Suzanne and the very popular Just One Look.

The band were then introduced to Tony's guitar sitar which heralded a very true performance of The Baby.

Carl then stepped up and introduced Soldier's Song - and he commented on it's relevance with war today. His stunning vocal was complimented by some powerful and thought-provoking images of war being projected onto the backdrop at the back of the set. A neat and vey effective offering.

Another acoustic set followed - Gasoline Alley Bred and the appealing Too Young To Be Married which featured Tony Hicks singing a song he wrote himself whilst delivering the (for me) now well reknowned timeless guitar solo.

Bus Stop followed this one (interesting video footage!) and we then went to another one of Carl's early songs, Blackberry Way. This proved to be a good singalong song with almost everybody now in good voice and willing to join in.

Tony Hicks then reached for the banjo and did his warm up on it for a few minutes before launching into Stop! Stop! Stop! Carl was in good mood as he sang his heart out before he introduced the crowd pleasing Air That I Breathe which was delivered with great harmonies and a wistful guitar solo from Tony Hicks.

The band then powered into I Can Hear The Grass Grow (by which time I had activated my digital camera and was in prime recording mode - attempting to evade the seemingly persistent 80 year old theatre steward who wasn't too impressed). The music was coming thick and fast and before we knew it, Ray had appeared at the front of the stage to take the reins for the rendition of Tiger Feet.

With the audience cheering for more, Carl popped out the harmonica and a hush fell over the audience as he sang the opening lines to He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother. A soulful rendition of this song had the crowd cheering on their feet at the end.

This was followed by It's In Everyone Of Us - Ray, Carl, Tony and Alan layering on harmony after harmony in acapella fashion whilst the audience listened in appreciative silence.

It was a great way to finish the set and the crowd gave a standing ovation and a rousing cheer as the band heralded their imminent departure of the stage.

For me, it was a fantastic night, full of the treats I had eagerly been awaiting.

For my friends, an overwhelming thumbs up - and from one of them, 'where are they playing next?'... if their music can convert someone so easily, what more can I say?

Simply brilliant.

Rob

Setlist

Back to Review Index