The Hollies - Concert Review

Mission Estate Winery, NZ, 10^th February 2001 - by Warren Houston

Mission Estate Winery Concert, Napier New Zealand, By Warren Houston

Hollies and Lulu double act at Mission Wines Tenth Annual Concert.

A six hour wait in 28 degree C temperatures did not deter 25,000 people enjoying almost three hours of wonderful music from these two top acts on Saturday 10th February at the tenth annual Mission Estate "Picnic Concert". Gates opened at 2 p.m. and the majority of the beautiful natural amphitheatre was full by 3 p.m.

Lulu was onstage at 8.02 and wowed the crowd for 55 minutes, opening and closing her set with Shout. She followed that with Boat that I row and Leave a little love before spending a couple of minutes having a chat about the wonderful time she had had on her two week holiday in New Zealand.

Moving on to Oh me, oh my, followed by a song she had written for Tina Turner, she then spoke of her huge regard for Dusty Springfield and launched into a 5 song Tribute to Dusty, I'm going back, Look of love, Preacher man, Middle of nowhere, and I only want to be with you.

Another chat, I want my independence, a great version of Bowies Man who sold the world. Then she talked about giving us a song that was much closer to home and sang Neil Finn's ( Crowded House ) Don't dream it's over, to a huge applause, stating that she absolutely loves the song and claiming that to her it is about as perfect as a song can get! A new song, Don't let go, followed by the lovely To sir with love, a number 1 hit for her here, and the second rendition of Shout as an encore and a full intro of the band, all very fine musicians, great backing band. She has still got a great stage presence, a wonderful voice, and we would love to see her back, anytime. She did a wonderful job of warming the crowd for The Hollies. The stage crew did a great job totally clearing the stage, and then moving in and setting up the Hollies set.

Forty five minutes later on they came, opening with I'm alive, Here I go again, and Jennifer Eccles. This was Hollies heaven. It took the first two songs to get "the mix" right and after that the harmonies sounded really well balanced.

Just one look, Bus stop, The Baby, and Paul McCartney's Blackbird followed. Lovely three part harmonies with acoustic guitar and strings only backing.

Bobby kicked off We're through with a great drum feel, and with a Carl piano solo in the middle, great!. Yes I will, was very good, but I felt the guys really struggled with Sorry Suzanne. It just didn't seem to fire. Next song, On a carousel, absolutely brilliant!!! True Graham Nash - Hollies sound, and they actually acknowledged Grahams writing ability in the intro to it.

Then it really was the Move on stage with Blackberry way. Fantastic.

I can't let go and Look through any window followed and something happened to the mix again, as the wonderful lead breaks in 'Let Go' just did not happen. That awesome soaring sound just wasn't there, I was so disappointed. I think it was because the guys had no amps on stage and were so had no control over their levels.

Another chat, and then Blowing in the wind was dedicated to the late Ricky May, a very successful, New Zealand born jazz singer, who Carl described as one of the most beautiful people he had been privileged to have as a dear friend.

Just as the guys were about to launch into Carrie Anne there was an interruption to the show by way of an announcement and presentation by the New Zealand manager of EMI to celebrate The Hollies Greatest Hits cd going Platinum and being at No 1 on the countries "album" charts.

The guys were really chuffed.

Tony strapped on his banjo next and said that he hoped we liked banjo because he had brought it all the way for one song. He then played a solo lasting about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes and then dropped into Stop, stop, stop. Carl then thanked the organisers, Mission Vineyards, The people of New Zealand for making him and the band so welcome and then passed some lovely comments about the scenery. Also he thanked New Zealand and Australia for making their closing number a No 1 hit when it wasn't any where else. Then, goodbyes and into The Air that I breathe as the final number.

However the crowd was having none of that and soon had them back on stage playing Too young to be married, Long cool woman in a black dress, and He ain't heavy he's my brother followed by a really sincere thank you and lots of comment about going back to cold old London, wishing they could stay, etc.

Well they are welcome to come back as soon as poss. They closed with a beautiful four part harmonised version of It's in everyone of us, a song I had not heard them do the before.

All in all a fantastic concert, 22 songs, all hits, an evening that everyone was raving about as we made our way out of the venue, and one I certainly will never forget.

Thank you guys for a great nights entertainment, I just wish I could have got backstage to meet them all and have my cd's signed.

Warren Houston

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