The Hollies - Concert Review

Royal Leamington Spa, 27^th January 2001 - by Kerry Bartlett

On arriving at the Royal Spa Theatre in Leamington Spa and seeing many familiar faces (whom I knew had attended the first showing this year at Hayes), it was obvious to me that this was going to be another fantastic performance as usual by The Hollies. As soon as they kicked off with ‘I’m Alive’, the audience already seemed to be in full swing.

Although this has been the first tour of 2000/01 without Allan Clarke, the fans didn’t appear to be disappointed by Carl Wayne’s presence. Admittedly this is the first Hollies tour I have attended and did not have the privilege of seeing the original front man Allan Clarke, but however I personally could not deny that Carl was also a front man in his own right (what with being a singer in ‘The Move’ in the 60’s and his participation in the theatre production ‘Blood Brothers’). Along with the two original Hollies members, Tony Hicks and Bobby Elliott and other Hollies members Alan Coates (Bucks Fizz/Broken English) Ray Stiles (Mud) and the fantastic Ian Parker (Tom Robinson Band/Clannad) on keyboards this was one of the best shows I have seen on this tour. They just seem to get better every time.

Blasting out many of their original hits such as Bus Stop, Jennifer Eccles, Just one Look and The Air That I Breathe the audience was in full rapture clapping and singing along and also joined in with two ‘Move’ numbers (Flowers in the Rain and Blackberry Way). They also added the superb ‘Too Young to be Married’ which had been a hit in Australia and one of my favourite tracks ‘The Baby’ which had been recorded with Mikael Rickfors (from Sweden) in the early 70’s.

There was also some humour, especially when an Asian gentleman went up to the stage a few times to shake hands with Carl and Tony. He even got them to sign his passport, thanks to the joke made by Carl about Peter Mandelson! I must mention Mark Holley for conducting the audience throughout ‘Blackberry Way’ but as for singing a small section of ‘Long Cool Woman…’ please don’t give up the day job Mark!

Members of the audience got up and danced for ‘Tiger Feet’ and ‘Long Cool Woman…’ before The Hollies finished off with the unforgettable ‘He ain’t Heavy.......

It was also a surprise and delight when Carl, Tony, Alan and Ray added their own harmonies to ‘It’s In Every One of Us’ off the ‘5317704’ album to end the set.

With a standing ovation, The Hollies had yet again bowled over another audience.

Reviewed by Kerry Bartlett.

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