The Hollies - Concert Review

Tameside Hippodrome, Ashton-u-Lyne, 18^th November 2000 - by Anthony Holland

THE SAME HOLLIES SOUND - BUT DIFFERENT

As a regular attender at Hollies concerts over the last 10 years or so, I was looking forward to my only concert on this particular tour. I always wait behind after the concert for a quick word, and perhaps an autograph, so before the concert I decided on a Hollies LP and Allan Clarke’s 1990 CD Reason to Believe. I was therefore somewhat shocked upon arriving at a drizzly Ashton under Lyne, to find out that Allan had retired from the group.

It was therefore with some trepidation that I waited in the foyer, thinking “it won’t be the same without Allan, - it can’t be as good, - it won’t sound like The Hollies.” Perhaps if I had known of the change, I would not have gone to the concert, but being there, it was only fair to give the new boy a chance.

The venue was pleasantly full as I took my place on the third row (on Tony’s side as usual) I went with my mother and in her words she thinks “That Tony Hicks is a bit of alright”... I presume she meant his guitar playing…..

So the group came on in the order of previous tours, with this new bloke, Carl Wayne appearing last. The crowds appreciation was equal for him as it was for the originals - Bobby and Tony, and the group went straight into ‘I’m Alive’ and it was OK, I was still of the opinion that it wasn’t the same without Allan.

As we went on into the concert, the traditional Hollies Harmonies were there, the songs sounded great, Carl proved he was a great (although different) singer and yes, they still sounded like The Hollies.

By the time we got to Soldiers Song, I was fully converted. Carl showed what a great singer he is, and proved that The Hollies had made the right choice in him.

Hit after hit followed, with a particular favourite of the night being ‘The Baby’ from 1972 (a hit when my mum was in hospital giving birth to me, and they played it on Hospital Radio - she says she has not heard it since - until now). For those of us who get to several Hollies concerts, it is often the obscure ones that make it special.

Into the second half, and once ‘Stay’ was over (which seemed to be missing something) it was a perfect evening. I am always amazed at the brilliance of Tony’s guitar / banjo / sitar thingy playing. He is the best guitar player I have seen in all the concerts I have ever been to by anyone, yet no one seems to have heard of him.

As always the whole band was excellent, Alan’s guitar, Ray’s bass, Ian’s keyboards and accordion, and of course Bobby's superb drums. Coatesy once again did his ‘Butterfly’ party piece, Ray was excellent with his ‘Blackbird’, and great fun with his ‘Tiger Feet’.

It would have been nice if Tony could have done a solo song (how about the rarity ‘Hillsborough’), but it was excellent to hear Carl giving us ‘Flowers in the Rain’ and ‘Blackberry way’ from his own back catalogue. I had to dig out the original records when I got home.

One item I was looking forward to in the concert was some new material as mentioned in the tour programme, but apart from the tribute to Buddy Holly, Soldiers Song from 1980 was the nearest we got, - maybe next time (we have booked for Manchester next March) how about a new album or single.

Anyway, The Hollies were as excellent as always, I’ll maybe do Stoke as well next year.…..

Anthony Holland