The Hollies - Concert Review

Tameside Hippodrome, Ashton-u-Lyne, 18^th November 2000 - by Penny Wilson (Tameside Reporter)

Hollie good show

'I'M ALIVE, I'm alive..." sang The Hollies in their opening number to a capacity crowd at the Tameside Hippodrome in Ashton on Saturday night, and the next two and a half hours of entertainment proved without question that they still are.

Whilst the original line up is no longer together the sound is still sensational.

Two of the original members of The Hollies, the ever youthful Tony Hicks and drummer Bobby Elliott, have been joined by top musicians Alan Coates (guitar) and lan Parker (keyboards and musical arrangement).

Completing the band are Ray Stiles, former bass player from 'Mud', and superb vocalist Carl Wayne, still sounding as good as in his days with Roy Wood and The Move

Hit after hit rocked from the stage on Saturday night, accompanied by a dazzling and finely choreographed light show.

Stay', 'Here I Go Again' 'Bus Stop' 'Jennifer Eccles' and 'Carrie Anne' brought the memories flooding back and the muscles twitching with the desire to dance.

It was Ray Stiles who got the fans leaping to their feet on cue to a rousing rendition of 'Tiger Feet' – a real treat.

Equally, Carl Wayne was cheered for his performance of the legendary 'Flowers in the Rain', the first single to be played on Radio One in 1967, and everyone joined in with another hit from The Move, 'Blackberry Way'.

There were some beautiful ballads as well – the Mike Batt composition 'Soldiers' Song, a big hit all over Europe, and a sensitive version of The Beatles' 'Blackbird' sung by Ray Stiles.

'All I Need is the Air That I Breathe' stood the test of time as a great classic, and the evening ended with the deep and moving sounds of 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother'.
The fans went out into the rainy night happy to have heard some of the best musicians of the past four decades – polished, professional and still going strong.

Penny Wilson - Tameside Reporter.

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