October 23, 2007
The Hollies, one of the UK's best groups from the mid-60s, trotted out their greatest in a 2-1/2 hour long show at the New Theatre on Tuesday night. I was among a hundreds-strong throng of aging hipsters and silver-haired fan-clubbers who came out to enjoy such hits as Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress, Bus Stop, Carousel, Stay, Just One Look, The Air that I Breathe and He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother.
The current line-up includes a couple of near-original members: the very able Tony Hicks, on guitar and vocals, and Bobby Elliott on drums. Bass player Ray Stiles, formerly of the 70s outift Mud (who had a hit with, amongst others, the toe-tapping Tiger Feet - which was, to my horror but to the audience's delight, included in the show), and keyboardist Ian Parker have been around a couple of decades while lead singer Peter Howarth and guitarist Steve Lauri are virtual newcomers, having joined up in 2004.
Most reunion tours are about business, and last night's concert certainly was no exception – the guitarists wore ties! However, underneath it all I sensed the group's desire to get down and enjoy what they were doing. Overall, the concert more than surpassed my expectations. For example, it featured a proper light show that had been painstakingly choreographed to suit both the verses and choruses of every song - and the group is comprised of some truly great players. The treat of the evening was a sub-set of Hollies oldies performed by a stripped-down core of four to replicate their sound of more than 40 years ago.
I enjoyed myself but couldn't help wondering why this incarnation of The Hollies had somehow become frozen and for the most part stuck in its 80s groove. The Beatles set the bar very high in the early 60s and the Hollies, particularly when Allen Clarke and Graham Nash were still around, more than held their own at the time, but it seems that they no longer feel the need to compete. Most of the arrangements were either lacklustre or OTT, and the new material just isn't up to par. The result: they now sound more like a tribute band than an original band. All that aside, however, I still went home and downloaded my own mp3 of their infectiously catchy I Can't Let Go because, well, I apparently can't.
The current line-up includes a couple of near-original members: the very able Tony Hicks, on guitar and vocals, and Bobby Elliott on drums. Bass player Ray Stiles, formerly of the 70s outift Mud (who had a hit with, amongst others, the toe-tapping Tiger Feet - which was, to my horror but to the audience's delight, included in the show), and keyboardist Ian Parker have been around a couple of decades while lead singer Peter Howarth and guitarist Steve Lauri are virtual newcomers, having joined up in 2004.
Most reunion tours are about business, and last night's concert certainly was no exception – the guitarists wore ties! However, underneath it all I sensed the group's desire to get down and enjoy what they were doing. Overall, the concert more than surpassed my expectations. For example, it featured a proper light show that had been painstakingly choreographed to suit both the verses and choruses of every song - and the group is comprised of some truly great players. The treat of the evening was a sub-set of Hollies oldies performed by a stripped-down core of four to replicate their sound of more than 40 years ago.
I enjoyed myself but couldn't help wondering why this incarnation of The Hollies had somehow become frozen and for the most part stuck in its 80s groove. The Beatles set the bar very high in the early 60s and the Hollies, particularly when Allen Clarke and Graham Nash were still around, more than held their own at the time, but it seems that they no longer feel the need to compete. Most of the arrangements were either lacklustre or OTT, and the new material just isn't up to par. The result: they now sound more like a tribute band than an original band. All that aside, however, I still went home and downloaded my own mp3 of their infectiously catchy I Can't Let Go because, well, I apparently can't.