Holloways make a real splash

REVIEW - THE HOLLOWAYS
The Garage by JO THEAKSON

IT’S the hottest day of the year, official. London hits 36°C and we are all gathered in the furnace that is the Garage to catch local heroes The Holloways crash through a set of their exceptionally uplifting, addictive tunes.
They’ve been on tour with Leeds’s finest Pigeon Detectives and swapped headline slots, the Detectives playing second fiddle in The Holloway’s backyard.
Two things that will always define a Holloways gig and that is energy and chaos – in buckets!
Tonight they’ve graduated from their normal haunt up the road at Nambucca (where the crowd can normally be found bouncing off the walls) to play one of their biggest gigs to date.
As they always do, they bring a massive, slip-sliding hot and sweaty bunch of loyal fans for the ride.
To be honest, it seems to me there must be a direct vein coming up the Holloway road tonight from Nambucca, intravenously feeding an effervescent buzz and excitement to the band’s songs and crowd alike despite the searing heat.
They launch through a barrage of songs including new single Two Left Feet to the delight of the melting crowd. The sound has a touch of folk to it, complete with violin and harmonica, and is infused with insane energy.
By this time the delirious heat and joy of the occasion are getting to everyone as drenched fans start stage diving. Now it’s a grand rock and roll knees up in a sauna, and someone’s just poured a bucket of water on the hot coals; kids bouncing up and down as water is chucked from bottles, the floor a paddling pool.
For the grand finale lead singer Alfie Jackson and the band are joined by the Pigeon Detectives, armed with super soakers, who start dousing the embers of the burning crowd.
This triggers a riot as Alfie’s guitar gives up the ghost, waterlogged. To avoid the clutches of the adoring, soaked throng he ducks down, singing behind Dave Danger’s drum kit, and brings the set to a raucous end.
Quite appropriate then that on the hottest day of the year, this hottest of bands should play. The songs are infectiously brilliant, cheeky and put a huge grin on your face. The crowd pouring out of the Garage already know they’re onto a good thing… remember, you’re next!

Book Gig Tickets

CLICK BELOW TO SEARCH FOR ACCOMODATION