24 April 2009 (gig)
05 May 2009
MOST BANDS would find it hard to recover from watching all their instruments and demos go up in flames.
But The Holloways are not most bands, which they proved as they took to the stage last weekend with a passion and gusto that proved that the show must indeed go on.
In February, the four-piece were left devastated after a fire gutted the Nambucca bar on Holloway Road, north London, destroying the venue and most of the band's equipment, including demos for their upcoming album.
It was where the band had formed in 2004, the place they called their "spiritual home" and where they used to live.
The blaze also forced the departure of guitarist Rob Skipper and drummer Dave Danger, who decided to leave the band to "pursue new directions".
But with new members, drummer Edwin Harris and guitarist Mike Baker, soon on board, the band have thrown themselves fully back into their work, by announcing a new single and album this summer and doing what they do best - playing live.
One of those gigs came courtesy of Gaymer's at the Bull and Gate in Kentish Town, north London, a secret gig for friends, family and loyal fans, and Music News was lucky enough to be there.
While their peers and contemporaries were setting up for the masses a mile up the road for the Camden Crawl, The Holloways were wowing a 200-strong crowd at the venue which helped launch the careers of Blur, Muse, The Libertines and Coldplay.
Frontman Alfie Jackson welcomed everyone with a cheery and enthusiastic "hello" before introducing the newest members of the band and then launcing into a set which began with an enthusiastic version of Dancefloor, followed by Happiness and Penniless and Re-invent Myself.
They had us had us singing and dancing from the beginning til the end, their energetic guitar, bouncing drums and life observant lyrics making us laugh and emphasise at the same time. They sang old favourites from their first album So This Is Great Britain?, and debuted a few new ones from their upcoming second album, No Smoke, No Mirrors, due for release in September.
At the same time, they kept up a friendly banter with the audience, including big shout outs to family who had travelled across the country to see them, including a nattily-dressed Jackson's mum and step-dad.
Their set flowed from one song to another, only pausing to swig some cider (Gaymers, of course) or joke along with the crowd, who could have easily forgone the Crawl for another few hours of the Holloways.
If you've not seen them before, do not let the Holloways slip under your radar as this is one band who know how to not only get a crowd going, but are in their element on stage, and guarantee an hour or so's worth of fun and good tunes - definitely one to look out for this year.
