GIG REVIEW: The Holloways, KOKO
- Posted on February 15, 2007 12:51 PM
- 0 comments
by Peter Coulston
Shock Waves NME Award Shows at KOKO in Camden
Wednesday 14 February 2007 The Holloways
It may be Valentine's Night and the Brits may be the hottest show in town, but there are other things going on. And this was one of them. Seatwave asked me to cover this at the last minute so, as I wasn't invited to the Brits, I happily complied and was not disappointed. Located at the Mornington Crescent end of Camden, this venue is truly awesome. Formerly Camden Palace, KOKO is, or probably was, an Edwardian music hall with so many different levels, all providing excellent visual access to the stage. There are comfortable sofas and armchairs scattered around and enough bars to keep Amy Winehouse occupied. The sound was excellent and the atmosphere friendly.
Unlike my previous reviews, where I frequently know at least one of the artists involved, I came to this gig cold with no previous knowledge of the lineup. Due to an early start I missed the first two acts despite arriving before 8:30. Anyway, the music that I did hear was very much to my liking. While many of the artists that I enjoy are expert songsmiths with a real flair for innovative melody and lyrics, I am still a sucker for well played, unpretentious rock 'n roll. It is always a joy to hear a band that is not afraid to keep it simple providing they keep it tight, and 1990's did just that.
They sounded a lot like a lot of bands that I enjoy, but not enough like any one that they lose their identity. All the songs were catchy, melodic and had the audience in the pit leaping around; and we were moving about a bit in the gallery too. I haven't seen a guitarist use feedback for years (I thought these modern amps were too sophisticated), but these guys managed to pull it off on more than one occasion. Good stuff, lads; I will check you out again.
It did not take long to work out that a very large segment of the audience, particularly in the pit, were here to see The Holloways. From the moment they leapt on stage they looked like your standard punk band, with some tartan, funky hats and each of the the three front men using every inch of the stage, sometimes simultaneously. I soon discovered that the Holloways are much more than that. After some initial, but professionally covered, problems with broken guitar straps and other technicalities, they settled into a very enjoyable set that took us on a punk journey through several musical genres. The excellent addition of the fiddle on several numbers was a bit like punk meets the Pogues, and I found these segments particularly enjoyable. I picked up Caribbean influences and even Country and Western during the set, all of which was served with a cheeky confidence that the audience fed on.
Early on, the lads in the pit started playing pass the punter, with the four chunky security men in front ensuring that nobody actually got hurt. By the last number there were as many band members in the audience as there were on stage, and one of the fans had taken over the vocals (he wasn't bad either). All in all, a great evening (eat your heart out, Russell Brand) from a band that I highly recommend for a great night out.
The evening's entertainment did not end there, as we were treated to an Elvis impersonator on the Northern Line who I am unfortunately not in a position to recommend. I do, however, recommend the bands that I heard, and the venue they played in. Now that's the way to spend Valentine's night.
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