The Hollies - Concert Review

Bournemouth International Centre, 4^th October 1997 - by Helen Morley (Haywood)

After more than ten years of watching The Hollies in concert I still cannot find fault with them. They started their concert, to an audience of around 2000 people, with a few of their most popular hits such as Stay, Here I Go Again, Yes I Will and I Can’t Let Go. After thunderous applause they went into a song written by Bruce Springsteen, Sandy. I think they do this a lot better than Bruce himself. The next song, which I first heard about ten years ago, brought back memories of the days when Denis Haines was the keyboard player. Draggin’ My Heels is the ‘B’ side of Soldiers Song and it sounds better than ever.

@@The acoustic section was next and another familiar song from a few years back was first - If I Were The Priest, which is from an Allan Clarke solo album. Helplessly Hoping followed, I'm so glad they have kept this one from the last tour, the harmonies are brilliant. The acoustic section finished with a surprise for me (and a lot of the audience too) - an Alan Coates solo rendition of Butterfly, from the album of the same name. It was fabulous and showed what a lovely voice he has.

The rest of the band came back to sing I'm Alive and On A Carousel, both firm favourites. The first half ended with When I'm Dead And Gone - a hit for McGuinness Flint in 1970. Tony played mandolin and Alan Coates played banjo and the first half ended to great applause.

The second half opened with Stop In The Name Of Love - another song I've not heard for some time. Jennifer Eccles followed along with a slower version of Just One Look. Then they sang a song which has been left out of their repertoire for too long, We're Through. It was brilliant! They led up to the second half acoustics with Bus Stop and Peggy Sue Got Married.

They continued the Buddy Holly theme in the acoustics, singing Maybe Baby, Peggy Sue and finishing with Rave On - a song my mum has always said she'd like to hear them sing.

The rest of the band came back during the updated version of Look Through Any Window and the show went into the familiar lead up to the finish with Carrie Anne, Stop Stop Stop, Air That I Breathe and a fantastic rendition of He Ain't Heavy. They received rapturous applause from the very appreciative audience and launched into the Rock and Roll finale. Loads of fans came to the front to dance to Great Balls Of Fire, Let's Dance and Long Cool Woman. This show was the first one that my fiancé, Richard, had been to and he came away full of praise and now appreciates why I think The Hollies are so good. Roll on Derby.

Helen Morley (Haywood)

Setlist

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