The Hollies - Concert Review

Blackpool Grand Theatre, 21^st March 2001 - by Marie C

COAST TO COAST (well Skeggy to Blackpool!)

I first saw the Hollies live at Skegness last year in November, I enjoyed the show so much that the next day I checked the Robs website to see if they were appearing anywhere near me again, the show that jumped out at me was........The Grand Blackpool, only 200 miles!

The reason I chose this date was I love Blackpool and the thought of a couple of spring days combined with a Hollies show at one of the nicest theatres in the UK, the temptation was to much, so I booked the tickets and waited for 2001.

As I booked so early I managed to get seats near the front (second row) this I began to regret as the other seats began to fill up, I started to feel I was gate crashing a family get together, people discussing where else they had seen "them" that week or even last night, the distances they had driven that day to be here tonight, this is not criticism but a realisation of the love and devotion the followers of this group show.

As the house lights dimmed and the stage began to come alive with the lighting effects and the wonderfully co-ordinated sound system, as the slowly descending blinds appeared, I thought I was witnessing the opening scenes of a West End musical, very impressive, my humble thanks to the perpetrator of this. Not being an expert on Hollies songs, in fact I'm still at the "I didn't know that was one of theirs" stage, never-the-less the string of 60s hits seemed to flow endlessly.......remarkable.

One of the songs which was completely new to me was "Too young to be married" I guess the words were penned some time ago, but seem as poignant as ever, give or take the married bit! The choice of other songs also added to atmosphere the "beautiful" version of Dylan's' Blowin' in the wind was one of the best interpretations I've yet to hear, and the Buddy Holly tribute, a great singer and group united, please continue to include this it's worth the journey just to witness this.

The two Move hits and the ever young Tiger Feet left me with sore hands (from clapping) and sore throat (from trying to sing) but who cares, certainly not those around me , who were suffering the same afflictions!!

Finally to sum up: In this day and age of produced boy and girl bands who probably won't last thirty months never mind thirty years, it is an honour and a privilege to see a group singing live (no tapes etc.) and what's more PLAYING their own instruments!!! also singing songs they had written, not cover versions of others.

Yes, I may only have seen them twice, but I hope to add many more numbers to this total...I've thirty years of catching up to do!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marie C (32) SKEGNESS...LINCOLNSHIRE.

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