The Hollies - Concert Review

St Albans Alban Arena, 29^th October 1999 - by Dick Evans

We may only be a couple of months away from the next Millennium but for a couple of hours on Friday 29 October the Alban Arena in St Albans was transported back several decades in time courtesy of "evergreen" band the Hollies.

Right from the opening number, the appropriately named Here I Go Again, the hundreds of fans, which seemed to span at least three generations (good old mum), were left in no doubt as to the quality of what was to follow right through to the customary Long Cool Woman finalé.

In between we were treated to an endless list of hits, some hardly noticeable from the original version, some with a different arrangement and some borrowed from other bands and given the Hollies sound, but all played with sheer enthusiasm and true professionalism.

With the impeccable drumming of Bobby Elliott and the pounding bass of Ray Stiles aided by the "cheap orchestra" of Ian Parker on keyboards providing the backing for the unmistakable harmony of Allan Clarke and guitarists Tony Hicks and Alan Coates, mixed in with some humorous banter and the odd snippet of knowledge (as provided by a waffling HICKSY) it all adds up to entertainment of the highest calibre. Ian even had time to wander around playing the "squeeze box" and sit among the audience while CLARKEY played keyboards.

With the usual array of standards, I’m Alive, Stop Stop Stop, Carrie Anne and the like along with classic numbers He Ain’t Heavy and The Air That I Breathe, through to the ELECTRONIC link up with the late Peter Sellers on After The Fox and the even later Buddy Holly on Peggy Sue Got Married, there is never enough time to include everyone’s favourite track, so it’s a shame it only lasted a couple of hours. But then people might get bored if it went on too long! By God! What am I saying? What true fan of music could ever get fed up of listening to one of the truly great bands of all time?

And so finally as we head into the aforementioned Millennium I’m sure I echo the thoughts of the many thousands that have followed you LEGENDARY HEROES over the years in hoping that you carry on for many more to come. See you next Century.

DICK EVANS

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