Hollie Smith - Long Player tour live review
Thursday 12 July Auckland - Galatos
Galatos is a big space and can seem hauntingly empty and cold if there is less than a 100 odd bods to warm space. No problem with that on the opening night of Hollie's 'Long Player' tour, instead the room was rammed well before Hollie and her band hit the stage. Many of the 300 or so in the room knew what to expect, there was an air of anticipation in the venue, and an excited thrum that sat under the chatter. It's been kind of hard to miss the hype around Hollie Smith's platinum album Long Player and her signing to Manhattan Records of Blue Note Group fame. It has even been said that Hollie is the best voice they've discovered since Norah Jones – big claim!
Hollie and the band were introduced with very little fanfare, but within the first couple of notes they had everyone's attention, and when Hollie let rip the audience was enraptured. The girl is gifted, like so many of the great divas there a surprisingly huge voice for such a small person. She sultry and unassuming, without airs and graces in her stage presence, but obviously comfortable in front of her crowd. The band and backing vocals were slick, and together they have nailed the funk soul sounds that suit Hollies vocals so well.
After Auckland Hollie's show stopping soul roadshow has appointments in Christchurch Festival, in Queenstown with Phoenix Foundation and the Taranaki Arts Festival and concludes with a 'something special' in the Wellington Town Hall. If you haven't already caught the Long Player tour, I highly recommend that you do so, Hollie is going places and it's unlikely that you'll ever be able to catch her in an intimate setting with a bargain price again. Please don't miss the opportunity to see Hollie play live, it's something you'll tell your grandchildren about. I waked away for the gig comfortably certain that I'd just witnessed something special; history in the making. Hollie is destined to be one of the people who we as New Zealanders are proud to call one of our own. Her talent guarantees her success, may her career lead her to artistic fulfilment, growth and happiness.
Jamie
