HOL: Night And Day, Manchester – live review

HOL
Night And Day Manchester
5th September 2022

Manchester-based HOL headlines at Night and Day and Iain Key ventures out on a school night for Louder Than War.

It’s been a few months since HOL’s support slot at Off The Square. That night the sound and set times were out of her control and conspired against her. Tonight is a different story; with the singer, songwriter, arranger and producer, after a number of supports over the last 12 months, earning the position of headliner.

Upon arrival, I caught the latter end of Nat Dempsey & The Near Strangers set. They’re an indie rock/post-punk band based in Manchester; but hailing from all over the UK; including Bristol, Lancashire, Cumbria, and Belfast. They’ve been making a name for themselves with a number of supports recently, including one with Louder Than War favourites Cold Water Swimmers at The Salty Dog in Northwich. They’ve got plenty of energy and must try and catch them properly soon.

I’ll admit I feel a little old. The crowd is made up of friends and friends of friends of the 19-year-old, over 100 in total. It’s a good turnout for a Monday night, all in good spirits. HOL takes the stage promptly at 9:40pm. Looking comfortable on stage with her band, it’s her time to shine, offering the audience a taste of her impressive back catalogue as well as a couple of other tasters.

Kicking off with Bones, this was a departure from her previous releases when it came out last year and is still a favourite. The vocals verge on ethereal with tribal drumming high in the mix. In a chat with HOL on my Indie Brunch she had mentioned her current influences are the likes of Slowdive and Cocteau Twins, which are on show here. This is followed by The Girl I Used To Be. It’s one of her earlier tracks but taking on a different persona with the band. Another former single, Intoxicated Dreamin’ is next. Compared to the first couple of tracks it is disarmingly mellower but builds to a rocky psychedelic ending.

I’d heard the currently unreleased D’You Have A Car previously, but tonight was the first time with clarity (the aforementioned sound issues at Off The Square not helping). Aptly, given the subject, it’s appropriately a bass and drum-driven rocker which I hope will get a release soon. It sounds like HOL is letting loose and having fun. In contrast, 2020’s Sunset Kids slows things down a little with a hint of reflection.

HOL’s always had variety in her songs and for any doubters, this is highlighted in the new song She Needs Him which breaks down for its final verse to an almost doo-wop / 60’s girl group vibe. Lipstick Muse follows, which I believe is to be her next single.

One of the tracks cut for timing reasons last time I saw her, which I’ve been looking forward to is her cover of The Cure’s Just Like Heaven. It’s performed tonight with a heavy bass taking the lead and goes down a storm. Sadly it’s all over too soon as HOL announces her final song of the night, wistful and slightly yearning 333. It’s her most recent release and draws rapturous applause as the set comes to a close.

Unfortunately, HOL will be leaving Manchester soon to study in Brighton, our loss is their gain. Hopefully, it won’t be long before she’s back

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HOL is on Facebook and Twitter

Photos courtesy of Jessie Earles Homepage, Tik Tok and Instagram

All words by Iain Key. See his Author Profile here author’s archive or on Twitter as @iainkey.

Source: louderthanwar.com