LIVE REVIEW: Holy Moly & The Crackers, Sage 2, Gateshead, Friday 4th October 2019
A lot has happened in the world of Newcastle-based gypsy folk rock band Holy Moly & The Crackers since they released their third album, Take A Bite, in April this year. They’ve toured hard in the UK and Europe, played more festivals than you can shake a stick at, and gained regular airplay on the likes of BBC6 Music and Radio X.
Lead singers Conrad Bird and Ruth Patterson have also got married, and she’s bagged herself a prestigious post as an artist in residence at Sage Gateshead, the venue for tonight’s sold-out show, which is their biggest-ever headline gig, as well as being on their doorstep.
It’s been a long, hard slog to get to this point, however. How many musicians have chronic arthritis and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome so severe they are confined to a wheelchair? That’s what Ruth has to deal with, as well as being in a self-managed, self-financing band releasing records on their own label, Pink Lane Records.
For some gigs she has to be carried on and off stage, but tonight she is spared that indignity, as the Sage is one of the most disabled-friendly venues around. She arrives onstage on her electric wheelchair, shuffles over to her comfy seat and the show begins. And what a show.
Ruth and Conrad, as the vocalists, are the centre of attention, but Holy Moly are very much a sum of all their parts; accordionist Rosie Bristow, their fellow founding member, squeezes some wonderful sounds out of her instrument – literally bending over backwards at times – while bass player Jamie Shields, drummer Tommy Evans and guitarist Nick Tyler add the rock which make them far more than your average folk band.
If you’ve never heard them, HM&TC play foot to the floor folk, with hugs dollops of rock ‘n’ soul and indie-rock, with a generous sprinkling of Middle Eastern flavour on top. Think of a British version of the multi-national American band Gogol Bordello and you’re not far off the mark.
They open with the eastern-flavoured Sugar from their 2017 album Salem, with Conrad’s gravelly voice complementing Ruth’s powerful but tender vocals perfectly, and follow it with All I Got Is You, the euphoric lead single from Take A Bite.
The new album (reviewed here) dominates the first half of the set, with Sister, Kiss Me Before You Go, Through With Talking and the title track greeted like old friends by a crowd who are more than familiar with the record. Best of all is Naked In Budapest, apparently inspired by the drummer’s drunken tour escapades, before it’s time for a change of pace.
The band leave the stage, leaving Ruth alone at the piano, to show just what a talent she is. First, we get a beautiful stripped-down take on Salem, the title track of the second album, and then I’d Give It All from the latest record. You can hear a pin drop as her voice swoops and soars, bold when it needs to be, but plaintive at times too. If you’re looking for a comparison, Imelda May springs to mind, and you get the feeling there’s much more to come from this young woman, who also plays a mean violin.
Solo spot over, it’s time to ramp things up again for the run-in to the end, and we get a sassy Woman From Spain, old favourite Punk Called Peter, and, of course, breakthrough song Cold Comfort Lane, which you might recognise from the closing credits of summer 2018 blockbuster movie Ocean’s 8.
Upside Down, written by squeezebox player Rosie about some of her circus pals, is a fantastic romp, and a contender for song of the night, while we get treated to River Neva and the closing Devil And The Danube from unheralded first album First Avenue, plus the unreleased Ain’t It Enough.
For the last few songs a number of large inflatable balloons are thrown into the crowd, adding to the party atmosphere which quickly enveloped the hall as the band hit their stride. It makes for a feelgood finale to a night which promised much and delivered it all – and more. Have yourself a night in the company of Holy Moly – it’s something you won’t regret.
- A word too for opening band GGAllan Partridge, a DIY indie-punk band from Middlesbrough who are making a name for themselves in the North East and beyond. A family emergency meant singer Dan was unable to make the show, leaving her bandmates Han, Eve and Soph to play as a three-piece. After conquering their initial nerves they warmed to their task, and smashed it. I look forward to seeing them again, hopefully as a four-piece next time.
* Big thanks to Holy Moly singer Conrad Bird for sorting out my absent photopass before the gig – a personal touch which was very much appreciated.
