An intimate polite crowd at Jive gathered and sat on the ground waiting patiently for their friend Holly Throsby to play them some new gems. The tour celebrating Holly’s latest album A Loud Call brought an atmosphere that felt like the place was filled with friends
First support act was Xavia Nou from local band Brother Sister. Xavia on keys was accompanied by band members playing trumpet and drums, with Xavier. The set ended with Xavia singing whilst plucking her cello, expressing an impressive sound.
Aviator Lane was the second local support act. Lead singer Michael Radzevicius began the set on his own on electric guitar and vocal. Band members Alicia Woodrow on bass and Tom Smeets on drums joined Michael to bring a huge sound from the three-piece. Michael’s banter was trying to pump up the crowd, but this was one audience that wanted to sit back, relax, and politely soak up all the beautiful music on offer.
Throughout the whole night the crowd was patiently awaiting the lovely Holly Throsby who quaintly introduced herself to the crowd full of dedicated fans, “My name is Holly Throsby and I am going to play you some songs I composed”. Confessing to battling the flu, “this show is brought to you by Codral Cold & Flu”, thought to be caught when she played Melbourne, “all the people in Melbourne think they’re so cool but they’ve really all got the flu”. Holly soldiered on and produced a beautiful performance showing the brilliant talent and soft sweet vocals that have won her the hearts of so many dedicated fans.
Holly Throsby’s band members were particularly impressive showing their professionalism and overflowing talent. Jens Birchall excelled in swapping between the bass guitar, cello, mandolin, and at one stage even the drum pad at the same time as the bass. Bree van Reyk also showed amazing versatility playing drum kit, drum pad, glockenspiel, accordion, Casio keyboard, maracas, tamporine, all simultaneously whilst also providing backing vocals; and making it seem effortless. Holly’s set was filled with outstanding numbers from the latest album A Loud Call, with highlights: Would You, an old fashioned call and response duet with Jens; current single A Heart Divided and title track from her previous album Under the Town. With a curfew due to Jive’s indie-rock night Gosh Holly asked audience members to yell out songs that they wanted to hear to finish the night. Popular Making a Fire and a solo rendition of The Shoulders and Bends were a perfect ending to a wonderful night.
