Holy Moly & The Crackers

#Gadgees Blog
Jul 27, 2017 · 3 min read

‘Salem’ Album Launch

Friday 14 July, The Cluny, Ouseburn, Newcastle, 8pm

#Gadgees attended this album launch more than three years after first seeing Holy Moly at The Live Theatre.

@gerry0504 Having thoroughly enjoyed seeing Holy Moly in their previous guise as a gypsy folk-rock party band, this #Gadgee came to the sellout Cluny2 “Salem” album launch gig with keen anticipation.

From the outset, change was obvious with Ruth moving literally & figuratively centre stage with vocal duties still shared with Conrad. Indeed her vocal capability has matured, often reminiscent of Christine Perfect/McVie at her peak.

The tone of the album is set by the sombre title track Salem, on the surface a tale of historic witch trials In Mass. USA , but reflecting very much the current political & social climate on both sides of the Atlantic.

Although there were plenty of songs to satisfy theit traditional folk-rock fanbase ( Mary, Sugar & Let Go) Holy Moly have added more musical elements to their melting pot (Rock,New Orleans, Ska, flamenco & more) to produce an eclectic, celebral, muscular stew while retaining the spicy energetic live element.

Apart from the title track, this #Gadgee enjoyed Halelujah Amen, Cold Comfort Lane & The Woman from Spain.

Holy Moly have produced a firecracker of an album which fully deserves an upward trajectory.

@folkastro What a great gig fronted by 3 superb local artists. The #Gadgees have seen all of the acts before and Eva Stone and Sons of Bido Lito are fantastic live acts well worth seeing; playing essentially the core repertoire that their fans have come to love. But this gig was about Holy Moly and the Crackers who move forward with their music in a significant way each time the #Gadgees see them.

This, their album launch, was packed out — the band have grown in instruments and numbers; but it is still the same core playing more sophisticated music. They had the audience I
In raptures — with many moving from their seats to the dance floor — age being no limit for this.

Suffice to say HM&TC are a class act with many theatrics up their sleeves with Conrad Bird not always confined to the stage(he has a great voice and an inimitable stage presence); and Ruth Patterson a brilliant fiddler; and with the most beautiful singing voice.

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