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HOLY HOLY
+ QUEEN P
@ The Forum, Melbourne
11th February 2021
(Live Review)

Reviewer – Brandon Valentine

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Most patrons despise seeing a crowded line, particularly one that peers it’s head from around a corner, like a live snake creeping out from beyond a rock, but allow me to cast a different light upon it.

Arriving at The Forum on a Thursday night to see a long, winding line of dedicated HOLY HOLY fans, braving a slight summer rain, it’s a sign that Australian music is a recovering ecosystem, one that is only getting stronger.

HOLY HOLY are touring in support of their new single ‘Port RD (feat Queen P)’. An inventive cut that encompasses of some sonic departures for the indie rock explorers, including Queen P laying down aggressive rap flows and nice usage of harmonic minor in the chord progression.

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Photo – Darren Chan

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In a great showing of tonal cohesion, Queen P flips on the switch for the night and kick us all into gear. Queen P’s energy was honest and infectious, it forced you to listen to her words and the meaning behind them. Although she performed to a seated, mask adorned audience, she delivered a show worthy of a mosh pit.

Her music had a gritty, thick and dub like minimalism to it, which left space for her potent yet silky flows. It was cuts such as ‘Queen with Colour’ standing out with a gut punching bass that was ramped to eleven by her amazing live drummer.

Using her platform as a rapper and a poet to address issues of race and overcoming the prejudice she has experienced as a Sudanese women in Australia. We are reminded of where this genre came from and what it can be, a voice for those who need it most.

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Photo – Darren Chan

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After Queen P finishing to heavy applause, The Forum darkened and the stage was coated with a purple hue, mirroring the artwork from ‘My Own Pool of Light’. A dramatic and operatic overture bombastically blasts over the system, it’s intensity matching the theatrical design of the The Forum’s decor. A rush of excited motion and human movement pulsed in anticipation.

The instant that HOLY HOLY shifted into the modern tones of ‘Maybe You Know’, the allocated seating and plastic chairs became irrelevant. Gracing us with a gentle yet pulsing energy that exemplifies the best aspects of indie music.

The track ‘Faces’ was an absolute stand out. Displaying a unique sense of rhythm and sass, that proved the crowd’s nuanced knowledge of their music. Everyone in attendance locking in tight with the off beat vocal sample, as if we were a hired choir.  

Painting a solid aural image by opening the set with the first half of ‘My Own Pool of Light’ (HOLY HOLY’S 2019 album) the crowd was primed for some older cuts, such as the sweet, dreamy track ‘That Message’ and a stripped back version of ‘History’.

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Photo – Darren Chan

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Photo – Darren Chan

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With the classic indie emotional aesthetic of being pained yet optimistic, both audience and artist were able to tap into a beautiful connection, singing in expressive unison like a revivalist church, through high and lows.

The bombastic energy and raging light show was brought back to full strength with a killer combo of ‘You Cannot Call for Love Like a Dog’ and a cover of Lorde’s ‘Green Light’. A cover that brought on a spirit lifting sing-along.

With the vibes dripping off the walls, Queen P returned to the stage. Strutting into the new single ‘Port Rd’, a song which yielded dreamy lows during the verse and a dark aggressive charge to it’s chorus.

By this point in the set, the strength of guitarist Oscar Dawson is radically apparent, treating us to dynamic and unique styles of playing. From FX’s laden ethereal notes echoing throughout the venue, to roaring solos and leads. Needless to say, my (very biased) guitarist’s heart was pleased.

All this came to a very distinctly beautiful moment, when singer Timothy Carroll brought the volume of the show to but a whisper, with an unplugged nylon string guitar and his voice. Silence fell upon the audience as he humbly performed an acoustic version of  ‘Sentimental and Monday’. I would say that you could have heard a pin drop but no one would have dared pierce the curtain of quiet that had enveloped us all. As the last soft notes faded out, a thunderous applause erupted and the band crashed into ‘True Lovers’ and closed out the night.

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Photo – Darren Chan

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Check out Darren Chan’s gallery of this show HERE

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HOLY HOLY
PORT RD TOUR

Limited Capacity East Coast Tour

Presented by Tiny Monster and Select Music

General tickets on sale now HERE

Saturday 27 February | The Tivoli, Brisbane QLD (early)
Saturday 27 February | The Tivoli, Brisbane QLD (late)

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HOLY HOLY
PORT RD FEAT. QUEEN P – OUT NOW

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Follow HOLY HOLY:
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE
APPLE MUSIC
SPOTIFY

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Follow QUEEN P
Facebook – Instagram

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AMNPLIFY – DB