With so much British music being exported Stateside these days, it’s difficult to keep track of the ones that don’t make the gossip headlines. Sure, no one in The Holloways dates Kirsten Dunst and they’ve never had an addiction to heroin (at least not to my knowledge), but they play the most infectiously fun music you’ve ever heard so it’s only a matter of time before their names are common knowledge. Alfie Jackson (guitar, vocals), Rob Skipper (guitar, vocals, fiddle!), Bryn Fowler (bass, vocals) and Dave Danger (drums) are addicted to nothing but their band, playing pool, and convincing lead singer Alfie to stop wearing his bloody hat.
Sitting in the back booth of Max Fish in the Lower East Side, The Holloways tease their lead singer ceaselessly while attempting to explain the origin of their name. But, as with everything else, they are completely incapable of doing anything without playfully arguing and proving each other wrong - even answering the simplest of questions. “It comes from the area where we all met and lived in when we first started,” Fowler explains. Suddenly Jackson interrupts, “You forgot to say it’s in London,” while Skipper adds, “And that it got its name from the road.” Annoyed, Fowler says, “I was just about to...” when Jackson interrupts again, “Actually, if you want to know where the name Holloway derives from, it’s ‘Hollow Way,’ the empty space between Highbury...” but then Fowler becomes even more annoyed and interjects, “No, you’re wrong! It was actually the cow route into the cattle market at the East End, which meant that it was a dirt road that they made into a hollow way.” He leans back against the booth smugly while Danger laughs. “I live right near a library,” Fowler explains to me.
Each member is endearing in their own way, however together The Holloways form quite a charming quartet. Sure, there’s a bit of arguing now and then but what else can you expect when four people have been touring together for the past 18 months.
Back home The Holloways have been enjoying quite a bit of success. It’s America that can really break them, however. And it would be an understatement to say that the U.S. is already oversaturated with British bands (Arctic Monkeys, Razorlight, The Klaxons, Bloc Party, etc). They’re not worried, though. In fact it doesn’t appear that anything can upset The Holloways. Jackson describes the current state of Britpop as being “unbelievingly healthy. At the moment there’s just so many bands coming through, which is good because it means that everyone has to up their game a little bit.” The only thing that seems to bother them is the phenomena of less-talented bands garnering attention simply because of the way they look. Fowler, ever the pensive one, remarks, “But as you can see, we look like shit but we can still get a gig, so that’s good.”
Their first official New York gig was March 13th at Mercury Lounge. Their UK and North American label, TVT Records, set up a secret show for them the night before at the much more intimate East Village bar, Lakeside. Other UK friends and fellow labelmates, The Cinematics were there, as was NY tastemaker Sara Lewitin (aka Ultragrrrl). The Holloways played all their hits and even took requests. It was a nice and quiet introduction to the band.
To say that the Holloways are easy-going lads is an understatement. They’re downright fun, and some of the nicest guys...the kind you’ll run into at a bar and instantly feel an affinity towards. Their music is catchy and light-hearted, complete with three part harmonizing and an electric fiddle. Their debut album, So This Is Great Britain?, is rife with depictions of life as young Londoners. “We’re from all over England and Holloway brought us together and influenced a lot of the songs. We’re very much a British band with open eyes and experiences across the whole country. Holloway’s just the epicenter of it all,” Jackson explains. In the song “Generator,” Jackson sings, “I don’t live in poverty / I got a little bit a money and I got a healthy body / I’m not gonna let stuff get me upset and I won’t let the little things get me depressed.” This seems to be the typical outlook on life in the UK at the moment. Life is good, the music scene is “extremely healthy” and The Holloways have nothing to argue about except the historical accuracy of where the term Holloway originated.
Jackson sums up the lifestyle that creates such happy music best. “In my spare time I like to watch some good comedy, go to the cinema, play some soccer, spend a bit of time with the family, ground myself with my folks, enjoy a bit of teeth-brushing and a bit of bathing that you miss out on while you’re on tour. I also enjoy using my own toilet.”
--Shanon Kelley
Photo: Greg Nolan
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THE HOLLOWAYS' SO THIS IS GREAT BRITIAN album is out June 12, 2007 on TVT Records
http://www.myspace.com/theholloways
http://www.the-holloways.com
