The flame-haired Cornish singer-songwriter HOLLIE ROGERS blends sultry blues, uplifting rock, poppy jazz, and Americana styling.
We were fortunate to see her wonderful live show at the excellent Ropetackle Arts Centre in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex.
Hollie admitted that the ‘over-sharing‘ show was modestly ‘experimental‘ in that it incorporated an interesting mix of acoustic numbers, piano pieces, and full-band numbers; to become a melange of old songs, new songs, and career in-betweeny songs. The various entrances and exits meant that traffic jams and banana skin slip-ups might have occurred on stage (though they didn’t). Though some of our favourite songs were performed from a cushioned stool, glittery shoes a-tremble, with no more than a piano as accompaniment.
We believe that Hollie’s songs are painfully relatable. They offer a restless pace and a sense of cathartic release that helps her listeners navigate the clutter left by life’s litter of little issues and fluttery tissues.
Her reflective songs, inspired by a love of Joan Armatrading, Carole King, and (as she once told Robben Ford without knowing he’d played in her band) Joni Mitchell, achieve a sophisticated level of intense emotional and joyful multi-dimensionality that is rarely witnessed these days, harking back to the era of Buffy Sainte-Marie, Judy Collins, and Joan Baez.
If you’re a Hollie Rogers fan, you’d probably be upset if I told you that one of her show-starters at Shoreham “Bad Woman” reminded us of “Say You’ll Be There” by the Spice Girls. Yet, “Bad Woman“, taken from her new Everything’s Fine album, delivered descending keys from Ed Blunt and shared more with the Spice Girls hit than just a melodic nod. Beyond the similar lyrical modality, there was a shared warmth in the vocal timbre, with relationship-centric lyrics, a smart-but-simple catchiness, and apricot soulfulness, while the intrinsic girl-powerness of the piece made those connections clearer. “Treat me wrong, feels so right…” Indeed!
After the rhythmic fan-favourite “Good God“—which was a snappy song that hinged on a set of pleas for escape from mundanity—we arrived early at the first acoustic segment and “The Coast Road.” This song wasn’t just about the paradisical Cornish seacoast, but also about the foreshores & frontiers of an unveiling relationship that hesitates and falters like a road dipping past rocky shores, turquoise bays, and craggy moorlands. At the Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea Hollie Roger’s voice unfolded like a roll of broadcloth, velvety and smooth.
Her folk-blues numbers, like “The Man You Had to Be” presented the best examples of her cashmere-cushioned voice. This song reminded us of the plummy depth and auburn clarity offered by the ‘only Beach Girl’, Toni Tennille, back in the Seventies. Beguiling and perceptive, this song held enough mystery to keep Hollie’s audience imploring for more.
“Sunday Rain“, a soft, burgundy blues piece accompanied by keys, had a toe-tapping sweetness and a nostalgic feel (Toni Tennille again!) with a blithe-hearted spirit that blew the song along like a feather caught in a flurry of love. Charming!
“He Reminds Me of You” explored comfort, risk, and the layers of tension that lay between love’s extremes. At Shoreham, Hollie’s voice was like a quilted velvet brocade, rich as damson plum, smoothed with brandy butter. This song reached a wonderfully resonant chorus, suggesting the singer-songwriter has endured more than a passing acquaintance with relationship regret.
The full-band version of “Sinner” was a suggestive piece of sweltering emotion and undimmed desire. Carrying a torrid Chris Isaak feel, it allowed Joe Coombs on guitar to twang and sigh in delicate harmony with Hollie’s blueberry-butter vocal texturing. Gratifying!
This was an impeccable concert defined by consummate vocal performances, accomplished musicianship, and expressive, warm-toned songwriting. Exquisite! We wish Hollie all the love in the world for her forthcoming nuptials, along with huge congratulations on the release of her very fine album. Get the album here: https://hollierogers.bigcartel.com/
HOLLIE ROGERS Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea
Words & Pictures © Neil Mach
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