Friday nights can frequently lead to some decision wrestling when it comes to choosing the evening's activity.
Except when there is a CD release party by the Hollyfelds on the calendar. That's an easier decision than choosing between Guinness or prune juice.
The Hollyfelds have effectively stolen the title, "Local band I most enjoy catching live" from all other contenders.
The Soiled Dove, second only to Red Rocks in Colorado as a music venue, hosted the event. The night featured the Hollyfelds headlining a triple bill (Marty Jones, and the earnestly angry Yawpers were the opening acts).
The Hollyfelds took the stage with the men in the band sporting silver ties and French Cerulean blue collared shirts while Kate and Eryn looked for all the world, as Eryn quipped, like they were wearing prom dresses, Kate in blue to match the men's shirts, and Eryn correlated with the ties in silver.
The quintet opened the night with a track off their Black Heart Blue release, 2 a.m. Classic tight harmonies from Kate and Eryn, while Mr. Mallot plucked a pedal-steel sound out of his guitar.
2 a.m. was followed by Burned, a great little tune off their first full-length CD, Saratoga. That was followed by the first new song of the night, 32nd Street, from their new CD Title Stealers. The song is a rousing number about, as Eryn explained, murder, and two women fighting over a man who isn't worth fighting over.
My Poor Father, another new track from Title Stealers, followed. A solid song with lyrics any parents of a child born with an artistic temperament might see themselves in.
The group slowed things down with Mary Lou, off Saratoga, and got quite a few dancers out on the floor.
From there the band alternated between terrific songs from their back catalog and the new CD, highlighted by Kate's strong vocals on We Both Know and an energetic rendition of my fav Hollyfeld's tune, I'm Going To Feel Tonight (again from Saratoga)
John Macy, the talented man who produced Title Stealers joined the band onstage, playing pedal steel guitar for 18 Years, the spirited first track on the new CD.
Another special treat was Jody Rodney of the Jekylls pitching in on backing vocals for the instant classic Mama Got A DUI. That song was first heard by these ears at one of their shows last June, and it sounded as good tonight as it did then.
Throughout the night the girls shared banter between themselves and the crowd, with quips and comments about Kate's now obvious pregnancy leading to the man responsible for her condition, her talented husband Nate, taking the stage to join in on You Can't Remember, another new tune from Title Stealers.
The rhythm section of the Hollyfelds, drummer Sam Spitzer and bassist Keith Hoerig (Eryn's husband), not only know how to drive and keep a beat, they know how to do so without intruding on what makes the Hollyfelds such a great band - the strength of Kate and Eryn's vocals, and especially their soaring harmonies.
Throughout the night, on songs such as Empress of Wyoming and Kill You First, the two women who front the Hollyfelds and the three men who stand solidly behind them put on a clinic for anyone interested in the dynamics of tight harmonies and the subtle use of instruments to accent and compliment vocals.
Kill You First btw, is a very fast, hard charging song that I recommend every couple listen to before engaging in an argument - it's a hoot.
The final song of the evening, and probably the final song from the Hollyfelds for awhile as Kate will have mommy business dominating her agenda soon (she's due to give birth in March), was the final cut from Title Stealers, Thank you, Goodnight, a nice, semi-maudlin number about all the venues they've played over the last six years.
They were again joined onstage for the song by John Macy, Jody Rodney, and Kate's husband Nate, and for the last few choruses by a large part of the crowd.
All told, the band was the tight, professional group that I've grown to know and love. They have to be one of the more energetic, fun and flat-out entertaining bands around.
BTW, it's not just me and the few hundred who attended last night's show that have noticed this merry little group - their music has been featured as bumper music for the show American Pickers (appropriately, Ain't It Something), and the song they opened the show with, 2 a.m., has been heard on the (dreadful) show Toddlers and Tiaras (that show was the genesis of the title of the new CD, Title Stealers).
There are a few free downloads on their website if you would like to hear what they have on offer (www.thehollyfelds.com). If you like what you hear, show some support and buy a few of their discs - but don't steal the music, 'cause stealing is bad.
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