Hollie Smith
18th August 2022
Haumoana Community Hall, Haumoana, New Zealand.
Review by Rob Harbers.
Just. Fuckin’. Wow!
About the only way to describe the night, as Hollie Smith gave her all in a powerful performance, unembellished by fellow musicians – just her and her piano/Telecaster. A night that saw the famous “Sold Out” sign going on the door, a demonstration of the respect and veneration accruing to one whose star shines brightly in Aotearoa’s musical pantheon, and a nice contrast with some of the more intimate and select audiences that have been the fate of a few recent Sessions.
For a couple of hours this dynamic singer poured her heart into a truly affecting, stripped-back presentation of selected material from across her career, holding the otherwise-chatty audience enraptured. A voice of rare power and range, given full room to shine – what more could you ask for? Accompanied by a touching nervousness that belied the persona some may expect, a winning package indeed!
I wrote in my last Small Hall Session review of how that gig crystallised some of the elements of the SHS concept, and in a quite different way this one did too. Unrestrained from the boundaries that are an aspect of a more typical performance, Hollie had room to expand on and explain the songs, giving fascinating details of their genesis, and further drawing in her audience. This ability to gain insight into, and enhance appreciation of, already-familiar songs is another vital aspect of the Small Halls experience, an enriching opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the creative process.
The setlist can be seen below, but to attempt to provide a song-by-song commentary would risk demystifying the overall experience – suffice it to say that these are deeply personal songs, delivered in deeply personable fashion! Through all of them is woven a thread of hope and love, showing the heart of the writer behind them. And this was a unique opportunity to encounter her in close range – the essence of the Small Halls vision.
Enough with the scribbles though – they can only go so far in describing such an experience. This is normally the part where I tell you to run out and get tickets for one of the remaining gigs – but as there are only three seats left, for only one of the shows (the others being sold out), that’s kind of academic.
Another triumph of the Small Halls concept, and a credit to all involved!
Were you there at Haumoana Community Hall for this magnificent performance? Or have you seen Hollie Smith perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Set List:
- Coming In From The Dark
- The One To Go
- Tell Me
- YOU
- Billy
- In Love Again
- What About
- Ready For Love [India Arie cover]
- Damage Done
- Something Good
- Beside Me
- Lay Me Down
- Heaven Only Knows
- Kōrokutia / Bathe In The River
Note: Ambient Light was provided passes to review this concert. As always, this has not influenced the review in any way and the opinions expressed are those of Ambient Light’s only. This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase a product using an affiliate link, Ambient Light will automatically receive a small commission at no cost to you.
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