The band's final line-up consisted of David "Alfie" Jackson (vocals, guitar), Bryn Fowler (bass) and Edwin Harris (drums). The Holloways, having a rest after touring the UK 2010. Alfie, (see pix) chanced his arm on DJ deck's and span some funky tunes & shook a leg-with 7'3' fine artist Pandemonia, at Zoe Griffin Christmas bash at 5 star Montcalm Hotel, Marble Arch, London. Mr Jackson music choice, had the likes of actress Nikki Sanderson, Dynamo mr music magic himself, Baby D, Miss Frank, Prince Cassius, Amy Studt, Heaven Sent Thugs, singer Lula, Scott Cornwall, celebrity personal trainer Shaun Stafford, life coach Ali Campbell and world record breaker Michael Perham, whooping it up. Sept their performing at FashArt Charity Gala dinner at the Natural History Museum in aid of Caudwell Children.
The previous shows earlier this year were Sun, 04 Jul Cazfest Bishops Stortford, 09 July The Box Crewefirst, Sat 10 July Boots Feel Good Festival in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support at Boots HQ, Thane Road, Beeston, following on from their stage appearance 2010 was on 27 Feb, at "Lets Rock Cancer" at Leadmill, Sheffield, DJd at Camden Lock's Proud venue for the fund raiser for homeless charity "Shelter" and to raise the profile of the campaign to save the BBC 6 Music station, that's earmarked by Corporation bosses for the chop, and played a gig at The Dirty South, Lewisham on 1 April to a packed house. The guys are ready to follow up 2009 tour-that closed with 36 gig UK tour in Nov/Dec, that was spread over 5 weeks, plus the extra dates, when they accompanied the band Shed7 on 7 out of 10 dates of Shed's tour, finishing on 22 Dec.
On 2009 tour, they performed and promoted their new album "No Smoke, No Mirrors". Prior to their UK tour, the guys have recorded and released their video of single "Jukebox". They appeared once on Big Brother Little brother and were asked back a second time for the eviction night. All in all the band are excited after their successful tour in Britain playing their new material from their Album as well as classic Holloways anthems to very enthusiastic audiences.
They appeared once on Big Brother Little brother and were asked back a second time for the eviction night. All in all the band are excited after their successful tour in Britain playing their new material from their Album as well as classic Holloways anthems to very enthusiastic audiences. Full Biog
Feeling reborn is a rare treat; but The Holloways resilience in recent times has led to what feels like a rebirth. Reaping such a rare reward was the first step along the clear path that now lies ahead for a band who once again have much to smile about; not that The Holloways had stopped smiling - not for very long anyway. "The sun doesn't always shine" is one of the band’s phrases to live by; along with "everything happens for a reason”.
In the early months of 2009, Alfie and Bryn were busy recording additional new material to kick-start the year. By April they decided to start actively seeking new members and as luck would have it, in the very first rehearsal they found guitarist Mike Baker, who - after playing just one song with the band - had done enough for Alfie and Bryn to make up their mind. The following day Edwin Harris set up his drums and did a quick warm up and before even playing a song, the decision again, was easy. Luck had clearly swung back in The Holloways’ favour and a new lease of life took the boys into the studio for a couple of hectic weeks before doing a few gigs and recording 3 brand new songs and they’re back doing what they do best - playing music.
2008 had been soul destroying for the band. Much conspired to prevent full scale releases of the exciting new material recorded at the legendary Sawmills Studio. The biggest setback was the long, drawn out legal battle across the pond involving their stateside former label TVT.
The darkest hour before the dawn came in December with a lot of smoke as The Holloways' home - Nambucca - caught fire. Much was lost in the fire - practically everything. This was the final straw for Dave and Rob who felt the end had come with nothing seeming to go the band's way. However, the founding members - Alfie and Bryn - felt the previous 3 years of good fortune by far outweighed the 12 months of bad fortune; and having weathered the storm, they concluded "2009 has to be good. Yin and yang and all that." - The sun doesn't always shine indeed.
The Holloways had an exciting start to life with the critically acclaimed debut - "So This Is Great Britain?” - and 2007 saw the band storm sold out shows across the UK with singles Dance Floor, Generator and Two Left Feet pumping on the radio airwaves.
Now, the energy and the bond in the band has seen the boys enjoy an intense schedule which is already relighting many fires ahead of the release of the new album – No Smoke, No Mirrors – which is due for a September release.
Everyone is massively excited for the summer schedule; the boys will be back on the road gigging the brand new set featuring songs from the forthcoming album alongside the classic Holloways favourites.
Aspirin
The Holloways Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's got two little girls just knee high from his feet
But as he turns to say goodbye
He's got a kiss for the girls but not his wife
He looks to the sky and he wonders oh where
Oh where went all of life
And hope dissolves like an aspirin on his tongue
An able bodied boy with an able mind
They fell in love after falling in bed
They tried to smile when the doctor said
You created a life but you failed to say
You shot your own life stage
And hope dissolves like an aspirin on his tongue
An old man sits with a beer and a barrel and a gun
He says of all he's lost and all he's won
He's got one last thing last to declare
As he sits there dying in his rocking chair
Stop this (??)
Or I'll tear out all my hair
And hope dissolves like an aspirin on his tongue (3x)
The Holloways's song "Aspirin" is a poignant reflection on the hardships faced by different individuals at various stages of life. The first verse tells the tale of a man who appears to be bidding farewell to his family, to go on his own way. He shares a kiss with his two young daughters, but pointedly ignores his wife. The verse ends with the man lamenting the course his life has taken, and the loss of hope he feels is akin to the dissolution of an aspirin on his tongue.
The second verse continues with the story of an able-bodied young man who falls in love with someone from the wrong side of tracks, only to find his own life spiraling out of control. The third and final verse is about an old man sitting with a beer and a gun. While pondering over what he has lost and what he has achieved, he makes a final declaration to stop something or the other, failing which he would tear out all his hair. The song ends with the recurring line about how hope dissolves like an aspirin on his tongue.
The song is a powerful commentary on the cyclical nature of hope and despair that characterizes human existence. It brings to the fore some quintessential questions of life such as what the meaning of life is, why we exist, why we go through different experiences, and so on. It underscores the fact that, no matter who we are or what we have accomplished, we all feel joy and sorrow, hope and despair, and that the only thing we can do is keep trying, keep hoping, and keep moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
A man and his wife and kids stand on the stream
A family stands by a stream, consisting of a husband, wife, and children.
He's got two little girls just knee high from his feet
The man has two daughters who are shorter than knee height.
But as he turns to say goodbye
As he prepares to leave.
He's got a kiss for the girls but not his wife
He only kisses his daughters goodbye, not his wife.
He looks to the sky and he wonders oh where
He gazes upwards and wonders where things went wrong.
Oh where went all of life
He laments the loss of his life.
And hope dissolves like an aspirin on his tongue
His hope in life fades quickly and effortlessly, like an aspirin dissolving in his mouth.
An able bodied boy with an able mind
A physically and mentally capable young man.
He falls for the wrong sort proving love is blind
He falls in love with the wrong person, demonstrating that love can be blind to faults.
They fell in love after falling in bed
Their love stemmed from a physical encounter.
They tried to smile when the doctor said
They forced a smile when the doctor informed them of something.
You created a life but you failed to say
You brought a child into the world without saying anything about it.
You shot your own life stage
You ruined your own future.
And hope dissolves like an aspirin on his tongue
His hope in life fades quickly and effortlessly, like an aspirin dissolving in his mouth.
An old man sits with a beer and a barrel and a gun
An elderly man sits with a beer, barrel, and gun.
He says of all he's lost and all he's won
He speaks of everything he has lost and gained throughout his life.
He's got one last thing last to declare
He has one final statement to make.
As he sits there dying in his rocking chair
He is dying while resting in a rocking chair.
Stop this (?) or I'll tear out all my hair
He threatens to pull out his hair if something doesn't change.
And hope dissolves like an aspirin on his tongue (3x)
His hope in life fades quickly and effortlessly, like an aspirin dissolving in his mouth.
Contributed by Jason R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.