Marking Time: Holy Holy brings the music of David Bowie back to Philadelphia
Mars Blomgren
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Holy Holy brings the music of David Bowie home to The Tower Theater in Philadelphia where David loved us, Philly loved him and we get to put on our red shoes to dance again.
David Bowie Diamond Dogs 1974 Tour
The Holy Holy Spring 2016 tour started with a 2 night musical extravaganza on March 31st and April 1st as the house band for what was supposed to have been a tribute to David Bowie. In an unexpected press release from the family of David Bowie just as the public on-sale ticket dates were to be announced, the world, perhaps the universe, found out about the passing of David Bowie on January 10, 2016. As the sad news traveled these concerts quickly became a memorial as legions of Bowie fans tried to grapple with the news as well as his peers in the music world. Scheduled to be one night at Carnegie Hall in New York City the promoters of Music of David Bowie became so bequeathed with requests from performers to honor the genius of Bowie that it was soon extended to a second night at Radio City Music Hall in NYC.
@jherekbischoff @amandapalmer holy shit you guys…radio city music hall!! pic.twitter.com/ZZ93PVNQoU
— Chantrelle (@vampandora) April 1, 2016
“The unexpected death of David Bowie has turned this tribute, which we have worked on for the past 7 months, into a poignant celebration of his music by his friends, peers, and fans. We are all deeply saddened by this news. The timing of our public on-sale date was bizarre in its timing and the show is taking on many more emotions. RIP David and may God’s love be with you.” – Music of Bowie
Woody Woodmansey’s Holy Holy
courtesy of Woody Woodmansey’s Holy Holy
As the Radio City show ended, all eyes turn to the third date of the tour, to a venue and city that holds much love for David Bowie. Holy Holy is playing at The Tower Theater in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, the very same venue where David played in July of 1974 on the Diamond Dogs tour which eventually became one of only two live albums he released, David Live: David Bowie Live at The Tower Theater Philadelphia. Tony Visconti produced this album for David along with numerous others including The Man Who Sold the World, which will be played in its entirety tonight at The Tower Theater followed by band and fan favorites from the extensive Bowie catalog.
The Gear by Paul Cuddeford at Radio City Music Hall April 1, 2016
Holy Holy are the authentic sound of David Bowie’s early songs, starring Woody Woodmansey, legendary Spider from Mars & David Bowie’s drummer from 1970-1973 and Tony Visconti, Bowie’s longtime producer, friend and bass player on The Man Who Sold The World. Holy Holy’s lineup was handpicked by both Visconti and Woodmansey and features Woody Woodmansey on drums, Tony Visconti on bass, guitarist, James Stevenson, (The Cult, Gene Loves Jezebel Gen X) guitarist, Paul Cuddeford (Ian Hunter, Bob Geldof), vocalist, Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17), keyboardist Berenice Scott (Heaven 17), sax player Terry Edwards and backup vocalist Jessica Morgan.
Holy Holy, the super-group formed by world-renowned drummer Woody Woodmansey and legendary music producer Tony Visconti, came from an idea to perform the album ‘The Man Who Sold the World’ live in it’s entirety.
David Bowie-The Man Who Sold the World courtesy of Parlophone Records
Woodsmansey, Visconti along with David Bowie and Mick Ronson wrote “The Man Who Sold the World” album, but never had the chance to performed it live. Following the recording of the album, Visconti went on to produce 14 of David Bowie’s albums, including the recently released ‘Blackstar’. Woodmansey continued to play drums on three additional David Bowie albums including ‘Hunky Dory’, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars’ and ‘Aladdin Sane’.
The Tower Theater Philadelphia PA
The Chronopages arts editor Mars Blomgren spoke with Holy Holy guitarist James Stevenson just days after Mr. Bowie had passed away as the band decided to continue the tour in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
What is the band Holy Holy to you?James: Ahhh well it’s just a dream come true, I mean you can’t really call it a tribute band even though we play Bowie’s music, because Tony and Woody are the real guys…. We are fans, Bowie fans, but also I think we are legitimate fans to be playing this music, we are the torch bearers now, keeping his music alive.
Well thank you for that, and I think the world would probably thank you as well
James: The day the news broke … I had people ringing me up, my phone just went off the dial. I had people in England ringing me saying people were walking through the streets, but no one was talking, the pubs were completely silent. Such a huge thing and I dont think until his passing people realized what a massive impression he had on people’s lives. I mean when I am onstage playing Changes or whatever, I think how did this one guy write all these amazing songs – and on top of that he was a fashion icon and everything else too, he was an all around artist in the genuine sense of the word. There’s a thing going around the internet… it goes “If you’re ever sad, just remember the world is 4.543 billion years old and you somehow managed to exist at the same time as David Bowie.”
I have seen that and I AM grateful, it is amazing. I am a huge Bowie fan myself… so my love for the man is just the same
James: Yeah absolutely, if not more than ever. . that’s how I feel. Tony Visconti said something to me, he said “I wish David could just come back for just one day to see what he meant to the world.”
Awe…that breaks my heart
James: It’s sad. It’s sad but true.
I’d just like to believe that he did know. I have to believe that he knew what an influence he had on so many different kinds of people.
James: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah… It does get upsetting talking about it…
Woody Woodmansey’s Holy Holy
Click here for more from that interview.
Some tickets are still available for tonight’s show in Philadelphia PA. Click here for tickets. Jessica Morgan supports this show.
Woody Woodmansey’s drum kit of Woody Woodmansey’s Holy Holy at The Birchmere Alexandria, Virginia
Photo by Carlos Aranaga
Holy Holy Spring 2016 Tour Dates:
April 3, 2016 Soundstage @Baltimore, MD
April 5, 2016 House Of Blues @Boston, MA
April 9, 2016 The Intersection @Grand Rapids, MI
April 10, 2016 House Of Blues @Chicago, IL
April 12, 2016 Pabst Theatre @Milwaukee, WI
April 13, 2016 Fine Line @Minneapolis, MN
April 16, 2016 Uptown Theatre @Kansas, MO
April 17, 2016 Summit Music Hall @Denver, CO
April 19, 2016 Gas Monkey Live @Dallas, TX
April 21, 2016 Fox Theatre @Tuscon, AZ
April 22, 2016 Talking Stick Resort @Scottsdale, AZ
April 23, 2016 The Pearl Theatre At Palms @Las Vegas, NV
April 24, 2016 The Music Box @San Diego, CA
April 26, 2016 Wiltern Theatre @Los Angeles, CA
April 28, 2016 House Of Blues @Anaheim, CA
April 29, 2016 The Fillmore @San Francisco, CA
May 1, 2016 Roseland Theatre @Portland, OR
May 2, 2016 Queen Elizabeth Theatre @Vancouver, CA
May 4, 2016 Grey Eagle Event Centre @Calgary, AB
May 5, 2016 Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium @Edmonton AB
May 8, 2016 Phoenix Concert Theatre @Toronto, ONT
For more info on all things Holy Holy click here:
http://www.holyholy.co.uk/
