On a serene and surprisingly sweaty Saturday night, The Holdup stole the stage at San Luis Obispo’s SLO Brew. But before the top billed band took the stage at nine o clock, opening acts Group Home and Young Science effectively warmed up the crowd with their high energy and original music. Group Home, a Cypress Hill sounding local rap duo, spit raps and stalked the stage to start off the night. The reins were then handed over to Young Science, an infectious alternative band who shares a label, Dub Rock Records, with The Holdup. Between their catchy choruses and lead singer James Melo’s humorous quips, Young Science made following their performance a tall task for The Holdup.
With their easy to love songs and strong likability, The Holdup brought nothing but good vibes to the Central Coast
With lead singer Mike Garmany yielding his signature pearly white guitar, The Holdup opened their set with the aptly named track “Obsessed With Success” off the group’s 2010 album Confidence. The set list contained songs that spanned the length of the band’s budding career. From one of the group’s first songs “Good Times” to the wildly popular “The Drugs,” the San Jose-based band made sure that each of their previous albums were well represented. Even their new EP Have A Good Summer (or H.A.G.S.) got some play. Before playing “My Hood,” a delectable tune from the new EP, Garmany cautioned the crowd that the band hadn’t practiced their new stuff much but the lead singer’s reservations didn’t factor in as the song and performance went over well with a noticeably youthful crowd.
Garmany and company did their best to keep entertaining between songs, snapping selfies and conversing with fans in the front row. The band chose to end their night with the perfect closing track in “End of Time,” a steady song that proved the most appropriate of endings. With their easy to love songs and strong likability, The Holdup brought nothing but good vibes to the Central Coast.
Share this article
or
Get music updates in your inbox