In praise of Lily Holbrook singing for her supper

Published Feb 20 2007, 11:43 PM by Carly Carioli

Worth a shout-out: Lily Holbrook downstairs on the Red Line at Park Street last night was bananas. Her album Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt rated strictly meh when it crossed our desks about a year and a half ago. Not for lack of a voice, because she's got a real sweet one -- not even Mary Lou ever cut through subway rumble and idle chatter the way Lily's did as we came around the corner on our way to the Bang Camaro shindig. Lily's got that real effortless, piercing, soaring thing going on -- like whoa. Her songs ("gothic renaissance faire folke" -- C. Eddy) never really connected with us -- why'd she have to go and make things so complicated? -- but we're ready to give them a second listen after watching her go house on Ozzy's "Momma I'm Comin' Home" and the Cure's "Just Like Heaven." Shit had grown men getting all lumpy and kids stealing their moms pocketbooks to throw change at her and crazy dudes eating popcorn who recognized her from the article the Metro ran, by coincidence, that same day. (We should've whipped out the camera phone for evidence, but . . . we're soft. Sorry. Here's a ) She lucked into a Harvard Square express train so the platform was twice as crowded as usual, but it's been a long time since we saw someone completely transfix 300 random commuters with finger-picked covers. That's fucking entertainment. This is also our passive-aggressive way of trying to get her to record some of that underground shit for us to give away in the ever-popular mpeg-III format. If anyone sees her, tell her to holler.

DOWNLOAD: Lily Holbrook, "Cowboys and Indians" (mp3)

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3 Comments

Scott Keneally said:

I'm glad you finally spotlighted this insanely talented singer/songwriter. Since the late 90s Lily has been lifting the spirits of commuters and pedestrians on the streets and subways of Boston, LA and SF. I've had the pleasure of charting her career since we met back in 1999. And I know how hard it is for her to put herself out there, in such a public and invasive space, and deliver the kind of riveting performances that she's known for. I know that the phrase - "the best kept secret" - is hackneyed by this point, but Lily actually is a biggest subterranean SHHHHH! I can't wait to see her again! (When Lily?)

February 23, 2007 6:02 AM
Prince Frannie said:

Scott is totally right. Lily is a Siren. With the kind of mesmerizing beauty and ethereal voice that will shipwreck any guy with a pulse. WOW. She spells trouble!!

February 23, 2007 6:07 AM
Steve said:

You are both right! she is one of my fav's there is so much beauty in her voice.

March 17, 2007 6:20 PM

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In praise of Lily Holbrook singing for her supper

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Scott Keneally said:

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