To Hollis or Not to Hollis? 2hollis Plays Roadrunner
Design by Sophie Parrish
By Lily Suckow Ziemer
Even an hour after doors opened, people are still lined up around the block to see 2hollis. It’s a Tuesday night, and despite complaints of morning classes from the college-age majority at the show, everyone is eager to get inside.
By the time I get in around 8:15 p.m., Rommulas’ 10 minute opening set was over, and Nate Sib is already performing. The crowd’s packed with people dancing as he performs “down” and “hold on.” By the time his set ends, a little before 9 p.m., the crowd is warmed up and anticipating 2hollis.
The white, overhead lights raised, sweaty bodies moved closer and closer to the front. A large statue (that very much could’ve just been an inflatable) sat under a tarp at the back of the stage. Everyone tried to look over the people in front of them, waiting for the tarp to come off and the lights to go down.
15 minutes pass before the announcement: “2hollis can not perform until everyone takes a few steps backwards.” The crowd takes a few steps. Nothing happens, people snake to the front for a better view, and 45 more minutes go by with no word. Cigarettes are lit, someone throws up, and annoyance radiates through the crowd. Royalty free beats play and there are groans as they mindnumbingly loop.
By 9:50 p.m., with no more announcements, no one is willingly stepping back. Why not take advantage of this time to get closer to the stage? Now another announcement, “2hollis is eager to perform for you, but everyone needs to step back from the stage.”
A girl next to me rolls her eyes and says, “Eager?” We step back, but fear no change. Then, finally, at 10:10 p.m. the music cuts, the lights dim, and someone takes the tarp off, revealing a giant white tiger. The music builds as a tiger roars, lights flash and the crowd starts shouting.
As the tension reaches its height, 2hollis walks out on stage and immediately begins performing “flash.” The crowd truly goes wild, jumping up and down, pushing and pulling each other down without even trying to. 2hollis’ music calls for moshing, and the entire pit was in a constant flux as we happily screamed the lyrics.
After some time up front, I have to retreat to the back to re-tie my shoes. I quickly drink a glass of water. When I move to enter the pit again, two security guards stand at the entrance, prohibiting anyone from re-entering (despite the many angry arguments of concert-goers). Some try to storm the guards all at once but are quickly pushed back—one guy even falling on the floor. Despite the sour taste of being tricked, all those banished still crowd around the borders to watch the concert. People don’t let it stop them from dancing, and a group forms a makeshift mosh pit adjacent to the bar as 2hollis continues the show with classics like “poster boy” and “nice.”
2hollis is a non-stop performer. He steamrolls through many songs, only taking occasional breaks. Rain and tiger roars play through the speakers as he darts backstage, transporting the crowd to a Rainforest Cafe. He quickly returned, though, having removed his blazer—on the second break he removes his shirt too. Many follow suit, some throwing their shirts into the crowd. Most of his time is spent singing, not breaking to talk to the crowd until 40 minutes in, when he leans against the tiger and asks, “how’re you doing?”
While most of the set list is fast-paced, 2hollis slows down at times (relatively speaking) for songs like “sister” and “girl.” He plays some of his earlier singles like “whiplash,” dedicating it to his long term fans. I’m shocked how many don’t know a song that is only two years old, but a group of us still sing along. As the concert reaches its end, Nate Sib returns to perform their song “afraid” to an excited crowd.
For his final song, a hooded man with an acoustic guitar comes out and 2hollis slowly sings “eldest child.” “Sorry for the wait, it won’t happen again,” he promises before taking a bow and exiting the stage. But the lights don’t go up, and everyone knows what is coming.
2hollis returns to stage holding up two of his fingers, and the rapid synths of “jeans” start to play. He completes the song, but is goaded to sing it again. As the song restarts, the security guards relent and step to the side to allow all the exiles to rush back into the pit. Before the concert, when I’d heard 2hollis performed “jeans” seven times at another show, I hoped he wouldn’t do the same in Boston. However, when I find myself in the pit, everyone sharing the same energy as the music blares, I don’t want the song to end. We shout for a third round of the song, to which he obliges. Nate Sibs and Rommulas join him on stage, and 2hollis jumps down to stand on the barricade. We all chant for a fourth time, but they leave the stage, 2hollis promising to return.
2hollis brought incredible energy to Roadrunner. Everyone left the concert with soaked shirts and smeared makeup, but happy nonetheless. 2hollis’ fans are united in their love of music and desire to dance. All the videos I’d seen online prior to the concert detailed how intense the pits were. After almost losing my shoes, I can say they weren’t lying. People love 2hollis’ music, and allow the storm of sound to take over at his concerts. It’s safe to say that we’re all hoping he makes good on his promise to return.