Music
Holy Fuck stands out with best performance of Hillside 2010
by Anne T. Donahue
July 26, 2010
To merely claim that Holy Fuck’s performance at Hillside 2010 was a highlight would be to do a grave disservice, as the Toronto four-piece led attendees in a 40-minute musical free-for-all that easily qualifies as the best performance of the three-day festival.
After dealing with scheduling delays and small technical difficulties, the band took to the Island Stage shortly after 8 and delved into a set that oozed the energy, power and enthusiasm the group’s been so renowned for; submerging listeners in their token brand of experimental electro-rock that’s impossible not to move to.
As the tent filled to capacity and an army of fans lingered outside in hopes of experiencing the intensity felt by those near the stage, Holy Fuck lived up to its name, making each minute count with versions of Red Lights, Stay Lit and Lovely Allen that made every listener bask in the excitement felt by the band, the fans and those on the peripheries previously unfamiliar with the group’s music.
Though they apologized for the short set time and mentioned it was out of their hands, it seemed that regardless of how long they were given it still wouldn’t have seemed like enough since crowd-surfers, beach balls and fist pumps engulfed anyone listening and left only cravings for more.
Staying true to the positive spirit that has so come to define the Hillside experience, unlike at clubs or in cities that reject the concept of audience participation, there was a noted lack of negativity that can often be found at high-profile events that call for attendees to move, dance and step out of their personal comfort zone. With only cheers, chants and claps emanating from festival-goers who’d been eagerly anticipating the performance of such a rousing act, by the time Holy Fuck wrapped what felt like a mere ten-minute set, their fanbase had undoubtedly widened as those previously only folk-oriented suddenly understood the hype and attention surrounding these Canadian forces.
