Hollow Coves, composed of Queensland natives Matt Carins and Ryan Henderson, stopped by El Rey Theatre late last Saturday night. The Los Angeles crowd welcomed the indie folk duo, who, in turn, returned the energy by creating a comfortable and nostalgic environment through their earthy melodies. After releasing their new album Nothing to Lose at the beginning of March, the band has been touring North America. Reflecting their love for the environment, Hollow Coves teamed up with the National Parks Foundation so that a dollar for every ticket bought will help national parks grow and prosper.

After an endearing opening set by Ontario singer-songwriter, Billiane, Hollow Coves took the stage and began to play Nothing to Lose, the title track of their sophomore album. Eager fans smiled warmly at Carins and Henderson, who played the keys and acoustic guitar; respectively. The lyrics, “I'm ready to let go of the things that I can't control. I wanna embrace what happens and just go with the flow,” set the tone for that evening; the atmosphere was welcoming, wholesome, and uplifting. Despite touring their new album, the duo played a couple of old hits, starting with The Woods from their 2017 EP Wanderlust. The blue hues washed over the crowd as the fixed guitar chords began to play. Carins’ voice and the piano followed, guiding the audience into a woodland of memories and allowing them to wander.

It’s no secret that their songwriting is engrained with themes of nature and exploration, but this recent album highlights the loss of appreciating the simple moments in the digital age. Each song on the eleven-track album feels like a time capsule. Purple would not feel out of the ordinary on Coldplay’s 2002 album, A Rush of Blood to the Head, due to the colorful melody and dreamy, chime-y guitars. The track Let’s Go, from their recent album, was paired with Evermore, a single from 2020, at the concert on Saturday. Carins and Henderson asked the room to be as quiet as possible for a more intimate experience as these were love songs. They began to play at opposite ends of the stage, with rays of gold beaming down on them as the rest of the room was enveloped in a deep plum. The lyrics parallel beautifully: “Just you and me forevermore/It’s you I’ll call my evermore”. Hollow Coves ended their set with On the Way, a song that, according to Carins, “goes out to anyone who dares to dream”. The track serves as a mantra that a goal can be achieved as long as small steps forward are taken.

When the band returned to the stage for their encore, the crowd cheered with “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!” at the top of their lungs. The next song needed no introduction, however, Carins mentioned how the audience may have heard it on TikTok or Instagram reels. He began to fingerpick the acoustic guitar strings in a way that sounded like raindrops. The crowd was mesmerized by hearing Coastlines come alive and everyone was singing along with Carins. They closed out their final set with Milk & Honey, an up-tempo indie folk song highlighting the ability to have a bright-eyed child-like outlook on life as an adult.

Hollow Coves has a few more stops left in their North America tour; though, the remaining dates in the US are sold out. They are set to tour Europe starting in August before eventually, returning home to Australia in November. Be sure to check out their new album to get lost in nostalgia, whether that is due to the early 2000s folk-pop sound or the fitting lyrics allowing the mind to wander into a cavern of memories.

Review & Photos by: Katie Romo

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Hollow Coves Create Nostalgic Atmosphere at Los Angeles' El Rey Theatre