People On Holiday
click their name to visit their website peopleonholiday.com
Live at Lemb@rzique cafe in Lembras/Dordogne/France

January 2003

Art rock and personal angst is alive and well played with much passion by young Bordeaux band People On Holiday. Recording a live album on probably only your 6th gig is a tall order for any band. People on Holiday also rely almost exclusively on their own self-penned material save for two covers. They also sing in English and play their stripped down style in a basic trio format. Also by eschewing any noticeable solos the strength of the songs takes on a very important context for the band.

Throw into the mix an expectant Saturday night local crowd who are probably more familiar with more AOR fare, and you have a potentially awkward situation. Happily, People On Holiday are unencumbered by such thoughts, and vocalist/guitarist Eric Cihigoyenetche showed few signs of stage fright once he had got the introductions over with.

Taking the stage on his own, he played a brace of his own compositions before introducing a fine rhythm section of drummer Laurent Mounier and bass player Emily Soler. The following two set, live recording captured both the very best of the band and also songs in the making. Easily the highlight of the evening was the slow burning, but very catchy melodic piece "Flaming Cow". Like much of the band’s material, the influence of Radiohead looms large, but Eric Cihigoyenetche’s mellifluous vocals also come close to a nervy David Byrne (Talking Heads) style, while on other songs such as "Clever", the higher register vocals owe much to Neil Young.

The band added a humorous touch with a post punk outing called "Little Jacky" & "Carrots", seemingly about sunglasses, and as they hit their stride, even performed a fine version of the Doors' "People Are Strange".

But by the final warm applause at the conclusion of their set, you felt it was People On Holiday’s self belief in their own songs that carried them through, and will probably realise a fine debut live album.

Pete Feenstra - Soundcheck Magazine