The Holdens

The Holdens story began long ago, in Madrid, originally a four-piece combo, it wasn't until 2000 when they finally settled for a definitive line up. All members hail from bands such as Los Potros, Nuggets, Golden Zombies or Los Nitros. Taking inspiration from the mid-60s sounds and the late 80's garage boom, The Holdens began working out an original take on their shared influences, producing their particular blend of 60's-garage-punk. Soon, the band was playing the local circuit burning a set of infectious originals and a great choice of cover tunes from their favourite bands. In a short two years, the band cranked out two excellent demos: "The Party Starts Now" y "The Party's Over», where their sound clearly begins to acquire a more 60's edge. Eventually, Hey Holden (the original singer) decided to leave the band, so the two guitar players, Nacho and Guillermo, decided to take over the vocals themselves, and recorded for Animal Records the critically acclaimed "Ready To Shake!", another brilliant demo containing five energetic tracks and produced by Paco Imposible. Shortly after, the band recorded their debut album by Animal Records, the historic label from Spain that has released several splendid garage / beat / psyche / mod albums and 45s in the past by the best Spanish combos. The Holdens perform a solid and magnificent sound full of jangly guitars, sweet harmonies and organ grooves proving once more that the Spanish garage and beat scene is one of the most interesting in the whole world as they have managed to continue the great Spanish tradition of bands like Sex Museum, Flashback V, Flechazos, Imposibles and Doctor Explosion! This album consisted of 16 garage / pop / beat gems that reminds me a lot of the Kwyet Kings and The Shambles and was produced by Fernando Pardo (Sex Museum, Coronas...). Two years later and with Ramon Trabas on bass (Nitros, Motociclón), replacing the deceased Francisco de la Calle, they entered the studio to record what would be their second and last LP "Do it right". A vinyl that shows the maturity in the composition of the tamdem Nacho - Guillermo and that left us registered 10 jewels of the Spanish garage - punk - rock.