“It’s the start of a brand new year, I feel the changes coming in the air,” are lyrics from Tim Holehouse, an English musician from London. Holehouse came to Aberdeen with his friend and fellow musician Greg Rekus, a Canadian from Winnipeg, to do three things: play a show underneath the Young Street Bridge, which the late Kurt Cobain made famous, see the sites and walk the steps Cobain took and play a lively show at The Loading Dock — 202 E. Wishkah St.
Holehouse accomplished two of those goals earlier in the day in the town where Cobain, a musical hero of his, grew up. Rekus got to see Holehouse jam out underneath the bridge and they got to see Cobain’s old home. They both had one thing left to do: rock out at one of the premier music venues in Aberdeen.
They found success and their audience left happy and looked impressed as they played. Holehouse and Rekus received some help though, from American artists Hollow Hound and Ty Wulf, who played first and second in the order.
Hollow Hound
Hound gave a soulful performance. His songs sounded as though they belonged in a survival film, think “Into the Wild,” a film about the late Christopher McCandless who explores the United States with just some camping gear, a little cash he earns along the way, his wits and guidebooks. Eddie Vedder provided the soundtrack. Hound’s acoustic sound was a little bit like Vedder.
“The storms are upon us now and the waves are draggin’ me down,” Hound sang during one song.
Hound spoke about playing at The Loading Dock.
“I like it, I really do,” Hound said. “It’s a little cold but it’d be cold anywhere. But the sound is good.”
Justin Kautzman, who introduced the musicians as they stepped on stage, seemed amped and happy to have the guys play Monday night. There weren’t many people there, it was an especially cold Monday night, much colder than Aberdonians are used to. The cold outside proved too powerful for the old, oil furnace inside the building. Luckily, it’s due to get warmer in Aberdeen soon.
Ty Wulf
Ty Wulf followed Hound’s performance with another acoustic set. That was the promised, overall style of music for the night — “Acoustic punk.”
Wulf’s raspy, and almost guttural voice added a unique dynamic to his set. Wulf even shared a song from a former band of his. The crowd of maybe 15 people seemed to enjoy Wulf’s set immensely. As with Hound’s welcomed sound, Wulf earned a lot of applause after each song.
Wulf treated the audience with a song he released the night before on his YouTube channel Ty Wulf Music. The song is called “Resisting A Rest.” The song starts with a bit of a gloomy sounding guitar and equally downtrodden lyrics such as “Shut it off, tomorrow,” “broken in two,” “shut it down, sorrow,” and “never break through.” But then it launches into a speedy riff. While many of the lyrics sound a bit down, there’s a glimmer of positivity in one line: “Something better coming now, never could replace you.”
Wulf also showed a little humor, too.
“I have a part-time gig as a Kurt Cobain impersonator,” Wulf said before he played Nirvana’s song “Dumb.”
Rekus thoroughly enjoyed Hound’s and Wulf’s performances.
“They were both great,” Rekus said. “They were both super unique, they were both really nice and I hope both of them play with me next time if they want.”
After Wulf’s set, Holehouse started.
Tim Holehouse
The crowd seemed to enjoy Holehouse’s lengthy set. Count Kautzman as a fan.
“It was really awesome to see Tim play,” Kautzman said.
Part of the entertainment Holehouse brought, in addition to his strong voice and the speed and accuracy in which he hit each string and note, was the humor about his life. He said one of his teachers would have described him at 16 as “disruptive.”
When the music came on, Holehouse, wearing a “Save Kurt’s Bridge” shirt, sold the audience immediately. His performance got them stamping their feet to the beat, dancing a little and bobbing their heads.
Holehouse also won over the crowd as he praised Aberdeen.
“I’ve hung out with some really nice people,” said Holehouse, who earlier in the day said he wanted to come back to the city.
During Holehouse’s set, he played Nirvana’s “Something in the Way.” Kautzman praised Holehouse’s rendition of the classic grunge song.
“Tim surprised with some ‘blues punk’ and slide guitar,” Kautzman said. “And his “Something in the way” cover was … haunting. I was in the back cleaning up a mess when he sang that one and it was echoing through the building.
In addition to Holehouse’s love for Nirvana, he also played a song from his “favorite band” from Aberdeen — The Melvins, which was “The Bit.” That was his favorite song from the set.
“Ooh, that’s hard. I love them all very dearly,” Holehouse said as he thought of his favorite song to play. “The Melvins cover was fun. It went a little wonky in places but it was fun to play out because I’ve never done that live.”
In addition to Kautzman, who formally introduced Rekus, Holehouse hyped up his lad.
“You’re gonna love Greg!” Holehouse yelled into the mic. “He’s absolutely amazing … he’s brilliant!”
Greg Rekus
After a few minutes it was time for Rekus to show what he could do and he did not disappoint. This was Rekus’ second time playing at The Loading Dock since the venue started hosting concerts in November 2022.
Rekus, who plays what he calls “folk punk” or “trashy acoustic,” lived up to the venue’s advertisement that promised acoustic punk. He moved about a miniature stage, as he played the guitar and a kazoo, so much that he had to ask Kautzman to apply Gorilla tape to his tambourines that were on stage so they wouldn’t fall off.
Rekus, who advised musicians to sing within their voice register, gave it his all with a powerful wailing type of scream that was a little hoarse and a little gritty but was all in-tune and so it all worked.
Throughout the set, Rekus danced, stepped in a circle while his legs had to navigate around the dangling cables, and even jumped a few times. At times, you could hear him breathing hard into the microphone because he played so fast and was so active.
“The energy that Greg brings to the stage as a single person is more than I’ve seen bands bring,” Kautzman said.
Kautzman wasn’t alone in his praise of Rekus, who got the audience involved in a few songs, like when he played the Ray Charles’ classic “Hit the Road Jack.”
Beyond the lively set Rekus played, he treated the audience to the song “Encampment,” which he hadn’t played in front of a crowd before. The song, on streaming services now, is from Greg Rekus & The Inside Job’s new album, “Death and Taxes.” The album isn’t officially out until Feb. 10, but Rekus was selling CDs at the show.
Outside opinion
As for how the international artists enjoyed the show and the venue and playing live, that was pretty clear.
“Absolutely amazing, beautiful venue, great sound, lovely people, loved it, absolutely loved it,” Rekus said.
Rekus, who’s played live for about 25 years, but solo since 2010, said playing solo “is one of those things that just slid right on like the glove that fits.”
Rekus “loved” playing in a band but said “it feels so good to be able to just hit the road with one of your buddies or just by myself and drive around, playing music for people.”
Rekus is a fan of the venue’s laid-back atmosphere.
“It’s my second time at The Loading Dock and I love it here, man,” Rekus said. “They made a space for music, which is so important. It doesn’t seem like there are any major rules or anything. You just come in, have a good time and don’t be jerks to each other. I would love to come back.”
This was Rekus’ third time in Aberdeen and he couldn’t sound more positive about the area.
“It feels like I’ve kind of got a home here now,” Rekus said. “This definitely isn’t the last time. I’ll be back.”
Friday, Jan. 19
5 p.m. — Paul Buoma on the Piano — Galway Bay Irish Restaurant & Pub — 880 Point Brown Ave. NE, in Ocean Shores
8 p.m. — Mike Pierce Project — Gepetto’s Italian Restaurant & Sports Bar — 126 E. Pioneer Ave., in Montesano
Saturday, Jan. 20
5 p.m. — Paul Buoma on the Piano — Galway Bay Irish Restaurant & Pub
8 p.m. — The Shivering Denizens, Black Shepherd, John Prentice III — Messy Jessy’s Bar and Grill — 212 S. I St., in Aberdeen
8 p.m. — Switchback NW — Montesano Moose Lodge 1210 — 3 Monte Elma Rd., in Montesano
Sunday, Jan. 21
4 p.m. — Paul Buoma on the Piano — Galway Bay Irish Restaurant & Pub
Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.
Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World Hollow Hound, the first of four acts Monday evening, plays a soulful set at The Loading Dock. Greg Rekus, who was last on the lineup at the venue said he’d love to play again with Hound and Ty Wulf — who followed Hound. “They were both great,” Rekus said. “They were both super unique, they were both really nice and I hope both of them play with me next time if they want.”
Ty Wulf, the second act of four on Monday night at The Loading Dock, played a set that was quite popular. Wulf has a unique voice and is a strong songwriter. He even played a brand new song he released Sunday night, called “Resisting A Rest” on his YouTube channel, Ty Wulf Music. He even acquired some new, international industry fans in Greg Rekus, from Winnipeg, Canada, and Tim Holehouse, from England. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)
Ty Wulf, the second act of four on Monday night at The Loading Dock, played a set that was quite popular. Wulf has a unique voice and is a strong songwriter. He even played a brand new song he released Sunday night, called “Resisting A Rest” on his YouTube channel, Ty Wulf Music. He even acquired some new, international industry fans in Greg Rekus, from Winnipeg, Canada, and Tim Holehouse, from England. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)
